Landscape plants can be expensive — they're an investment for your home. So, when you buy plants for your yard, seek healthy plants that fit your landscaping needs, beautify your property, and grow well in your area’s climate. These tips will help you get the right landscaping trees, flowers, and shrubs:
Plan your landscape on paper before you set out to purchase plants — you’ll know exactly how much to buy.
Establish a budget before you arrive at the nursery.
Choose plants suited to the amount of sun, partial shade, or shade in your garden.
Avoid plants that don’t grow well in your zone.
Buy plants that, when mature, are the right height, shape, and color for the scale of your landscape.
Choose plants that are compact, healthy, and (if applicable) just starting to flower. Avoid weak, spindly, or insect-infested plants.
Avoid buying plants that are rootbound or have outgrown their pots.
Note any special conditions before purchasing plants — soil requirements, watering needs, invasiveness, smells, and messiness (especially with berries).