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Articles
Choosing the Best Plants for your Garden
Many times we buy plants on impulse then find there is
nowhere in the garden that really suits them. Before
buying plants carefully examine your garden to see how
much sun and shade it gets, whether the soil is well
drained or waterlogged and whether your aspect is
sheltered or windswept. You'll then be equipped to go
and buy the best plants for your situation; shade-loving
plants for the sheltered areas, sun-lovers for the warm
spots, drought-resistant plants for the parched areas
which may be either sunny or shaded, and swamp plants
for the poorly-drained parts.
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But wait! Test your soil first, to determine the pH
level of your soil and what kind of nutrients you need
to add, if any. Is the soil acid or alkaline? Most
plants prefer soil that is slightly acidic, but there
are some that must have alkaline soil to grow. You can
alter the soil's pH level, but it's much easier to
simply plant for the soil you have.
Now you are ready to plant. Well - almost. Will you
plant in groups or singly? If you buy 'one of
everything' your garden may seem rather spotty. Group
plantings are organised, harmonious and you can vary the
color for interest.
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Before planting out, place your chosen plants around the
garden bed in their pots to see how they will look.
Re-arrange them until you are satisfied. Grouping plants
in sets of threes or fives usually looks better than
planting in groups of even numbers. Be sure that you
have an interesting combination of colors and textures
of plants. Tall plants should go to the back, or the
centre if your garden will be viewed equally from all
sides. Try to keep your plants away from trees. The
roots of trees are fiercely competitive and will steal
all the nutrients and moisture meant for your flowers.
The right color scheme is one way to maintain the
harmony in your garden. Imagine the color of the flowers
when they are in bloom. Some colors may clash with
others, but can still be planted side-by-side if they
have a different blooming season. Foliage color is also
important. Many flower plants have silver, grey or
purplish foliage that is just as attractive as the
flower. This means that they are still attractive well
past the blooming season and so have added value.
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