It is hard to believe, but many gardeners have
already started working on their garden “to do” lists. Even
though it’s winter, they’re dreaming about the colorful
weed-free flowerbeds that will adorn their front yards this summer. To help
visualize these dreams, many gardeners thumb through garden catalogs, full
of colorful pictures and vivid descriptions. Whether you are looking for tomato seeds, fruit
trees, daylily plants, fertilizers, or garden tools, you are bound to find
excellent selections through mail-order catalogs. Here are a few tips for
finding a catalog company to fit your needs. A beautiful picture in a catalog doesn’t mean
that you’ll get the perfect plant. Companies selling merchandise
rarely identify a plant’s faults. Also, be cautious of outrageous
claims and words such as “vigorous grower.”
Does the company list Latin (botanical) names along
with the common names? Botanical names, generally italicized or underlined,
are international and don’t vary significantly, whereas common names
vary from region to region. If a cultivar’s name is included, it will
be listed in single quotes. A botanical name commits a company to sending
you a specific plant. Before placing an order, do a little research. What
are the plant’s specific growing needs — light, soil and water
requirements, plant hardiness zone ratings, potential insect or disease
problems? What is the duration of bloom for a flowering plant, and does the
plant have any other outstanding characteristics? Check return policies, guarantees, shipping charges,
and substitution policies. Be cautious of companies that ship plants
year-round. The number of seeds in a packet or the size of
shipped plants should be listed. Remember: The smaller a plant, the longer
it takes to become a significant addition to the garden and the more
patience it will require from you. How do you know whether a company is reputable? Aside
from asking other gardeners, you can never be sure. If you have not ordered
from a company before, place a small sample order. For a true test, order
the same item from several companies. Many garden catalogs can be viewed or ordered online.
However, a general search for “garden catalog” will yield
millions of hits. To narrow your search, consider visiting Cyndi’s
Catalog of Garden Catalogs at www.gardenlist.com. This is one-stop shopping
for the home gardener who wants to catalog-shop. The site contains the
mailing addresses and, when available, Web addresses for more than 2,000
garden merchandisers. When applicable, catalogs are categorized by
specialty. Each link has an opinion rating for quality of plants, price,
service, and selection. The only drawback I have found to this site is a
few pop-ups. (This site is not endorsed by the University of Illinois
Extension.) Generally you will be happier with plants purchased
from a local garden center. If you can buy a plant locally, do so. Reserve
purchasing plants by mail for the uncommon selections. Be sure to find out
why a selection is not available locally. Sometimes it is because the plant
in question will not grow well in our area; if this is the case, you may
want to avoid buying the plant. Often a particular plant is not offered
because it is a specialty item or not sold widely in the market. If this is
the case but you have the perfect spot in your garden, order away. Whether you place an order or not, garden catalogs
can provide you much inspiration for the coming growing season.
This article appears in Feb 2-8, 2006.
