Protecting Your Investment: Plant Inspection

The plants in our landscape were chosen to do a job and add enjoyment and beauty to our homes. Therefore, it only makes good sense to keep an eye out for our plants’ well-being and health. Fortunately, it’s not that difficult or inconvenient, and when certain plants do require special care, there are resources to turn to.

Inspecting your plants can be as simple as looking things over while you mow or walk about your property. The most important thing is knowing what to look for. Basically, healthy plants will look typical for their kind. So what’s typical? Well, that takes some knowledge of the specific plant you’re dealing with. However, it generally means that the leaves, size of plant, flower, leaf bud, color and stem elongations are within a moderate range of other like plants. Casual observation over time will guide you on what is normal appearance. You can also compare to your neighbors or those at a local garden center.

A plant that is not doing well is usually easy to spot. If you have several plants of the same type and one looks weak, double check the plant immediately and try to find the cause. For example, is it in a low, wet spot? Improper placement could be the problem. Is the plant getting more or less sunlight that the others of its kind? Does the plant have signs of a disease or insect problem? Is there twine around the base that wasn’t removed before or during planting? These are all common causes of plant problems. If so, you may be able to help the plant yourself. If none of these appear to be the problem, then garden center personnel may be required for help. Take stem and leaf samples of the distressed plant to the experts and be prepared to offer a brief history of that plant. For example, how long has the plant been in that spot? And, have the soil or light levels changed or any excavations nearby or overflowing gutters? These things will help the experts at the garden center better tell what could be troubling the plant. If they are still unable to identify the problem, you should call a certified landscape professional or a horticultural consultant to come out and take a look. This may require paying a fee, but your planting investments are worth protecting. Another option is to send or take adequate samples to the Plant Diagnostic Clinic at The Ohio State University. They can be reached at (614) 292-5006, and will tell you how to ship tissue samples so that they can be analyzed. It may be more convenient to use the web site (PPDC.OSU.Edu) for information in general, including printing out the submission forms. This will guide you to presenting the information the clinic needs for more complete diagnosis. The fee for this will be nominal as compared to replacement costs. Your local OSU Extension Service may also be able to help.

One final note: if your landscape contains a complex mix of native and non-native plants, which is usually the case, it is probably a good idea to have a professional inspect the site at least once a year. He or she can help identify potential problems and recommend appropriate preventive measures. It’s well worth it to assure that your plants, which are more than just a passing fancy, are in good health and will bring you enjoyment for many more years.