Now that you have talked with other gardeners about some plant choices and plants to avoid, it’s time to put some technology to work for you. And you can start your tech gardening experience with something as everyday as your cell phone!
So many phones today have internet availability, but you can use almost any phone to make notes of plant names within your memo format. Another good option is to use the camera to take photos of plants you like, and the label, too, if available. Even if the plant is unknown, other gardeners may be able to help you identify the plant at a later time.
The internet is a great resource for lists of native plants for your area. Because natives have acclimated to soil and climate conditions, they will require fewer chemicals to help their growth and need less supplemental water once established. Those benefits will mean less work for you in the long run, and lower maintenance costs.
English Ivy is a non-native invasive plant that becomes woody with age.
Another list you should check would be the invasive plant species for your region. This list includes plants that work great in some places, and become bullies in others, choking out native plants and stealing water and nutrients from the plants that you are trying to cultivate. Most Virginia residents recognize kudzu, one of the plants introduced with good intentions that has since become an expensive nuisance.
Even young plants can cause damage when allowed to grow against buildings
There are lots of garden sites available to help you as you work through your design. Before you get much further with your plant selection, make sure you’ve discussed your plans with others in your household. They may have concerns that you haven’t thought about, and you might need some assistance with installation and maintenance of your new garden.
Stay tuned for my next post, where I'll talk about how to make your local garden center work for you.
