Choose the RIGHT Trees and Shrubs For Your Yard

Last year when I was in the garden area of a chain retail store here in Zone 5, I noticed that they had a lemon tree. They also carried Princess flower and Angel's trumpet. All three of these are tropical/subtropical plants. There were no signs informing people that in this area, these would have to be brought inside for the winter. A friend was interested in the lemon tree for indoors, so we saved that one. I hope the others didn't perish in the snowy winter.

Yesterday, the same friend called me again, asking if she needed a second lemon tree to pollinate the first. She was at that same store - they were stocking citrus again.

I know that garden zones are more of a suggestion than absolute rules, and that microclimates can create pockets where you can grow plants that you normally couldn't. We once had a little bit of trouble identifying a plant at the garden where I worked. It ended up being a plant that usually only grows in Zone 9 and up, but it had found a happy microclimate area here in Zone 5. Still, there are the Zone guidelines for a reason.

I see the problem as being twofold:

Garden Centers and Nurseries: Help your customers out. Try to only choose trees and shrubs that have a good chance of actually flourishing in your area. If you have stores nationwide, make sure you are buying plants for each area, not using one master list. Train your employees to know as much as they can about the plants you sell, so they can help customers make good gardening decisions.

If you're going to be stocking tropicals (besides houseplants) in temperate locations, inform the customer that they will need extra care. Put up signs saying that the lemon tree should be grown indoors in this location. Warn them that these plants will be annuals here, not perennials.

Gardeners: Find out as much as you can about the plants you want BEFORE you buy them. It still makes me sad to hear about large trees that were planted in locations that can only handle small ones, or that blueberries were planted in alkaline soil with no amendments to make it acid, or citrus trees are toast because of many nights of freezing weather. Make sure you are choosing the right trees and shrubs for your own situation.

Also, don't assume that all of the plants at the garden center will grow in your area. Chain stores may make blanket purchasing decisions for the entire nation, instead of only choosing plants that will grow in the stores' area. If you still want to have an adventure and grow that plant, go for it! I do that all the time, and have bought banana trees, papyrus and mangroves, among other plants, to experiment with here in Zone 5. You just need to be aware that the plant may require extra care, or may not live as long as usual.

I say all this not to scold (except, perhaps, the garden centers a little for bringing in plants that don't belong), but to implore you to empower yourselves in your garden. Knowledge IS power. You'll save time, money, and frustration if you learn at least the basics about your plants first, instead of falling in love with the plants at the nursery and buying them, only to find they won't work for you.

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