When selecting plants for your garden two important considerations are their quality and their suitability for the conditions in the garden.
Soils
In nature many plants are adapted to particular soils or situations, growing less satisfactorily, or poorly, when not given similar garden conditions.
A wide range of plants can be grown successfully in many gardens, particularly those on the more easily worked fertile loam soils associated with arable farmland.
Care is necessary in selecting plants for the less easily cultivated soils; chalk soils; heavy clays; dry sandy soils. For example, camellias, rhododendrons and most heathers require acid soil conditions and are intolerant of chalk and alkaline soils; in dry, gravelly soils many plants will under-perform or struggle to survive.
Situation
Many plants are intolerant of the salt-laden sea winds of coastal areas; others may suffer winter damage in exposed inland areas.
Within gardens choose carefully; shade tolerant woodland plants for moist shady situations, summer-flowering perennials and roses for warm, sunny beds.
Quality
When buying plants always look for healthy foliage, good shape and balance, and good roots.
Importance of good roots
Avoid container-grown trees or shrubs which have thicker roots tightly curled around the soil ball ( a condition termed ‘pot-bound’), indicating an older plant restricted for too long in its container. The roots are usually impossible to straighten and spread out, the plant often failing to establish and eventually dying.
Mossy growths thick on the compost surface of herbaceous and rock plants can indicate older plants with suspect root systems.
A firm, clean moss-free compost surface with, in spring, white healthy roots visible at the base of the pot, are indications of a healthy root system. If in any doubt ask to see a plant’s roots before purchase. Decline any which have been only recently containerised, the compost falling away, revealing little fibrous root and pruned back thicker ones.
Importance of good foliage
Look for healthy, blemish and pest-free foliage (aphids, red spider). For example, when buying bedding plants be wary of boxes containing plants of different size and vigour, which could indicate erratic watering. Avoid tomato plants with thin hard stems and pale leaves. They are unlikely to make good plants. Bluish foliage indicates that night temperatures have been too low.
Further information
Search online for suppliers of your favourite plants with the RHS Plant Finder.