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As true in the plant world as it is in the human world, plants planted in inappropriate locations will fail to thrive and may indeed fail altogether. It’s all too easy to fall in love with the appearance of a particular plant at the nursery without the right place for it in your garden. If that perfect place is determined by looks alone, chances are your plant will not get enough of what it needs to thrive. You need the right place for the right plant.
I’ve seen too many irises that never bloom due to a lack of the sun’s rays. Lamb’s ear, the tight-growing, mat-forming mint family member that succeeds despite neglect, looks overgrown and floppy when given overly moist, rich soil. Russian sage, perennial geraniums and catmint respond the same to what for them is an overdose of the “good stuff.”
The mantra of a local teacher of mine is, “Water doesn’t equal love” — a hard lesson to learn. It’s true enough, though, particularly in reference to these hardy survivors. Many xeric and native plants, in fact, look their best when grown in lean, unamended soils and given little to no supplemental water after they are established. In fact, one of the principles of xeriscape is “hydrozoning,” or grouping plants according to water needs. Hydrozoning leads to more efficient water use, healthier plants and thus happier people.
The Colorado Master Gardener program stresses an important concept referred to as “right plant, right place.” The idea is that plants need to be planted where they have enough room to grow to be well-adjusted, balanced adult plants, foregoing the need for constant maintenance to keep them the desired size. For example, a shrub that will reach 6 feet tall at maturity is not the right plant beneath a 3-foot high window — especially if you want to see out the window. I know the flowers, leaves and form might be just what you were looking for. But everyone and everything involved will be better off in the long run if you find another option that fits the space better.
Another example is taking a tree that will one day achieve a width of 15 feet and planting it 4 feet from the house because it looks nice there when you bring it home from the nursery. Although it can be difficult, take seriously the tags proclaiming mature sizes. Use measuring devices; check with others before you plant it.
Planting too close to something — a low building, a fence, another plant — is a surprisingly common error for something that may sound like common sense. Look around and you’ll see the evidence. Remember those Christmas trees I wrote about in December’s issue? Consider both culture — light, moisture, neighboring plants — and space, and get in the habit of asking yourself, “Is this the right plant for the right place?” before you plant or even before you purchase a plant.
Unfortunately, hired professionals are not exempt from planting too close to other plants or to structures. The newly installed landscape may look great the first year or two, but then it may succumb to a messy, overcrowded state that is nearly impossible to maintain without some transplanting.
Getting the spacing right is a challenge. Gardeners, even experienced gardeners, may be left feeling like there is too much open space when they finish a project. There may seem to be a sea of mulch with too few plants or plants that seem too small floating in the vastness — not the image they had envisioned when they started out to make their dreams real for their property. But trust me — those babies will grow into adults that will dazzle you, especially when they have the conditions and space they need to flourish in the right location.
Eve Gilmore is a landscape designer and garden coach and owner of Gardens by Eve in Durango. You can reach Eve at www.gardensbyeve.buzz town.com or by calling 970-769-3319.
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