What a lovely week weather-wise – although the forecasters are warning of cold, dull days to come with the possibility of overnight frosts. Let’s hope it brings some much needed rain. Next weekend is Easter and traditionally that is the weekend the garden centres are full of people keen to buy lots of plants to start getting their gardens ready for summer. Last week we looked into the importance of reading the labels and checking the suitability of the plant for its new home. This includes size, colour and general appearance as well as the requirements of the particular plant, such as sun, shade and what kind of soil it needs to thrive.
At the top of the list of plants not to buy are any that show even the slightest sign of disease or pests. These are usually quite easily to see as the leaves will be yellowing and may even be mottled or streaked. Check the new growth carefully for aphid damage, black spot or mildew. Any nibbled leaves could be could be a sign of the dreaded vine weevil. If you do notice anything suspicious be very careful of buying plants from that particular place.
Another thing to look out for is any sign of neglect when buying pot grown plants. Check the surface of the compost as this can be a sure indication of how well the plant has been looked after. If you see a layer of moss and weeds the plant has most probably been on display for some time without any proper care. Unfortunately both moss and weeds will have been competing for nutrients and moisture. This can be shown by weak new growth which unfortunately leaves the plant more prone to pests and disease. Definitely not something you want to introduce into your own garden.
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