Right Plant, Right Place. Plants growing in their ideal environment are naturally more vigorous and therefore more resistant to pests and disease. But we often make the mistake of putting plants where we want them to go rather than where they should go. Planting that bed of sun-loving annuals under shady trees won’t look good for very long. Placing those new shade-loving hostas in full sun will ruin their chances for success. Put the right plant in the right place and you eliminate most of your maintenance problems.

The three most important words in real estate are also the three most important words in gardening: location, location, location! And just as having the right location in real estate has everything to do with the success of the deal, location has everything to do with the success (or failure) of your plants in your garden. Place them properly and they will reward you with minimal care. Any plant, no matter the size, will flourish when planted where it is happiest. We know through scientific observation that healthy plants are less susceptible to pests and diseases. Even when those dangers are present, healthier plants are more resistant and resilient to them when attacked. And they rarely—if ever—need chemical intervention.Plants that thrive in full sun will never look their best in shade. Plants that prefer shade will become quickly stressed in full sun conditions. Plants that thrive in dry conditions will look terrible in wet soil and vice versa. It seems like common sense… yet improper plant placement is a prolific problem!Just like us, a plant that is under stress doesn’t look its best. And more often than not, the most common reason for that is improper siting in the garden. The natural kneejerk reaction, though, from countless unknowing gardeners trying to ‘fix” the problem is to throw extra fertilizer, pesticides, or fungicides at the plant, thinking that will take care of it.

But in all actuality, that’s the single worst thing you can do! Plants trying to survive in a less than ideal environment are already using all the reserves they have. Indiscriminately adding extra chemicals only compounds the problem. I liken it to asking someone to run a marathon when they have the flu, and thinking that a new pair of track shoes will make the difference.Plants in the right place won’t need to be “fixed.” They’ll look great all on their own.It sounds so simple. And as long as you know what the ideal conditions are for that plant or tree, it really is. Unfortunately, we too often buy on impulse, never knowing much about the plant or even where we’ll place it once we do get around to planting. So in the sprit of putting the right plant in the right place, here are some tips to help you navigate through that all-important first step.

Plants in the right place won’t need to be “fixed.” They’ll look great all on their own.It sounds so simple. And as long as you know what the ideal conditions are for that plant or tree, it really is. Unfortunately, we too often buy on impulse, never knowing much about the plant or even where we’ll place it once we do get around to planting. So in the sprit of putting the right plant in the right place, here are some tips to help you navigate through that all-important first step.