Plant Selection

Excerpt from Roberta Clark & Deborah Swanson's 2011 article "Right Plant, Right Place" - A Plant Selection Guide for Managed Landscapes (University of Massachusetts Centre for Agriculture, Food and the Environment https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/right-plant-right-place-plant-selection-guide-for-managed-landscapes)

Choosing the "right plant for the right place" is an important consideration for all types of landscaping. Ignoring this guideline may lead to increased maintenance, a failure of plants to thrive, and sometimes the death of installed plant material. Careful planning and site evaluation are the first steps in applying this concept. Trees and shrubs vary considerably in their ability to tolerate different site conditions and it is critical to select plants to match the existing growing conditions of the site in addition to their ornamental value. Even the best planting practices will not help a plant to thrive if it is poorly suited for a particular site. It is also important to know the mature height and width of selected plants so that they will not outgrow the space allotted to them.

Some site conditions to keep in mind when selecting landscape plants include:

• light availability, intensity and duration (full sun to deep shade)

• water availability, both quantity and quality

• exposure to wind and temperature extremes

• soil type, drainage, compaction

• hardiness zone

• competition from existing vegetation

• below ground conditions in urban sites

• above ground wires or obstructions

A major factor to consider when selecting woody ornamentals is insect and disease resistance. If two plants have similar form, function, and aesthetic qualities but one has an insect or disease problem and the other has none, it makes sense to choose the resistant species. For example, European birch (Betula pendula) is often used as a landscape tree but the bronze birch borer significantly impacts it. River birch (Betula nigra) offers the same form and function but is resistant to this pest. The cultivar Heritage™ has the desired lighter colored, exfoliating bark and is the preferred species to use in the landscape.

Aesthetic considerations for plant selection include:

• growth habit, i.e. pyramidal, columnar, spreading, etc.

• season and color of bloom

• foliage color, texture, and shape

• winter interest of bark, fruit, or structure

• benefits to wildlife

• fall color

• longevity

Low-maintenance landscaping does not mean that no maintenance will be required, as all plants will require some routine care in order to succeed. In addition to plant selection, proper planting practices and the grouping of trees and shrubs according to their needs for water, fertilizer, and maintenance will go a long way to ensure good plant health. With good site evaluation and plant selection, woody ornamentals will thrive and enhance the landscape for many years.