Right Plant, Right Place.

Authors
Published on

Many gardeners ask the question “Will this survive?”

 

The real question that needs an answer is “Will this plant THRIVE?”

 

Most of the time, the answer to the question is “Right Plant, Right Place.”

 

 

During the winter months, gardeners are busy planning what they may want to purchase for next year in their landscape.

 

So where to start? Do some in depth research.

 

Most catalog description include zone hardiness,

 

mature height and width,

 

light requirements such as sun, shade, or partial sun,

 

a description of the plant, any special features such as flower or fall color, and a suggested use in the landscape.

 

tsuga

 

 

 

 

 

Spending some time researching plant options will help your selection to move from “surviving” to “Thriving.”

 

There are many examples of right plant, right place. I will explore two plants.

 

Canadian Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis, is my favorite evergreen tree. I used to live in Lake County Ohio and Hemlock thrived on the north facing slope of the Grand River.

 

slope

 

 

 

 

This should give you an indication of where hemlock thrives in its native habitat. It prefers cool shade and does well as an understory plant

 

under2

 

 

 

 

under and amongst mature hardwoods.

 

under3

 

 

 

 

It prefers moist, well drained soils containing gravel or sandy loam.

 

 

 

In the landscape, Hemlock is a versatile shrub/ small tree.

 

prune

 

 

 

It responds to pruning or can be left unpruned.

 

unprune

 

 

 

 

It can grow in full sum but thrives in partial shade or on the north facing side of a building, avoiding the heat of the midday sun.

 

trimmed

 

 

 

 

Hemlocks that are planted in challenging conditions may survive, but because they are experiencing stress can be prone to insect and disease pressure. They really don't like "Full Sun".

 

hem ed

 

 

 

 

 

 

One insect that can infest hemlock is Hemlock Elongate Scale.

 

elongate

 

 

 

 

Sweetbay or Greenbay Magnolia, Magnolia virginiana var. australis,

 

m virg

 

 

 

 

is part of the magnolia family but can remain partially evergreen in the winter if planted in a protected site from sunlight and winter winds.

 

evergreen

 

 

 

 

 

These two Sweetbay magnolias were planted at the same time. The one on the left is surviving while the one on the right is thriving.

 

thrive

 

 

Surviving:

 

bay4

 

 

 

 

Thriving:

 

bay7

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is another example of a plant that really does better in partial shade, protection from wind, and moist conditions.

 

This magnolia can grow and survive in full sun, like this one in a local cemetery. Being planted right next to the

driveway it can suffer from drought stress.

 

m vir sun

 

 

 

Sweetbay Magnolia thrives in a more sheltered environment.

When you look at the catalog description,

 

mag jpeg

 

 

 

 

you can begin to see where a plant will really thrive.

 

 

Choose the right plant and let it bring “Joy to Your World!”

Tags