With so many options available, choosing the right plants for your landscape can be quite the challenge. However, the selection process becomes more manageable with proper planning. Once you have completed the preliminary work, including site analysis, design plan and site preparation, plant selection can take place with better confidence that your selections will be the right plants in the right place.

Prior to purchase, consider checking out the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Plant Guide that can be found at https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu for descriptive information on a variety of Florida-friendly plants. Better still, you can download the University of Florida Extension’s FFL Plants application (app) to your iOS or Android phone and have a great resource at your fingertips when you go shopping. The app normally offers more information than what you might find on the plant’s tag at the nursery on a variety of trees, palms, shrubs, ground covers and more.

When it is time to buy, ensure you are buying healthy plants! Check for new growth, a positive sign of plant health. Check leaves, stems and bark for signs of pest infestation and disease. During your inspection, make certain to check the bottom of leaves as a variety of pests like to take care of business unobserved. Note that pests could also be lurking beneath the soil. Indicators that a plant may be stressed include holes in leaves, leaf spots or bumps, the latter likely caused by scale, or yellowing or wilted leaves, as well honeydew residue left by pests such as aphids, soft scale and mealybugs. In these instances, think twice before purchasing. You definitely would not want an infected plant to spread that infection to other plants you may be placing in the ground.

Don’t hesitate to check out the root system by lifting the plant out of its container if manageable or checking the bottom of the container to see if roots are protruding. A root-bound plant is a sign that the plant may be stressed because it has been in the container too long and, for that reason, is more susceptible to pests and disease. Additionally, if roots appear reddish brown, it could be a sign of root rot.

Avoid purchasing invasive plants. These plants tend to take over an area and will have a potentially negative impact on other vegetation you may have in the area. To determine which plants are considered invasive in Florida, feel free to visit http://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/.

Compare your phone app and plant’s tag information with your site analysis results and design plan before purchase. The closer the match the more likely the plant will not only survive but thrive with proper maintenance. Information such as average mature height and spread, landscape uses, cold hardiness, wind resistance, salt tolerance and pest resistance, as well as light, water, drainage, pH and spacing requirements, should be considered. For example, if your design indicates that bushes should be a certain height and spaced a certain distance apart, reconsider purchases with a greater height and spread. Otherwise, you may find yourself spending more maintenance time than you might otherwise on pruning to keep shrubs manageable.

It is always a good idea to properly plan and do your homework before selecting the living elements for your landscape. By doing so, you are well ahead of the game in ensuring landscaping success. Until next time …

Happy gardening!

Janetta Fox is a Lee County Master Gardener volunteer and member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral.