KTVU.com, CA
03--01-07
Plan A Garden For Your 'Zone'
Grow A Flourishing Garden With The Right Plants
Leah Betancourt, Staff Writer
Gardening and landscaping can be a lot like cooking.
How Your Garden Grow? | Improve Your Garden
A recipe, much like gardening tips, can be a general guide to lay the framework.
However, it also takes practice and trial and error to find the right combination of
elements to make it work.
When planting a garden or landscaping a space, the plants you choose should
depend on the garden's location and purpose.
"Select the right plants for that space and what you want them to do," said
garden doctor Justin W. Hancock with Better Homes and Gardens in Des
Moines, Iowa.
Choosing plants for the yard, flower box or exterior green space largely rests on
location -- not only the location a person wants to plant them within their space,
but also where the residence itself is located.
Types Of Plants That Work For You
Hardiness zone maps such as The U.S. Department of Agriculture Map divide
the country into 10 zones according to the minimum low temperature that each
area receives in the winter. Zone 11 shows areas that have average annual
minimum temperatures above 40 degrees F and that are virtually frost free,
according to the USDA.
Hancock said the USDA map is a good guideline, and a lot of gardeners consider
it a Bible for what to grow.
But he said for those who have a yard that's sheltered with a courtyard, for
instance, the average yard temperature may not get as low or high as the zone
map says it should.
Once the area has been chosen for planting, take note of what is going on both
above and below the ground. Is it hilly or flat, shady or sunny?
And consider the soil itself.
Hancock said people should look at how well the soil drains and suggested
having it tested to find out whether it's acidic, neutral or alkaline. He said that
testing the soil's pH will offer a good indication of what can grow there.
Hancock said that some plants can only grow in certain conditions and the soil
affects how much nutrients plants can absorb.
He said contacting a county extension official can help provide resources on soil
testing.
Plants typically are rated by light conditions such as full sun, part sun and part
shade.
"I don't think these areas are clearly defined," said Richard Jauron, a
horticulturist at the Iowa State University Extension office.
Jauron said that his office defines areas that get six hours a day of sun as full
sun, areas with two to four hours of direct sun as part shade and less than two
hours of sun as heavy shade.
Hancock said that if an area is getting three to four hours of direct afternoon sun,
it's directly sunny, and if it gets three of four hours of sun any other time of day,
the area is partly shady.
Another factor to consider is the garden's purpose -- is it going to be an herb or
vegetable garden? Does the homeowner want everything to grow at the same
height or have different levels? Is the homeowner looking for a showplace for
birds and butterflies, or are they looking for cut flowers for work?
"Sit back and look at how you will use the yard," Hancock said. "List in order the
top things you want your yard to do for you."
Perennials Or Annuals?
Hancock said a majority of people prefer having gardens that stay green all year
and that evergreens or ornamental grasses can typically carry into the winter
months.
Perennial plants are those that are planted and keep growing back each year.
Jauron said that perennials don't bloom all-year round and that they don't bloom
for long periods.
Jauron said if gardeners want flowers during the whole growing season, they will
have to plant different things, such as a mixture of perennials and annuals.
Annual plants live for one season.
"Most bloom from spring until frost or freeze, but have to be planted every
spring," Jauron said.
How Much Time Can You Commit?
When picking plants, think about how much work you'll want to put into the green
space.
"No gardens are maintenance-free," Jauron said. "Certain things tend to be more
demanding than others."
Jauron said that, for instance, peonies don't require a great deal of care. He
added that bearded irises can require a lot maintenance and need to be divided
because there will be more of them in the future. They can have problems with
iris boarers.
The amount of water a plant can handle depends on the type of plant and how
established it is.
Hancock said for generally flat areas, people can't go wrong with native plants.
"They're adapted to that soil," he said.
Finding The Perfect Plants
Local nurseries can give consumers an idea of the native plants in their area.
Jauron said consumers can find reliable, hardy plants at local garden centers. He
said if the staff is knowledgeable, they should know what grows in the area.
Jauron said when buying plants at mass retailers, shoppers have to know their
plant material better. He said retailers may have a central buyer for the general
area, and the store may not have plants for the consumer's particular area.
"The expertise may not be as good," he said.
Ordering plants through the mail allows consumers more variety. Hancock said
mail-order services tend to offer plants that consumers cannot get locally, but it
can be a bit more expensive and the plants are usually smaller.
"When you buy through the mail, it's important to deal with reliable, reputable
companies. If you do, you're fine," Jauron said.
He suggested going to gardening Web sites and looking for consumer feedback
from mail-order companies.
Once the plants are in the ground, their survival is largely up to the caretaker.
Resisting Pests And Disease
Hancock said that most plants in their healthiest state are resistant to pests and
disease.
"When you don't fertilize the heck out of them, they tend to be more resistant," he
said.
Hancock said plants that grow on their own have a slower, harder growth. He
added that big plants with lush growth may be weaker against bugs and other
elements.
Hancock said that from a personal standpoint, he prefers organic fertilizer
because it releases nutrients slower so they can be absorbed over time and
encourage the health of the soil.
He said chemical fertilizers feed the plant and not the soil.
"Chemical ones can kill the biology of the soil. It's just not as healthy of a growing
environment. Plants can become weaker," he said.
Hancock said he is seeing that people want an instant landscape and a "big
bang" right away with big plants. He cautions people not to overdo it, jump in feet
first and get over their heads.
"If you spend all year putting things in and they don't do well, it (can) be a
number of years before you fix (it)," he said.