How to be a Plant Shopping Expert

Part 1: Evaluating the Location

Whether you have a green thumb or you’re a newbie when it comes to the world of gardening, being an expert when it comes to plants can be a little challenging.

How much sun does it need?
Am I watering it too much?
Where are these bugs coming from?

If any of those questions sound familiar to you, then you came to the right place. A lot of things can happen that can challenge your plants but by choosing the right plant for each spot in your garden then life can be made a lot easier. Plants that are well-suited for their site will establish themselves quickly, have a healthy root system, be less likely to become diseased and will perform well with limited additional input.; i.e. your time and money!

In order to choose a plant that fits a site, you need to evaluate the site that you’re going to place the plant. Every garden is different and may have many different microclimates to consider. A microclimate is an area within your garden that is different from the general conditions. For example, do you have slope in your backyard and the top of the slope is drier than other parts of the yard? Do you have an area in your yard that tends to stay wet or cooler than anywhere else? There are infinite ways you can have microclimates but paying attention and learning the microclimates in your space can help identify what plants will do best for each spot.

Common Microclimates

How much sun does the location receive?
- Full Sun – 6 or more hours of direct sunlight
- Partial Sun – 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight
- Partial Shade – 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight but they will need protection from the hot mid-day sun.
- Full Shade – Less than 3 hours of sun

Measuring sunlight

In order to understand how much sun your location receives, you should take note throughout the day whether the spot receives sun or is in the shade. This can easily be done by going outside and looking at which way your house faces.

If your house faces north then you have full shade. Western or southern exposure means full sun.

If your house faces east it means that your house receives part sun. This is the most ideal because it allows you to do more with your plants. East facing properties receive morning sun which is much cooler than the hot afternoon sun.

Is the soil wet, dry or normal?
- Adequate soil moisture is critical for growing healthy plants. For most plants, too much water in their soil is more dangerous than not enough.
- If you have an area that tends to be very wet, there are numerous plants that love the moist conditions such as Bee Balm, Cardinal Flower, or Black Eyed Susan, Willows and Birch.
- A plant that prefers dry soil will benefit highly with an area that has dry soil. These plants need very little water and tend to be drought-tolerant which means less watering for you! Some plants that prefer are drought-tolerant and prefer dry soil are Verbena, Russian Sage, Sedum and Evergreens.

Measuring Area Moisture

When it comes to testing how moist your soil is, the first step you can do is feel it. Simply dig down about 2 inches into the soil where the plant is currently or will be planted to feel the soil. Powdery soil means that the area is dry; if you can form a mud ball with the soil then it is overly moist.

Soil Type
- Clay
  - In most Indiana backyards, the soil tends to be very heavy in clay contents. You can tell if you have clay in your soil if you have trouble digging. Clay is very hard and dry.
  - When you have clay in your soil this means that it does not drain very well. In order to combat this issue, you can start by making your plant holes a little larger and add soil amendments for additional drainage.
- The Lucky Ones
  - If you live on native farmland, then most of our customers envy you! Your soil quality is top notch which allows you to have an expansive plant palette.
- Want the full dirt when it comes to choosing and understanding soil types? Check out our Dirt on Dirt article to learn more.

Structures
- Paved areas
  - Are you planning on planting it next to a sidewalk or in the far corner of your lawn? If you place plants in a location that you see often, you are more likely to keep up with the maintenance it needs such as fertilizing, pruning or routine checking for pests or disease.
  - When planting near a paved area be aware of the heat that the area will receive. Concrete gets quite hot in the sun and this can affect your plants.
  - Are you planting near sidewalk that gets salted in the winter because of ice? You should avoid planting near this area because plants, especially Evergreens, are very sensitive to salt and this can affect their growth or even kill them.
- Walls
  - Planting near a wall could be a prime location for the more delicate plants to serve as a wind break.
  - Brick walls also hold heat in the summer from the sun which can affect plants.
  - Walls are a great support for climbing plants and trellis.
- Windows
  - When choosing a plant, be aware of its mature height and be prepared to prune so you do not block the view outside your window.

As you think on each of these points, jot notes down as this will help you plan what plants can be placed in each location of your yard. Once you have an idea, it is time to choose what plants to go in each location. Stay tuned for Part 2: Choosing Plants for the Right Spot.