Selecting Plants
Selecting Plants Plants differ in their tolerance for heat, cold, and moisture, so when selecting plants, gardeners must take into account the climate of their region. Gardeners also evaluate the soil type and how much sunlight falls on the proposed site, factors that affect the types of plants that can be grown in a particular area. They consider, too, the plant’s life cycle—how long it takes a plant to grow, flower, produce fruits or seeds , and die. Annuals such as petunias bloom and produce seed the same year they are planted, then die when cold temperatures set in. Biennials— hollyhocks , for example—live for two years, producing just leaves the first year. In the second year they produce flowers, and die when the weather turns cold. Perennials, which include shrubs and trees as well as flowers, are plants that live for three or more years. A gardener can experiment with a stunning diversity of interesting garden styles and types. Herb gardens may feature culinary herbs, medici...