Right Plant, Right Place
Right Plant Right Place can really be described as a philosophy in choosing and siting plants.
The main component of this philosophy is to get to know your yard! Observe your garden over the course of a few months (even a couple of seasons if you can) and map out your yard on paper as you answer these questions:
- Where is it sunny and shady?
- Where is the soil sandy or clay?
- Are there pockets of dry or soggy soil?
- Where are there areas of drainage? Low lying areas?
- Where does water tend to pool after heavy rains?
- Are there any slopes? What are the soil conditions like at the bottom of the slope?
Once you have answered these questions and sketched them on your map you will be better able to take advantage of existing contours and drainage patterns to provide conditions for plants with different needs. Now you are ready to choose plants and plant accordingly.
- Group plants together according to their sun/shade, soil and water needs. For example, drought tolerant, sun-loving plants can be grouped and planted in a sunny well-drained area and once established will not need watering.
- Choose plants whose needs are closely met by the conditions of the garden site (ie, wet, dry, shady or moist).
- Plant thickly to cover the soil surface and crowd out weeds; use ground covers and shade-forming plants.
Ultimately, choosing the right plant and siting it in the right place makes for healthier plants – they are less susceptible to disease and pests; therefore, they don’t require pesticides.