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The Garden FAQ Index |

What are some tips on buying plants?

A visit to your local garden center or retail nursery
can be an exciting experience. You will see many kinds of
ornamental plants packaged in several ways. Some may be in
plastic containers of various sizes. Others may have their
roots and a ball of soil wrapped with burlap and covered
with moist bark or sawdust. These are often called "balled-
and-burlapped" or "B-and-B" plants. Still others may be
packaged with their roots in boxes, paper or foil wrapping.

Regardless of how the plants are displayed and
packaged, you should always look for good quality plants.
What should you look for when buying plants? First, you
should consider choosing species that are not problem prone.
Look for good foliage color and strong branches. Avoid
plants that are root-bound in containers. Root-bound plants
have roots that have become too large for that container.
You can see the roots growing out of the drainage hole of
the container. Be sure bare roots of deciduous plants have
been adequately protected from moisture loss and bud break
has not yet occurred. The soil ball of B-and-B plants
should remain firm, rounded and intact when handled. Fairly
new burlap cloth should hold the root ball. Avoid plants
with root balls that are too soft, saggy, pancake shaped or
too small. Plant grades and sizes should be in accordance
with the American Standard for Nursery Stock, published by
the American Association of Nurserymen.

Credit for information from the following sources: Denver Botanic Gardens, MSU Extension Office, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension