Gardening Australia – September 2019

40 SEPTEMBER 2019 GARDENING AUSTRALIA

Herearethe things you need to look for

whenyou’re shopping for a plant, so you

don’twaste time or money on a dud.

1. What are your impressions of the nursery?
   Is it tidy? Do the plants look lush and well
   presented, like they are here? Do you see lots
   of weeds, or plants with dead flowers, tatty
   leaves or broken stems? These are red flags.


2. When selecting which plant to buy, avoid
   anything that has roots coming out the bottom
   of the pot, shows signs of yellowing, feels
   firm in the pot or is sitting in a very dry mix.
   These are all signs that the plant is stressed
   or root-bound, meaning it’s less likely to thrive.


3. If in doubt, ask the salesperson if you can
   inspect the plant’s roots. These roots need
   to be pruned and teased out before planting,
   which is not reasonable if you’re paying full
   price. It also sets a lot of plants back.


4. Inspect the shape of the plant. The tallest
   plant is not always the best. If you’re choosing
   a shrub, like this camellia, look for something
   that is full, bushy and balanced. Look for signs
   of insect damage, such as scale, aphids or
   mealy bugs. You don’t want to introduce pests
   to your garden, and you don’t want your new
   plant to start out with a pest problem.

HOW TO

BUY A PLANT

#

1

skill

1

2 3 4