DIY Network

Gardening Basics: Selecting Plants at the Nursery What to look for and what to avoid when selecting plants for your garden. From "Dirt On Gardening" episode DDOG-101

	THe Dirt on Gardening host Kristine Hanson discusses plant selection with horticulture professor Debbie Flower.
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It's typical to be drawn in immediately at the nursery, by the biggest and brightest plants you see for sale. But don't be fooled. Big flowers don't always mean you're getting the healthiest plant. We give you tips on how to shop wisely and pick the "perfect plant" for guaranteed gardening once you leave the nursery.

Here are the basic things to look for when shopping for most of the more common and popular plants at the nursery.

Also included: the "inside dirt" on pruning shears and a viewer tip on what to do with spent coffee grounds.

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Figure A

The Bud

Avoid a plant "in bloom" (figure A). Typically, the least amount of flowers or bloom, the better your investment.
Rather than looking for more flowers, look for more buds. That way, you'll "save your flowers for later"--when you take them home and plant them.
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The Leaf

Color and size of the leaves are important indicators of the health of the plant.

• Avoid a plant with "yellow leaves" (figure B) -- unless variegated or naturally yellow.

• Beware if you see "small leaves" towards the top and tip of the plant (figure C), and notice larger leaves towards bottom, beware. This could be a sign of nitrogen deficiency. They should be similar in size except for very new leaf growth. Uneven leaf size indicates loss of nutrients and a plant that is not healthy.

  Figure B

  Figure C

  
  

  Figure D

Check the height of the soil in the container. Avoid soil that is too high in the pot (i.e., at or near the brim) since this leads to runoff during watering and likely the plant hasn't been getting sufficient water. On the other hand, really low soil in the container (figure D) may indicate that the plant may have been in the container multiple seasons Low soil may indicates an organic breakdown--which is natural--but it takes away nutrients as well. A good nursery waters their plants consistently and constantly. The proper soil height is about "shoulder height" within the container. The "shoulder" is the ledge just below the rim on most pots.
Stick a finger deep into the soil- it should be moist-not soggy. Look at the bottom of the container- if there is moss that's good. It's being watered. Avoid plants that have weeds in soil. "in production"-out in the field weeds happen, however, don't by the plant unless you can successfully pull out the weed. You can bring the weeds home into your garden if not careful.

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