Plants are an emotional choice. The color of the flowers, the growth habit and interesting leaves are in the foreground when buying plants. But there are some mistakes that hobby gardeners regularly make. The list of the 10 most common mistakes when buying plants helps to avoid expensive mispurchases and to enjoy the plants for a long time.
1. Buying plants without thinking
If you don't get enough information before you buy plants, disappointments are inevitable. For example, many do not think enough about how big a plant will be and quickly reach their limits in the garden. It is a pity if the plant has to give way again. The reverse is also annoying:the plant alone seems lost in the garden and does not develop the desired effect.
TIP: Do not buy impulsively just because the plant looks beautiful in a photo or the flower is tempting to buy at the moment. Every garden owner would do well to know the maximum height and width in advance. And then judge carefully whether the plant fits in the garden or on the balcony.
2. Underestimating the maintenance effort
Plants are not decorative items, but require regular care. However, many gardeners do not think enough about what the plant needs and how often and what follow-up work is needed. Just watering is not enough. Almost all plants need to be pruned. Hedges, in particular, need regular shaping. Fertilizing is also part of the gardening routine.
TIP:Read the information about the necessary care.
3. Do not consider the ideal location of the plant
Not all plants are created equal. The perennials, shrubs, trees and grasses make very different demands on the light conditions and the nature of the soil. If you plant them in the wrong place in the wrong soil, they will not thrive. In the worst case, an unfavorable location can cause the plants to die.
TIP: Knowing the soil in your garden will help you choose the right plants for it. Sometimes before planting it needs to be improved with gravel, sand and humus or rhododendron soil. Also read the information about whether the plant should be in a sunny or shady spot.
4. The winter hardiness of the plant is not taken into account
The plants not only need the right place in the garden, they also have to survive the winter well. If a plant is not sufficiently hardy, it is time consuming for the garden owner to protect it from frost damage and winter wetness. And if a plant is not sufficiently protected, it risks dying if the temperature is too low.
TIP:Pay attention to the information about the hardiness of each plant.
5. Buy the plant for the amazing flowers
Many hobby gardeners see the blossoms of a plant and grab them. It's easy to succumb to the beautiful color and shape of a flower. But the awakening comes when the plant blooms only briefly and then no longer inspires. In roses in particular, the leaves are often susceptible to disease and quickly unsightly or can only be kept healthy with great effort.
TIP: When choosing roses, pay particular attention to good leaf health and whether they are easy to care for. Even with perennials, everyone can avoid disappointment by choosing species and varieties that bloom more often, have a long flowering time and are also robust and easy to care for.
6. Incorrect ideas about the growth habit
A common mistake with fruit trees, for example:the garden owner assumes a tree when he talks about apples, pears and the like. However, many varieties grow as a large shrub and do not resemble the classic fruit tree. Another example is the desire for a compact ornamental shrub with a round appearance; but often they grow firmly upright and loosely branched.
TIP: Those who know exactly what kind of growth to expect will not be disappointed. The information about the growth form, such as dense bushy or sparse, also gives accurate information about how the plant develops in the garden.
7. Ignore the season
The plants should always look like the picture. This is the expectation of many customers who buy plants online. It is often forgotten that plants always adapt to the right season and that many drop their leaves in the fall. And of course plants don't bloom all year round either.
TIP: Nurseries know the needs of shrubs and trees. Ask for advice.
8. Forgotten plant partners
The new apple and pear trees and sweet cherries in the garden are not bearing fruit. No wonder if you don't plant a suitable pollinator nearby. Because many woody plants need the pollen of another variety to be fertile.
TIP: Self-fertilizing varieties such as peach, apricot and quince also bear significantly more fruit if a suitable pollinator is planted in the garden.
9. Be tempted by cheap prices
Of course, there are also real bargains for plants on sale or on sale. However, the price differences between discounter goods and nursery stock can be clearly explained:quality has its price. If you buy your plants cheaply in the supermarket, you will get plants that have been grown and have never been confronted with the conditions outside. They look good for a few more weeks, but not anymore.
TIP: Plants from the nursery are not grown to the point and grow in the open ground and are not afraid when they come into the garden. In addition, they are expertly cared for all the time. That doesn't happen in the store.
10. Do not immediately repot the plants and store them incorrectly
Bought on impulse and then no time to plant – if the hobby gardener now carelessly puts the plant in the corner, the purchase will cost him dearly. Regardless of whether you visit the local nursery or simply order online and the plants are conveniently delivered in a package:it is always important to take good care of the plants afterwards.
TIP: For temporary storage it is sufficient to place the plants in the right place and to give them sufficient water. They must also be secured against tipping over, otherwise the shoots will break and water will not be able to reach the roots.
