(Scripps Howard)GARDENERS DEAL WITH an interesting dichotomy.
Be very careful when planting near your driveway; it can cause lots of damage once the plants or trees
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First, we undoubtedly possess some appreciation and respect for deferred rewards; otherwise, we wouldn't be gardening. On the other hand, we manage to exhibit several behaviors that provide an outlet for that all-important instant gratification. And that's where the trouble begins.
Putting plants in inappropriate places is another common gardening mistake.
For many of us, it starts at the nursery. We succumb to the allure of large displays of plants in bloom, or the lustrous foliage of woody ornamental shrubs perfectly arranged so that we can't help but notice them. My justification came from having a large lot in need of plenty of landscaping. It also helped that I have a working knowledge of plants, so that I could site them appropriately at home. But even that wasn't enough to completely stop me from making numerous emotional purchases.
All too often, we bring the plants home with no idea where to place them or when we'll even find the time to do so. In my case, many of my acquisitions (especially annuals) went from nursery to driveway staging area, and ultimately, to the compost bin, never having the chance to spread their roots beyond the plastic walls in which they arrived. In the past, I've said compost is free to make, but in hindsight, adding up the cost of all those purchased plants that never were planted gives me a new appreciation for compost's nickname: "black gold."
Beyond the money wasted from purchasing plants that never leave the containers, the bigger expense comes from planting them inappropriately.
Plants are like puppies. They look really cute when they're small, but they grow up. Not planning ahead can cause you to work much harder later. For example, how many times have we seen overgrown foundation plants anchoring the corners of a house? At the time they were planted, they looked just fine. But a few years later, the roots are cracking the driveway or sidewalk, and the branches must be constantly cut back to keep the beasts from taking over the house.
Poor siting has another implication. In our quest for immediate gratification and instant "mature-looking" landscapes, we pack plants and trees too closely together. In doing so, once again we don't consider their size two, five and 10 years from now. As plants grow up and out, they crowd each other for available sunlight and air circulation — two critical factors of plant health. As essential levels of each decline, so does the health of the plants and trees growing there. Corrective measures must be taken to alleviate the crowded conditions. The only appropriate action is by thinning, or removal and transplanting elsewhere. However, more often, fertilizers and pesticides are the knee-jerk reaction for an inappropriate solution.
And the information tag that came with those plants? It enlightens us about its size at maturity and also its preference for sun or shade, and soil conditions. It all comes down to my favorite and most important expression in landscaping: "Right plant, right place." It's the "bottom line" to avoiding so many mistakes that relate to instant gratification. A properly sited plant or tree rarely needs pruning to control size. It also thrives when provided with ideal conditions, rarely needing supplemental attention.
Conversely, plants that are located in the wrong place never look their best and often exhaust energy reserves by simply trying to survive. As a result, they become stressed. In their weakened state, they are more susceptible to attack by pests or diseases and appear in need of fertilizer. However, we often react to these distress signs with chemical cocktails, when all that is needed is to move the plant to a more appropriate location. Properly sited plants will be healthier and naturally more resistant.
Exercising more patience and giving plants the time and room they need to mature gracefully delays gratification but rewards us with healthy, attractive and low-maintenance landscapes.
Reading the plant tag and doing your homework before making the purchase will eliminate much of the work you'd create for yourself otherwise and save you plenty of money in the process.
Joe Lamp'l, host of "Fresh from the Garden" on the DIY Network and "GardenSMART" on PBS, is a Master Gardener and author. For more information visit www.joegardener.com and www.DIYnetwork.com.
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