Lessons Learned: The right plant, in the right place
By Ann Briggs
WSU Chelan/Douglas County Master Gardener
I’m a new Master Gardener, having just received my certification in November 2024. Even though I’ve been gardening most of my adult life, being in this program has made me realize that I have so much to learn.
One piece of information that has really stuck with me is putting “the right plant, in the right place.” It seems like a simple concept but walk around any neighborhood and there’s a good chance you’ll see examples of plants that aren’t in the right place. It could be that they were once “cute little things” planted next to the house’s foundation and, now that they are all grown up, lean out from the building at an unnatural angle. Or perhaps they have scorched leaves from being placed in an area with too much sunlight. On the flip side, they may have leggy, scrawny growth and fail to thrive because they don’t get enough light, water or nutrients.
A little over a year ago, I bought a home with a mature landscape, including some examples of plants that are not right for their location. Recently, I removed a large, deciduous conifer tree that was growing between my house and my neighbor’s house. It was a beautiful tree, but it was absolutely in the wrong place.
From a fire-wise standpoint, this tree was too close to buildings (trees should be planted 30 to 100 feet away from the house). From a maintenance standpoint, it was a real pain! In the fall, it dropped its needles onto my flat roof and into the gutters of my neighbor’s house. Every time the wind blew, I ended up with little haystacks of needles all over my patio. I’m sure neither of us miss the mess.
So, how do you choose the right plant for the right place? Below are some things you should consider before bringing a plant home.
Climate and soil: Is the plant hardy for the climate zone? Most gardens in the Wenatchee Valley are in USDA climate zones 7a or 7b. Will the plant grow well in the type of soil it’s going to be planted in? The best way to determine the level of nutrients in your soil is to have it tested. Armed with this information, you’ll know how best to prepare the planting area, or to choose a plant better suited for your type of soil.
Mature plant size: Know how tall and wide your plant will grow to and use that as your guide for spacing from other plants and structures. Keeping this in mind will reduce pruning needs and overcrowding. Also consider the plant’s root space requirements to avoid future cracking problems with sidewalks, driveways and foundations.
Water and light requirements: Is the plant drought tolerant or will you need to supplement it with additional water? How much sun or shade does the plant need? Can it handle reflected heat from buildings or pavement? Try to group plants together that have similar needs.
Plant resistance: Choose varieties of plants that are matched well with the existing climate and soil conditions. Plants that are stressed are more prone to pest attacks. Selecting varieties that are resistant to common insect and disease problems will reduce the need for using insecticides and pesticides. Consider adding native plants, which are well adapted to our local environmental conditions, and you’ll be a step ahead of the game.
I hope to share with you in future columns my lessons learned as I work to renovate my yard’s mature landscape.
A WSU Chelan-Douglas Master Gardener column appears weekly in The Wenatchee World. To learn more, visit bit.ly/MGchelandouglas or call (509) 667-6540.