How to select plants for your new garden

Once you know the basics of starting a perennial flower garden, you should spend a little time learning about the plants you might like to plant in your new garden. You can buy a plant encyclopedia, which contains everything you need to know about plants - even those that don't do well in your area - or you can simply go to a local plant nursery and read the tags included with the plants. The information on the plant tags at the nursery provides you with plenty of information necessary for a successful perennial garden:

• How tall the plant will get
• How much sunlight (or shade) the plant requires
• How often to water the plant
• The appropriate climate zone for the plant

A plant encyclopedia is extremely useful if you want to know the details of a particular plant. Additionally, the pictures are very useful to aid in identifying plants.

Typically, a local nursery will stock perennial plants that are suitable to the climate and weather conditions of the area. Occasionally, the local nursery will stock plants that will not survive the changing climate of your area; these plants may be considered perennials. However, they are actually "tender perennials" as they may require protection during the harsh winter months. I suspect nurseries stock tender perennials due to the novelty or uniqueness of the plant. For a beginner perennial gardener, I suggest selecting plants that you know will survive in your climate zone and leave the tender perennials until you gain more gardening experience.

Before purchasing your plants, I have a few tips to further help you select the right plants for your garden.

1. Choose plants that have a desirable flower color and foliage.
2. Select plants that bloom throughout the growing season.
3. Select plants that will grow well in the soil condition of the garden area.
4. Know the potential size of the plant in order to fit proportionally within the garden.
5. Determine the amount of sunlight in the garden area and select plants that will thrive with that amount of light.
6. Look for healthy plants that appear vigorous and healthy.
7. For each garden area, Choose plants that all have the same water requirements.
8. Avoid plants that have insects or disease. Firmly press your finger on the surface of the soil - if small bugs fly out, do not select the plant.
9. Avoid rootbound plants. These plants will appear to be very tightly crammed in the pot and the roots may be coming out of the bottom of the container.
10. Keep in mind that some flower colors may not compliment other flower colors.
11. Try not to make your garden "busy" with many different flower colors.
12. Flowers of red, pink, blue, and purple are "cool" colors and will soften a garden.
13. Flowers of orange and yellow are "hot" colors and will brighten a garden.
14. Contrary to popular belief, many Hostas do quite well in full sun. If the leaves are light green, or green with white, they will do great in full sun. If the leaves are a dark green, they do better in shady gardens.
15. As a general rule, bulbs that flower in Spring (Tulip, Hyacinth) chould be planted in Fall. Bulbs that flower in Summer and Fall (Gladiolius, Lily, Tuberous Begonias ) should be planted in Spring (after last frost).
16. Combine different textures within your new garden. Perhaps plant some leafy hostas around a low growing evergreen.