Nursery Did You Know
Your local garden center or nursery will probably be your first stop when selecting plants for your home and garden. But are they tending to their plants well enough to warrant purchases? Here are some items to look for when selecting plants to make sure you are getting healthy, hearty specimens, courtesy of the Do It Yourself network:
Plants should not look dried and yellowed on the foliage.
Look at the vein pattern in the foliage. If the veins are green and the foliage is green, the plants are well watered. If the veins are green and the foliage is yellow, it could be a sign of chlorosis that can be easily remedied with a proper watering and some fertilizer.
Look for signs of disease on leaves or blooms. It's helpful to be familiar with the plants you are going to purchase so you'll know the difference between a healthy and a diseased plant of the species. Gardening books or a well-informed nursery employee can assist you in these areas. For example, wilting or curling leaves on a rhododendron can indicate a disease is present.
Observe the roots of the plant if possible. Make sure they look healthy and exhibit no signs of root rot, fungus or disease on the roots. Also, avoid plants that are overgrown in their pots. They may have spent too much time in the nursery and may not fare well when planted in your garden.
