Plant Shopping Checklist

Plant Shopping Checklist

How do I know what plant to choose?

As the planting and growing season approaches, we know that very quickly the 7 acres at Hyannis Country Garden will be filled with thousands of plants. Given the astounding choices of varieties, sizes and types of shrubs, trees, perennials, vegetables and annuals, it’s understandable that our customers sometimes feel over-whelmed by the selections. Yet a bit of simple planning in advance can help you make the best choices, and quickly inform our staff of your needs.

In the springtime the trucks roll into 380 West Main Street daily, with deliveries of hundreds of plants. It’s understandable that our customers often feel overwhelmed by the number of choices. Some advance planning can help narrow things down.

You can download the advance shopping checklist that’s listed below by clicking here. Print it and bring it into the nursery, so our staff can quickly understand your needs and preferences. We’ll help you find the right plants that provide the landscaping you’re looking for.

Here’s a plant-shopping checklist that you can fill out, and how to think about your answers.

Area where plants are needed: Are you looking to create an island bed down near the road? A circle of color around the lamp-post or a mixed-shrub border in the backyard? In addition to noting the space or spaces on the checklist, take a couple of photos and bring those into Hyannis Country Garden with you.

Direction that area faces, & how much sunlight it receives: Where does the sun rise in relation to this area? Are there buildings or trees that keep the space shaded for most of the day. Notice how much direct sun this part of your yard gets and make note of it on your checklist. Some plants thrive in full sun and others do best in dappled shade. Being clear on the amount of sunlight that falls in any given area of your yard is the first step to planting success!

How tall can the plants grow in this space? By choosing plants that won’t grow too tall over time, you save yourself a great deal of work and worry. A plant that will get too high can block windows, interfere with power lines, or hinder views. If you have to fight a plant’s genetics by trying to make it shorter, it takes time and ultimately makes the plant less attractive. Once a plant gets too large, transplanting it or removing it completely can be difficult. There are so many varieties of plants available today, from short to tall, that it’s possible make selections that fit well in your landscape.

How wide can the plants grow here? Just as a taller plant can become problematic, a variety that grows too wide might become challenging. Check the tags for height and width, and then add a bit more for good measure. Plant tags commonly underestimate size.

Purpose: Do you need screening, foundation covering, native plants, attracting song birds, supporting pollinators, edible landscape, or flowers for cutting? In addition to looking good, many people want their landscapes to do double-duty. We hear our customers ask for plants that are native and support wildlife, for example, or for landscaping that has edible parts.

Plants I love or have always wanted…will they be appropriate here? Finally, if you have strong likes and dislikes about plants or colors, write them down. Do you want a fragrant plant that you associate with summers at your grandmother’s house? Do you love a landscape that’s a simple combination of green and white? Or perhaps you hate the color yellow but adore pink. Make note of your preferences so that our staff can steer you in the right direction.

At Country Garden we receive one of the largest selections of perennials on Cape Cod. Let us help you pick the perfect plants for your landscape. With the help of your advance planning, it will be easy to find plants that will make you smile.
Faced with such a large selection of shrubs, it’s understandable that our customers might feel overwhelmed. Filling out a checklist in advance will make your shopping easier and more enjoyable.
It’s easy to get seduced by the flowers when you’re shopping for plants. But by purchasing based on blossoms alone, you might end up with the wrong plant for that part of your landscape.

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