Let's face it we are human. When we take up any new hobby, shopping is one thing we all look forward to and the majority of us are impulsive shoppers. Anyone can make mistakes and worse still, you might not realize you've done a boo-boo before it's too late. Paul James, our gardening veteran, host of Gardening by the Yard, offers you some tips to avoid common mistakes while buying plants.

Bringing them home
First of all, exercise restraint while shopping for plants. You wouldn't of course want a sparse garden, but do it in a couple of trips, so that you have the chance to rethink and fill up any glaring area of empty space. Going all out and purchasing more than you would require is not only not easy on the pockets, but stuffing them all into a car at one go is a sin that no serious gardener would ever do. They will invariably get damaged, lose their shape or worse even, suffocate inside the trunk. Also make sure you go straight home from the nursery in order to keep the plants fresh.

Most nurseries offer home-delivery at a small price, so the best thing would be to leave it to the professionals. One more option would be to borrow a friend's pickup, in case you don't have your own. But, you will have to take a few precautions while doing so because the wind might have a drying effect on the plants if your drive home is long. It can even tear the plant. Also, if left unmanned in the open bed, the plants might shift, causing damage. Fear not, says James. With a little insight and experience, you can overcome this, too by following the given pointers:

" Keep the plants close to the front of the bed so that less wind can assault them. Secure the plants with a bar or rope or bags of mulch or compost to prevent them from shifting.

" If you have trees or shrubs, lie them down on their side and use bags of compost to ensure minimal movement.
Try to schedule your purchase so that they are planted as soon as you get home. This is most ideal. In case it isn't possible, maybe because of bad weather, use the following tips to ensure the plants don't die till they are safe in the ground.

" Keep the plants that prefer shade separate from the sun-loving ones. To make certain, place the plants you're unsure of along with the shade-loving plants. Place the ones that prefer the sun in an area that doesn't get harsh or afternoon sunlight. A few hours of the milder morning sun is preferable.

" The shade-loving plants should be placed in a cool, shady area that doesn't get sunlight. Do not over-water plants. They know how much water they need and you will know from a slight wilt that it needs more water.

" The plants should be in the ground in a week's time. Any longer and you could be causing unintended damage, as the treatment at the nursery is different, despite your best efforts. They need good old earth to grow, so give them what they need.
Impulse Buying. It is always better to plan ahead and decide beforehand what kind of plants and how many you will need.
Talk with the staff

Most of the information available on the plant tag is good, but some of it might be misleading owing to human error. To minimize this, make an effort to talk to the staff at the nursery.
One last tip: Do your bit for the earth. Once your plants are tucked into the ground, recycle. Return the plastic pots the plants came in to the nursery or someone who might need them.

If you like Gardening....These pages might also interest you:

Allium Directory, Amaryllis Directory, Begonia Directory, Crocus Directory, Daffodils Directory, Dahlia Directory, Hyacinth Directory, Iris Directory, Lily Directory, Tulip Directory

Also see:

A Love Affair With Gardening, Charming Camillias, Firescaping, Gardening for the Family, Garden Rodents, Garden Catalogs, General Gardening Tips. Gardens in the Shade, Hot Summer Cool Garden, How to Plant Leeks, Involve Your Children, Outfits for Gardening, Photograph Your Garden, Plant Care Basics, Using Leaves as Compost, What to Avoid Buying Guide, Cheap Garden Ideas, Creating Garden Berms, Garden Fragrances, Garden Lessons, Gardening for The Challenged, Gardening is Great, Gardening Math, Gardening Tools, How to Use Peat, More About Gardening, Love affair with Lilacs, Organic Gardening, Slow Down and Enjoy, Smart Plant Shopping, Tips for Beginners