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July 22, 2011 · 3 Comments

Right Plant, Right Place

Plants

One of the most repeated mantras in gardening is “right plant, right place.” Like other garden sayings, there is a lot of truth in the advice to choose plants that fit the conditions of a landscape rather than try to adjust the location’s soil, sunlight or micro-climate to fit a desired plant.

garden bed with tough plants

These plants are in the right place–a baking hot bed near the sidewalk. They thrive there because it’s the kind of environment they can accommodate.

Three years ago, I gave up on growing grass in the southeast corner of my lot. We don’t have an irrigation system and don’t want to install one. The corner gets baking sun much of the year. It’s on a slope, so water runs off quickly. Grass likes wet and cool; this spot had hot and dry.

So, out with the grass, and in with a planting bed with prairie plants: grasses, blazing star, Russian sage, perennial salvia, sedum. Now in its third season, I love looking at this colorful bed almost as much as I hated looking at the dry, dead grass that used to be there. And, it’s significantly less work than mowing and watering the area used to be. Each spring, I clean up the area, removing spent plants and stray stems. I usually refresh the mulch and maybe edge it. After that, I just pull weeds, if I see them. In fall, I cut down a few of the perennials and leave the rest for winter interest. That’s the entire maintenance plan.

purple red allium blooms

These alliums add color to the bed and are a bee magnet.

I’ve only had to replace one plant—a chokeberry bush that didn’t make it through the first winter. Everything else is big, beautiful and soaking up the sun and heat.  Last year, I added these allium because their purple bulbs complement the colors of the ‘Kobold’ blazing star and salvia so nicely.

Right plant, right place. Good advice.

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« Slime Mold Attacks! Blame Heat Wave!
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Comments

  1. Karen says

    July 23, 2011 at 10:15 am

    That is great advice, and some I should heed. All too often I get wrapped up in trying to make a plant survive where it doesn’t want to, and this is just plain silly! I also enjoyed the slime mold post (no, I don’t mean I like slime mold, lol) I’m just glad to hear what it is. Scary-looking, isn’t it?

Trackbacks

  1. Right Plant, Right Place II | My Northern Garden says:
    September 25, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    […] adage in gardening — and a true one. (Maybe all adages are true?) I’ve written about it before, but more evidence of right plant, right place showed up in my garden this […]

  2. Right Plant, Right Place II says:
    October 6, 2018 at 9:36 pm

    […] adage in gardening — and a true one. (Maybe all adages are true?) I’ve written about it before, but more evidence of right plant, right place showed up in my garden this […]

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A break from the usual garden content: Lola has NE A break from the usual garden content: Lola has NEVER been allowed on our bed and we were sure she could not get up on it, since she is short and the bed is not. A recent increase in her arthritis meds seems to have created an athlete. Never underestimate a 15 year old dog in pursuit of sun.
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The spring issue "Before and After" features a vegetable garden created out of a blank backyard in Bloomington, MN. The homeowner worked with Rustic Hills Garden Co. to add raised beds, fencing, paths and trellises. It's incredibly productive and really nice looking, too! 

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When you’re up to your knees in new snow, it’s When you’re up to your knees in new snow, it’s time to dig out your lists of favorite plants and start planning ✍️ this year’s garden.

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A few photos all reeled together that mostly weren’t on instagram. Wishing you all a Happy New Year and a bloom-filled, homegrown 2023. 

Highlights include: Garden shots from Florida, England, my home garden, St. Cloud and Washington County, Minnesota, plus the Minnesota State Fair dahlia garden. Steve and I at Hadrian’s wall, then being escorted off the cruise ship after we got Covid (do NOT recommend!), harvest dinner at my brother’s farm in Wisconsin, my friend, Julie’s, indoor ripening set up for the Aleppo peppers she helped me trial, a bit of garden philosophy and @resawithoutherspoon’s amazing Christmas cookies. 
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