Garden Guy column: Think outside the bloom when purchasing plants

Although we have just passed our average last freeze date, the warm winter and good weather we have been having has been enticing us to buy and plant. I am as big an impulse buyer of plants as anyone so the thoughts I am about to express are sometimes practiced and sometimes not.

Everything looks good in the spring. “Any damn fool can have a garden in April and May. It separates the men from the boys when you’ve got an interesting place in August.” Allen C. Haskell. Take some time to think about your gardens in July and August. What colors are needed? Are there areas in need of new or different plants? Why? What might be a better fit for that spot?

When you go to the nurseries and garden centers in spring, most of the plants are in bloom. Will they be in bloom in July and August? We have to be careful when we buy to prevent having only one or two seasons of color. All it takes is reading about the plant, thinking about the bloom time and buying those that fill your particular need. This information is often on the plant’s label. If not, look online for reliable information.

Don’t just look at the plants with pretty blooms. Look for plants that are not in bloom with the same view about when they will bloom and for how long. Many plants that will not bloom until hot weather will not catch your eye unless you are looking for them. Also consider foliage only plants – not everything must flower.

Who doesn’t remember the weather last year? Spring gave us an overabundance of rain. But that was an extremely unusual and rare occurrence and we should think about our plant requirements for normal weather. Should some plants be replaced with more drought tolerant plants? Gardeners hate to admit that something is not working as they wanted. I am one of those and I balk at removing plants when they are still alive. But that is exactly what we should do if we want something that does well without needing a lot of extra attention, work, and probably cost.

I’m not suggesting that we must examine every purchase only through the lens of sustainability and thrift. Spontaneity, serendipity, and experimentation are some of the fun of gardening. But the heavy load of our gardens should be carried by those things that look good through the seasons without the need for a lot of extra help, water, or other special needs and with the environment and sustainability in mind.

Knowledge builds on knowledge. As you focus on things you need or want to change and as you look at plants a little more closely, you will find that it becomes easier and easier to find the right plants to put in the right place. A bit of attention to detail will ensure that you have pretty gardens through all seasons. “Action without thought is like shooting without aim.” Proverb.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Garden Guy column: Think before you purchase