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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

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Figure E

The Roots

To examine the roots of a plant, gently squeeze the flexible pot to loosen the soil, then gently knock (don't pull) the plant free, place your hand over the top of the media, flip the pot and let the plant slide out so that it is supported in your hand (figure E). You can also ask the nursery to "knock" the plant out for you. As a paying customer you have the right to ask see the condition of the roots.

Roots show the health of the plant and are where most of the plants nutrients and water are. Roots grow "in search of" water. Avoid plants where roots are going out of the container. (A little is okay, but not if there are a lot.) Roots all the way to the bottom and side of the container are perfect. Roots circling around and around the outside of the soil is called "girdling" and is to be avoided. The plant with roots bound in this way will continue to grow this manner and eventually choke itself to death.

The Container

Avoid cracked containers as this likely indicates loss of water and nutrients. You'll want to inspect the roots, but never "pull" a plant from a container. For 6 packs gently "squeeze" all sides to loosen the soil, then pop out or cut the sides. For larger plants and containers, place the container onto ground and roll until soil loosens up--or you can gently step on container-- then pull the container away from the plant. Roots and plants are easily damaged if this is not done correctly

Keeping the Plants Healthy Once They're Home

It's best to plant new plants immediately. If you can't plant immediately, do not place plants in plastic containers directly in the sun. (Black plastic containers can heat up 140 degrees in direct sun!) If you can't plant immediately, place your plant in larger plastic container. This will insulate the plant, give it "airspace" and keeps it from drying out too quickly. It's also a great way to recycle old plant pots. You can also wrap containers in foil--to reflect sun the hot sun away from the pot surface.

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Purple basil.

Insider Tips for the Nursery

• Be aware that flower producers sometimes mess with Mother Nature. They'll "power feed" the plants to turn them green, then stop feeding just before displaying to force plants to flower just prior to making them available to consumers.

• Get to know your nurseryman.

• Find out when truck deliveries are made for best selection.

• If you don't like what you see, you may be able to special order exactly what you're looking for through your nursery. Ask to see catalogs of what may be available.

• Know your nurseries return policies. Some do offer "guarantees" on the life of the plant.
  

  	Disinfectant wipes are a great aid for cleaning your pruning shears--which may prevent spread of disease from plant to plant.
  	Media Watch the Video

It's important to clean and disinfect your pruning tools to avoid spreading disease from one plant to another. You could use household cleaner or disinfectant dissolved in a bucket of water, but a quick and easy method is to simply use disinfectant wipes that come in pop-up dispensers--just like the ones you use to disinfect countertops or kids' toys. They're effective, handy and easy to carry around.

The Dirt on Gardening Viewer Tip: It's In the Grounds

From Dick, in Orange Vale, California: Coffee grounds are a good way to augment the nutrients in your garden's soil. What's more, many coffee houses make spent coffee grounds available every day--free for the taking--for use by avid gardeners. Check with your local coffee house, then simply spread the coffee grounds and work them into the dirt for dark, fertile soil.

Go to next article in DIY's "Gardening Basics" series.

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