Right Plant, Right Place
Select and Grow Flowers and Plants Suited to Your Garden Location for Low Maintenance and Beautiful Results
Apr 20, 2006
The guiding force behind all successful flower gardens is the idea of "Right Plant, Right Place." This means you should match your plants to the growing conditions that exist in your garden, rather than vice versa. Making the right choices assures you will have healthy plants that thrive and bloom with the minimum of effort on your part. In other words, make it easy on yourself!
Plants Have Needs: Hot, Cool, Dry, Wet, Humidity, Sun, Shade
Experienced gardeners recognize that plants have needs. If you meet their needs, they will be healthy and grow well with few problems and minimal care and maintenance. Here are some examples. Lilacs and peonies need a certain amount of cold winter chilling in order to bloom, so it's not surprising they don't grow well in Miami, Florida where winters are so delightfully warm.
Some flowers need a long, hot extended summer season. Tropicals such as mandevilla may not bloom in a cooler northern climate with a short summer season -- whereas cool season flowers like calendulas and pansies will not bloom in hot weather. And a semi-tropical plant like lantana is not going to make it through a Chicago winter outside. While it might survive a little frost, it just can't handle extended periods of sub zero temperatures.
Ferns need organic soil with steady soil moisture and high humidity so they won't thrive in the arid, dry desert. A plant that requires "perfect "drainage and loves a sandy soil, such as lavender or gaillardia or cosmos, will not be happy in a swampy spot. where the soil is constantly wet.
Certain plants such as lambs' ears (Stachys lanata) and many of the dianthus fail in areas where the summers are humid .
And last but not least, it stands to reason that sun lovers need sun, shade lovers need shade.
Research Your Plants
With a little research and observation of gardens near yours, and an awareness of the growing conditions in your garden, you should be able to make educated guesses about what will thrive for you. Look for plants that grow well in a spot similar to where your flower garden is located.
Don't hesitate to ask more experienced successful gardeners about how they select, site and nurture their plants. You may be surprised by their answers!
Kill A Plant Three Times
Don't be discouraged if your first try at a flower garden is a little less than perfect. Much of gardening is still trial and error, so be prepared for some unexpected failures despite your best guesses.
A rule of thumb is to try a plant three times before you give up on it, assuming you have researched it and think it should grow well for you. When you eventually find resounding success with a difficult plant, be sure to celebrate and enjoy it.
Right Plant, Right Place and Design
The best gardens are designed based partly on science (right plant, right place) and partly on art. Once you have learned to apply the principles of right plant, right place, you will probably want to begin adding some artistry to your garden. To do that, begin exploring My Garden Design Ideas Tips and Inspiration...
All Flower Gardens Articles So Far
Copyright 2006 Barbara Martin
