How do you get the best plant for your time and money without wasting time waiting in line? First, try timing your trip to the nursery. Instead of battling crowds on weekends, get a jump on things by shopping on a Friday or, better yet, on a Wednesday or Thursday.
Besides saving time by not having to battle crowds, you'll have a better selection of plants on weekdays. Although many larger nurseries are able to update their stock seemingly on the hour, most simply cannot keep up with the demand on spring weekends. And many plants, particularly bedding plants, can't stand the pressure of constant picking and prodding we consumers sometimes force on them.
Speaking of bedding plants, annual flowers are always a popular item this time of year. You can't beat the almost "instant" color annuals like impatiens, petunias and marigolds provide. And don't be a garden snob like one popular gardening catalog declared last year on its cover: "Real Gardeners Don't Grow Annuals."
If that's true, then I'm not a real gardener. While evergreen shrubs and perennials are the backbone of most gardens, I rely on annuals, particularly in strategic locations and in containers on the patio and porch.
One of the best things about annuals are the price. A six-pack of annuals you've never heard of is a small price to pay for something that might become a mainstay in your garden. Go ahead and experiment with new specimens. If there is anything outmoded about annuals, it is the safe way we tend to use the same cliched plants year after year.
Both annuals and vegetables are available in six packs, 4-inch pots and even gallon cans. However, use caution when selecting, especially large pots. For instance, when picking flowers or vegetables, look for plants with deep green foliage and -- this is vital -- short, compact growth. In general, avoid tall, "leggy" plants. Even though larger plants may even be blooming already, it also translates to plants that are often root-bound and have been in their pots too long.
Although plants in bloom look more attractive, veteran gardeners choose plants whose buds are clearly visible, but have not yet opened. You'll get a much longer and stronger bloom period if plants are allowed to come into flower after they have been transplanted.
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