Brennan Jackson
Baldwin County Extension Coordinator Extension Service
Right plant, right place
A golden rule is that no plant comes home without a predetermined idea of where it will go.
Plants intertwine with memories and live in a yard for 20-50 years.
Plants persist in a given environment because of the right location or may struggle to survive in the wrong location. So, to make sure a plant has the best chances of being as healthy and fruitful as possible, picking a location ahead of time is advised.
When picking a location check the hardiness zone the plant is rated for. The Baldwin County area is in hardiness zone 8a, which means that any plant that can handle minimum temperatures of 10-15 degrees should thrive here. There are always exceptions, but this is a general rule of thumb.
That is why tropical plants cannot stay outside during certain temperature ranges.
Next, consider spacing when planting. Most plants are provided with a tag that gives an estimate of how wide and tall the plant will get, but in optimal conditions it could certainly get bigger than what it is labeled for. Therefore, always leave room for the plant to grow and be healthy.
The healthier the plant, the less issues encountered down the road from disease, plant competition, etc. For example, trees typically grow very tall and their canopy spreads very wide; therefore, it’s not the best idea to plant a tree right by your house, under power lines or in an area where erosion is a problem. In any of these situations trees will end up being pruned or removed due to the poor location.
Lastly, the plant tag should tell what the light requirements are: full sun, partial sun, or shade. That’s a good indicator as to where it should be planted. In addition, different plants have different water and nutrient requirements.
Know what those requirements are to ensure the plant is being given the food it needs. Most plants are healthier when they are watered deeply and infrequently as opposed to a little bit every day. Also ensure, the plant is not in an area that is prone to drainage issues. This can lead to root rot and other diseases.
Correct temperature, spacing, lighting, nutrition, and water requirements are a good start for ensuring a plant can thrive in a given location. Implementing each of these tips to stall or prevent physiological, disease and hopefully plant death. If you have any questions regarding horticultural or agricultural issues feel free to contact the Extension office by calling 478-445-4394 or email brennan4@uga.edu.