Gardening Sweet Spots
By Donna Hessel
SPECIAL NOTE: The Emerald Necklace Garden Club will host a plant sale on May 9 at the Methodist church on the square in Brecksville, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. A wide variety of perennials, annuals and herbs will be available, all grown in members’ gardens and consequently deer resistant. A couple of hundred, foot-tall tomato plants, including heirlooms, that are grown by a club member and are bargain-priced, await veggie gardeners. In addition, there are garden treasures to be found at the Garden Faire. Included this year is a Vintage Holiday Décor sale. If you live in the area, be sure to stop in.
Clues that Identify the Best Plant
Garden centers and nurseries fully stocked with spring plants can be overwhelming! Good signage will help you find the plants you are looking for. But when you’ve found them, how do you determine the best one to purchase? Which one is healthiest? Which one is the best deal?
Blooms or No Blooms?
If the plant has flowers, it may not bloom again when those flowers die off – especially if it is a perennial. Look for a plant that has buds – which will become flowers – and which usually will be the color of the flowers to follow. If the plant has just foliage and the tag matches plants with flowers, make sure the foliage matches that of the flowering plant and that flowers haven’t been cut off. This plant is the best deal, as it hasn’t formed buds yet but will.
Large or Small Size?
The biggest plant with the most foliage is probably the best plant. However, take a look at the root system. If it is root-bound (with roots growing out of the bottom of the pot), it will be difficult to transplant and may take a long time to recover in the garden. The smallest plant at the same price is definitely not the best deal!
When buying a slow-growing plant, the largest plant will make a greater impact sooner. Look between the leaves to the crown of the plant. In a slow growing peony, for instance, more eyes on more stems mean more flowers. Also check for overflowing foliage and check beneath the leaves for definite divisions. Those can easily be divided, giving you more plants for your money.
Check plants found on the clearance rack for pest damage.
Shopping from the Clearance Racks
There are often great deals to be had from shopping plants that have been reduced in price for one reason or another. Be sure to check the plant you choose for the following:
- Root system. Gently tip the plant out of the pot. If it has a small root system, it may have been newly planted or transplanted into a larger pot and will take a while to mature.
- Pest damage. Are there lacelike holes in the leaves? They might have been caused by Japanese beetles or another pest you don’t want to introduce into your garden. Skip this one!
- Overwatered plants. Usually not a problem – the opposite may be the case. Look for a dead crown or roots that are easy to pick off. This one won’t recover.
- Heat-damaged plants. Shriveled brown or pale leaves indicate heat damaged plants. They will rarely survive, so best to pass them up.
What Kind of Pot is the Plant In?
In an effort to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in oceans and landfills, responsible growers are transitioning to eco-friendly pots made from other materials. If you have a choice, select a plant that has been grown in a biodegradable pot or in a container made from recycled plastics or other materials.
There are three types of pots. “Plantable” means the pot can be put in the ground with the plant intact. The roots will grow through the pot and into the soil as the pot breaks down. “Biodegradable” pots eventually break down but may leave harmful residues behind. Look for those that are certified organic. “Compostable” pots eventually break down into humus and leave no toxic residues. Some take a long time to decompose. Plants should be removed from the pots, which can then be added to the compost pile.
CowPots are actually made on a dairy farm.
- Plantable Pots. CowPots are made from biobased composted cow manure and recycled newsprint. They dissolve in four weeks in the garden and nutrients in the materials help plants grow bigger. PlantBest Coconut Coir Pots are made from coconut coir fiber. They are peat-free and organic. Peat Pots are plantable but there is controversy about their sustainability. Paper Pots. You can make your own from toilet paper rolls or newspaper tubes. They are great for starting seeds or nurturing small transplants before planting in the garden. Do not use coated (glossy) magazine pages as the ink is toxic to plants.
- Compostable Pots. FeatherPots are a clean and sustainable source of the protein keratin. The feathers are shredded and made into light, durable pots that can be composted when empty. Western Pulp Round Pots are molded cellulose fiber pots derived from recycled newspaper. These are heavy-duty containers and tender plants will not be able to push their roots through them. Separate the rootball before planting and compost the container. They are not certified organic.
DIY plantable pots can be made from rolled newspaper or toilet paper tubes.
SelfEco Garden Pots are compostable pots that break down easily once planted. EcoGrow pots are fiber planters that offer excellent breathability for root systems and are suitable for organic gardening, easily breaking down once planted. EnviroArc pots are from Australia and are made from bamboo pulp, rice hulls, wheat straw and cornstalks – all grown organically. They break down in less than six months when composted.
- Recycled Materials Containers. Proven Winners Eco+ Containers are industrial compostable containers made from natural, plant-derived materials (PLA) that act like plastic but decompose faster. They can be planted in the ground and break down within four to six weeks, depositing nutrients in the soil as they decompose. Eco-Forms from China are made from rice hulls and starch-based binder, heated and compressed. They are available in many sizes and styles, last for five years and can withstand freezing and thawing. They are not meant to be planted in the ground but are biodegradable and can be composted.
Growers want plant customers to know about their efforts to improve sustainability. Look for tags on the plants you purchase that identify the grower and the type of pot.
The first visit to the garden center in the Spring to choose new plants is always highly anticipated. This year, find the healthiest and most-likely-to-thrive selections by following the above recommendations.
Article Resources:
Garden Gate Online Newsletter 3-27-25 – “How to Buy the Best Perennials at the Garden Center” – by Garden Gate Staff
Farmers Almanac online newsletter article – “Eco-Friendly and Compostable Pots for Seed-Starting” – by Robin Sweetser, garden writer, editor and speaker
https://www.almanac.com/10-biodegradable-planting-pots-and-how-make-your-own
“10 Biodegradable Planting Pots and How to Make Your Own!” – 2-5-2025
AI Overview – “Eco Friendly Pots” – Top eco-friendly garden pots favored by growers
Photos from pexels.com and Farmers Almanac
