Whether you are beginning a new landscape or renovating an existing one, planning ahead can prevent many problems. The majority of maintenance requirements and plant problems result from either selecting the wrong kind of plant for a location or planting an inferior specimen of the selected plant type. In other words, there are two decisions to be made: ▪ What species, or kind, of tree are you going to buy — an oak, pine, mesquite, or acacia? ▪ Assuming you decide on an oak, which one in the row of oaks at the nursery are you going to buy? The first decision is called Plant Selection and the second is Selecting Plants. Our goal is to install the right plant in the right place. This publication will cover the factors involved in making good decisions to achieve this goal.
Introduction
Whether you are beginning a new landscape or renovating an existing one, planning ahead can prevent many problems. The majority of maintenance requirements and plant problems result from either selecting the wrong kind of plant for a location or planting an inferior specimen of the selected plant type. In other words, there are two decisions to be made:
- What species, or kind, of tree are you going to buy — an oak, pine, mesquite, or acacia?
- Assuming you decide on an oak, which one in the row of oaks at the nursery are you going to buy?
The first decision is called Plant Selection and the second is Selecting Plants. Our goal is to install the right plant in the right place. This publication will cover the factors involved in making good decisions to achieve this goal.
Plant Selection
To choose a type or species of plant you need to consider the characteristics of the site and the intended function of the plant. These will help you decide which plant characteristics would be most desirable. Following are the steps to analyze the site where the new plant will be located.
SITE CHARACTERISTICS
Investigate your property. Take the time to note both permanent and seasonal conditions.
Space
Above ground
The most important consideration, and the one most often overlooked, is the available space. Know the size and shape of above ground space at the property. Accurately measure and make a scale drawing of your site. Know heights of walls and eaves. You will want to avoid plants that outgrow the space on your site. See Figure 1.
