4 Tips for Selecting the Best Plants for Your Garden
The catalogues are pouring in and your email inbox is filled with opportunities to buy cool new plants. The temptations are great. Be a critical consumer and avoid buying more plants than you have space or time to tend.
Don’t be taken in by the beautiful photo of the plant at its prime. Evaluate its seasonal beauty such as foliage, fall color, decorative fruit and pollinator appeal.
Consider small scale and dwarf varieties for those tight spaces. There are many more varieties readily available.
Select low maintenance plants that do not reseed readily, need staking, or require deadheading to look their best. You’ll have more time to enjoy what you’ve created.
Include a diverse selection of plants. You’ll avoid losing large monoculture plantings to an insect or disease infestation when you mix things up. Plus, you can increase seasonal beauty and transitions for added year-round appeal.
A bit more information: Look for plants tolerant of or resistant to diseases and insects common in your area. Avoiding problems is the first step in reducing time and effort managing pest problems in the garden.
Related
Article
Categories
Upcoming
Events & Webinars
Mar. 5, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Start New Plants from Seeds, Cuttings and More
Register here
Mar. 11, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Save Money & Boost Your Growing Success with Bare Root Plants
Register here
Mar. 18, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Patio, Deck and Balcony Gardens
Register here
March 21 & 28, 2026
REALTORS Home & Garden Show
West Allis, WI
More information
March 24, 2026
SC Johnson Golden Rondelle Theater
Community Program
Racine, WI
More information
March 26, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Getting Started Growing Vegetable and Flower Gardens
Register here
April 1, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Growing a Bountiful Harvest
Register here
April 9, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
7 Steps to Managing Water on Your Property
Register here
April 11, 2026
A Day in the Garden
Fond du Lac, WI
Register here
April 18, 2026
3rd Annual Spring Rally
Oshkosh, WI
Register here
April 19, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
April 23, 2026
Iowa State University
More information
April 25, 2026
Pasquesi Home & Gardens
Lake Bluff, IL
April 26, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 2, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 6, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Adding Native Plants
to Any Size Gardening Space
Register here
May 9, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 10, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 16, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 17, 2026
Ebert's Greenhouse Village
Ixonia, WI
May 21, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Planting & Care of Your Rain Garden
Register here
June 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Managing Your Landscape
with Pollinators in Mind
Register here
Sept. 3, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Tree Planting and Care
Register here
Sept. 12, 2026
Knowledge in Bloom Conference
Milwaukee, WI
Register here
Sept. 17, 2026
FREE WEBINAR:
Fall Landscape Care and Planting
Register here
WATCH ON-DEMAND WEBINARS
Learn More
Book an Appearance
Sign up for Melinda's free e-newsletter for a chance to win a Birds & Blooms' Ultimate Gardening Guide!
ENTER NOW
