How to buy plants

For many of us, plant shopping is one of the best bits of gardening. Garden centres are like sweet shops - full of promise and treats. But how to spend wisely and choose plants that will look as good in your garden as they do on the shelf?

How many to buy?

One of the best and easiest ways to improve the look of your garden is to plant in groups. It's tempting to buy plants one at a time when you see something you like and don't want to spend too much. The result, however, can be a higgledy piggledy mix that lacks impact and looks a bit messy. Larger shrubs and trees may work as individual feature plants but annuals and perennials look better as a group, which is how they grow in the wild. This allows them to support each other as well as having more visual impact. Odd numbers - groups of 3, 5, even 7 - are best for balance.

What size?

Smaller (9 cm) pots

• Cheaper to buy

• Establish and grow quickly

• More environmentally sustainable

• Can look a little pathetic when first planted

• May take a year or more to start flowering

• More vulnerable to slugs, snails and drought

I tend to choose 9cm plants when buying perennials for spring or autumn planting as it makes planting in groups more affordable. Allow space around them to grow. Some bark mulch around the plants will help keep the soil weed free in the meantime. Water regularly.

2L or 3L pots

• 
  

• Widely available

• Instant impact, ready to flower (or fruit)

• Two or three times more expensive than 9 cm pots

• May take longer to settle in and get growing

These plants are up to a year older than those in 9 cm pots and the manpower, space, watering and materials this requires is reflected in the price. I generally buy grasses and woody shrubs as 2L plants (or larger) as they are slower growing and can get swamped by more vigorous plants if too planted out small.

As shown above, (small pot on the left, larger pot on the right) the plant itself may not look bigger - you are paying for the root system. Tip the plant over and look at whether you can see roots through the drainage holes - a root system that fills the pot is a good deal. A 9cm plant that has just been potted up into a larger pot is not.

Plug plants

• cheap to buy online

• great for filling pots with annuals

• may require 'growing on' before you plant them out

Plugs are baby plants available as multi-packs online. They are a great way to buy annuals, which grow quickly, but do take some time to mature and flower, so need to be planted earlier in the year than larger plants. Large or jumbo plugs are usually ready to go into your basket or window box but smaller standard plugs may need to be potted up in 9cm pots and grown on (with regular watering) to get up to size - so you'll need some space to do this, plus posts and compost.

5L+ pots

• Instant height/focal points

• Significant investment (£££s)

• Require careful planting & aftercare

Larger, mature plants have become more widely available in response to demand for instant impact. They can be more difficult to establish out in the open ground, having become used to pot growing, and may need some TLC. That said, if you have a new, empty garden and don't want to wait years for it to look leafy and welcoming, one or two mature plants can be a worthwhile investment. Plant carefully, add stakes or support if needs be and consider adding microrhizal fungi to the roots to help them establish. Consider using a seep hose or irrigation system to make sure they do not dry out in their first year.

Avoid pot bound plants

Pot bound plants have been in their pot too long. Their roots fill the pot, growing round in circles. When planted out they may continue to grow inwards and won't thrive. Avoid plants that have

• Roots sticking through the holes underneath the pot

• A dense clump of roots growing in rings (if you slip the root ball out of the pot)

How to bag a bargain

Head to the reduced plant shelf for perfectly good plants at discount prices

• Plants that look tatty or have leaf damage can often be revived. Check the roots (see above) and look for healthy top growth (shoots, leaves) at the base of the plant. Soak in water for a day or two and cut off all damaged stems and foliage. Place somewhere sheltered (not too much sun) for a while to recuperate.

• Perennials that have finished flowering or whose foliage is dying back can be difficult to sell, but should come back strongly next year. Planting 'out of season' can actually be better for the plant too. Plant out with a label so you know where/what they are.

• Perennial plants that have filled a 2L pot (or larger) can sometimes be divided up to make a number of new plants. Look for plenty of shoots, ideally growing in clusters and filling the pot. Gently prize these clusters apart (or chop them up with a sharp knife if needs be) and pot on or plant out. Three or more identical plants for the price of one. Woohoo!

Please post a comment or like this post if you found it helpful