How do I choose the right plants for my yard?

The right plants for your location

1. Sun exposure: Know how much sunlight the area gets where you are planting. This is why shopping for plants at a nursery, and not at a big box store, is better because the nursery will have a better variety for your specific area. WARNING: If you plant in the wrong spot, like a hydrangea in full sun, it will not thrive. You have to plant in the right spot.

2. Soil: It is always good to add soil when planting a new green friend. Most of the soil in my yard is clay and will dry out any plant. I amend the spot with gardening mix, and I also use mulch to help nourish the plant. I fertilize my baby plants the first three years of their lives at least once a season.

3. Dimensions: Measure out how much space you have and be sure to choose plants that will fit when they are at maturity. We all want instant gratification so most of us put too many plants close together. Baby plants just look so darn small. However, if you take care of them, within three years they will be so big and healthy and will need to be three to four feet apart. I have had to relearn this lesson over and over. It is a pain to dig up a plant and move it, just plan for growth and be patient.

4. Traffic: Don’t plant near where people or pets walk. I planted close to the path near our shed office and several of the plants have been stepped on and killed. Leave large open spaces near paths, just add mulch and let it be.