Questions Asked at Nurseries

It happened more than 20 years ago, but I can still remember. While working at a nursery, an angry customer stood before the owner, violently shaking an uprooted tree. "Why isn't this red?" he shouted. "It says 'Ever Red' right on the label!" The hapless fellow took the varietal name literally and, in doing so, killed the young maple.

Having worked at a nursery on weekends and summers while growing up, I got a pretty good perspective on the kinds of questions home gardeners have. Here are some of the most common ones still being asked today.

Does this need sun or shade? The telling answer on this one is simple. Look to see where it is growing at the nursery. Is it out in the open or underneath a shade lath? Wherever it's situated at the nursery will tell you wheere it should go in your yard most of the time. Of course, it doesn't hurt to ask an employee, and check the growing information on the plant's sign or tag.

How do I plant it? Most plants should not be planted any deeper than the container it is growing in at the nursery. However, this does not mean you should just dig a hole the depth of the container. It is recommended that planting holes normally be twice the depth of the container. Of course, if you have rock-hard adobe dirt that I have, this is a lot easier said than done. Anyway, after you jack-hammer the dirt out to a depth twice that of the container, always mix in planting mix, organic compost, peat moss or some other type of soil conditioner with the existing soil to use as a planting mix. Never just plant in the soil you dig out because this will just compact again. Young roots need to have an advantage to get growing.

What type of care does it need? This varies depending on the plant. Again, probably the most important factor is planting in the right environment. While a plant that requires sun will live in shade, a shade-loving plant will die in full sun. After-planting care also involves watering, fertilizing and possibly pruning/trimming.

How much water does it need? Answers vary greatly from plant to plant, but there is a simple solution. Try sticking your finger a couple inches below the soil. This works especially well with houseplants whose number-one cause of death is overwatering. Most plants should be allowed to dry out slightly between waterings. Never keep things wet all the time because this will lead to root rot and diseases. Let your finger do the talking here.

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