at the Garden Center Panic!

6 tips to stay organized and not be overwhelmed when shopping for your garden

Ihate to shop. There are too many choices, too many colors and trends, not enough helpful salespeople, and of course, never enough money. I’ve realized that many people may walk into the garden center and feel the same way I do when I walk into the Commons. Overwhelmed by the choices, colors, information (or lack thereof), afraid to ask questions, and not prepared for the cost. The following are some tips to arm you with “pre-knowledge” before you head out to the Garden Center. This should help you focus on what you need to accomplish and not freak out when you get out of your car and see all the flowering goodies!

1. BE PREPARED. If you are working on a specific spot, removing and replacing a dead plant, or just need to add a little color, bring a photo of the area. We can usually look at a photo and name off several plants that will work in the spot and get you in and out and back home planting rather quickly.

2. GIVE YOURSELF TIME TO SHOP AND BROWSE. Garden centers are busy places in the spring/summer and sometimes the staff is tied up. If you don’t know quite what you want, spend some time just wandering (and bring a notebook so you can write down names of things that catch your eye). You can grab a salesperson once you’ve got some things that you like and ask for more information about your choices or narrow down your selection.

3. DON’T BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW. We all think we have more than 48 hours in a weekend. Be realistic about what you can tackle in your free time. Work on one section of your space at a time and only purchase what you can handle.

4. BRING MEASUREMENTS. They can aid us in determining how much space you may have to fit a shade tree. They will help us help you figure out how much mulch or compost you need. They even help determine any additional “surprises” that may pop up in the course of the project like utilities, windows, walkways or sod to be removed.

5. IMPULSE BUYS ARE GOOD AND BAD. I would be lying if I said I didn’t bring plants home without thinking about where they will end up. I’m a sucker for color and tend to find something at least once a week (hey, I’m at the nursery all the time … it’s bound to happen!). While it’s fun to grab the latest blooming goodie, take a second to think about where the plant should go in the garden. I often tell folks that have no color in the summer in their gardens that they have to start shopping every two to three weeks throughout the season, rather than just in May. May shoppers tend to buy what’s flowering. Therefore, their gardens tend to just look good in May. Shopping periodically is a great way to add to a perennial garden and help distribute your color throughout the season. We are fortunate to have a pretty long growing season, so you can have fun in your garden well into November!

6. BE NICE. I shouldn’t have to say this, but the growing season is a very busy time for horticulture geeks, and it is very high stress even though we are surrounded by plants. A lot happens in a very short period of time, and the staff is spread thin. Plus, we have to deal with Mother Nature and her whims. Be patient, realistic, and listen to the advice given to you, and you will be hugely successful in your garden. What’s that old saying? You can catch way more flies with honey than with vinegar!

Remember, use the nursery staff to your advantage. Every single member of our staff is a passionate plant person, and we love answering questions. If you start to get the heebie-jeebies when you get out of the car and see flowers in all directions, just flag us down, and we’ll hand you a cup of coffee and a wagon!

Meagan Provencher is the Senior Landscape Designer at Wasco Nursery in St. Charles. She can be reached at 630-584-4424 or design@wasconursery.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!