Time for More Plants!
Garden center success
As tempting as pretty flowers or foliage can be, they won’t last long if what’s growing below isn’t in good shape. The heucherella (Heucherella hybrid) in photo 1 is a good example of what to look for when you’re shopping. It has healthy green foliage and a generous root system, but it isn’t rootbound. There’s no sign of insect pests or disease, and it looks like the rootball is moist but not waterlogged. However, not every plant will look this healthy. Some problems are no big deal; others you’ll want to avoid.
The dianthus (Dianthus hybrid) in photo 2 has a bare center, which could be from too much overhead watering or summer humidity. This happens a lot to dianthus, even in the ground. Go ahead and buy it—next spring the plant will be fine. The sunburned foliage on the variegated sedge (Carex siderosticha) in photo 3 is nothing to worry about, either. Remove the damaged leaves, get that plant in some shade and it will recover nicely.
Even though it’s rootbound, who can resist an end-of-season bargain like the black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) in photo 4? This is a problem you can fix. When you’re ready to plant, use a soil knife or pruners and slice vertically a third to halfway up the rootball. Spread the pieces apart and position them on a mound of soil in the planting hole. This gives roots plenty of soil contact, which gets them off to a good start.
The garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) in photo 5 is a different matter. Anytime you see a disease, such as powdery mildew, take a pass. Why take a chance on introducing any disease that might infect the other plants in your garden?
Deficiencies in magnesium, iron, nitrogen and phosphorus are most common if the plant isn’t getting fed regularly. Leaves may look pale, spotted or have darker veins than the body of the leaf, depending on which nutrient is missing. New growth is smaller, weak and sickly looking. Don’t bother with plants like these. They’ll have a hard time getting established and could even die after you transplant.
Sometimes you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the garden center. Photo 6hybrid) with four crowns. It can be split into separate plants if you don’t mind waiting—small plants take longer to mature.
