With the holidays in the rearview mirror, the ads which reach prospective customers have shifted from discounted specials to heavily discounted leftovers. The good deals of a few days ago are now great deals, if you really need them.
It is easy to get caught up in the buying frenzy when the purchaser has only to present a piece of plastic with numbers and a computer chip. Reality sets in when the bill comes due, whether it arrives via the USPS or on an electronic device.
The economic inconvenience or (in most cases) pain can last for months. Fortunately, the marketing efforts quickly shift away from holiday goodies and winter clothes, but spring’s offerings come into sharp (and colorful) focus soon after.
One of the seasonal offerings (in reality temptations) comes from those selling products to use in the home landscape. Historically these came in the mail as garden catalogs, but today the enticements arrive on smart phones, computers and any other connected device.
As is standard, all the plants and vegetables are in beautiful color. Every bloom is large and perfect, every vegetable is plump and shows no hint of insect damage and turf is as uniformly perfect as a new roll of green carpet.
Garden catalogs and ads from internet nurseries offer a variety of options for the upcoming spring season, but not every offering can be taken at face value. This ad is promoting Chinese wisteria, and invasive, and Virginia creeper, an endemic weed in panhandle Florida.
Unfortunately, reality is quite different. While there are legitimate offerings which can be delivered from afar, it is up to the buyer to choose and purchase wisely.
This requires some research, but it is worth the effort. It will save the buyer time, expense and aggravation.
It is important when purchasing plants or seeds to determine if the plant will grow in the region. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone is a good guide, but be aware that “microenvironments” may result in failure.
Microenvironments are geographic locations which can, because of topography, be cooler or warmer than the typical temperatures in the area. A variety of factors can influence this.
Elevation, soil type, surrounding geological features, buildings or other manmade structures, and water bodies can all have an effect. These factors are difficult to overcome, so the gardener must be aware before planting.
A prudent policy is to look around and see if anyone else is growing a like species. If they are, examine the conditions and determine if they can be duplicated.
Also, if the planting site is at one extreme or the other of the hardiness zone designation, it may be a good idea to try a small planting. If the plant works, then a larger planting can be installed at the next opportunity.
If the planting fails, the gardener is only out a limited amount of time and expense. The trial planting can also determine if the plant performs as advertised.
Another very important factor to consider when ordering from out of state nurseries or suppliers is the invasive potential of a plant. Exotic and non-native plants can flourish too well if introduced into a hospitable environment.
The supplier should know that certain plants are illegal to ship into panhandle Florida, but it does not hurt to confirm ahead of time. Also, some plants are not invasive in some states but can be in north Florida.
So, enjoy the shift in merchandising coming to a computer or phone near you. The catalog in the mail are still a few weeks away, but they will arrive!
Leave a Reply