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Choosing the Best Spot in Your Yard for a New Shrub

Now that you’ve decided you want to plant a new shrub, and maybe you’ve even brought it home from the nursery, you need to choose the best spot in your yard for planting. Selecting the best place from the beginning means you won’t need to dig it up later because it has grown too big or you’re unhappy with its placement.

Be Considerate of the Surroundings

Depending on the shrub you’re planting, it can drop leaves and even fruits. A shrub against your foundation may drop its foliage into window wells or gutters, which are difficult to keep clean. Or will it make your neighbor unhappy every fall when it covers their lawn with leaves?

If it drops fruit, be mindful they may stain your driveway, make a mess of your vehicle, or land on a busy walkway, so they get stepped on and tracked everywhere. These fruits can also attract birds, which also increases the cleanup.

How Easy Will it Be to Water?

Most new plantings require extra water until the root system gets well established. In many cases, you’ll need to water it by hand once in a while, especially if you don’t get consistent rainfall. Does your hose reach that far? Or will you need to carry water?

Do You Want it Visible from a Specific Window?

If you choose an ornamental shrub to add a focal point to your yard, you want to enjoy it as often as possible. For some people, this means planting it in a visible spot from inside the house. Maybe you want to see its beautiful flowers and foliage through the kitchen window when standing at the sink. Or perhaps you want to sit on the living room sofa and watch the hummingbirds it attracts.

Think About Lawn Mowing

When it comes to placement, you should also think about how the mature shrub may affect mowing your lawn. A small, immature plant doesn’t typically impede anything, but it will fill out as it grows to its mature size. Planting it in the middle of the yard means you’ll need to mow close to it, which can be challenging, especially if the branches are low-hanging or have thorns. Or you’ll need to cut around it using a string trimmer.

Don’t Impede Access to Important Items in Your Yard

Shrubs are incredibly helpful at hiding eyesores in the landscape — air conditioning units, garbage cans, and utility boxes. While this is great, you always want to keep them an appropriate distance away from these items so you can access them when needed.

How to Select the Best Shrubs for Your Yard

When you landscape your yard, you may initially think of a design with annual and perennial flowers, but shrubs are a great way to bring beauty to your space. They come in many sizes, shapes, and colors to meet the needs of every gardener. Picking the right ones for your area ensures they’ll look great and stand the test of time.

Here are some questions to think about when choosing shrubs.

What Do I Want My Shrubs to Accomplish?

First, think about why you want shrubs in your yard. Some people plant shrubs for privacy, opting for tall, dense evergreens like junipers or arborvitae. If you want a focal point, choose something that has beautiful flowers or foliage like burning bushes, or plant weigela to attract wildlife into the yard.

What Kind of Hardiness Do I Need?

To maintain shrubs over the long term, you’ll need to choose plants suited for your local growing conditions, especially the heat of summer and cold of winter. If you live in hot, dry climates, look for heat- and drought-tolerant types like spirea or boxwood. Cold-tolerant gardenia and dogwood do well where it snows.

How Much Light Do I Have?

The amount of sun your yard gets during the day also needs to be considered. Is your planting spot always sunny, or does it get shade? Many shrubs are tolerant of different light conditions, but many flowering shrubs need plenty of light, or their blooms may be lackluster.

What Space Am I Working With?

Shrubs typically start small but grow bigger, so you want the mature height and width to fit the intended space. Smaller yards may benefit from cotoneaster or other compact varieties that don’t grow very high. Large shrubs help shade your house in summer, and low-growing junipers cover slopes, minimizing soil erosion.

What Kind of Soil is in My Yard?

Shrubs are typically quite tolerant of poor soils, but you still need to consider the spot you want to plant. If it doesn’t drain well, you’re better off looking for something tolerant of wet conditions like sweetspire or viburnum. If you have acidic soil, you need an acid-loving shrub such as azaleas that require a low pH for their beautiful flower color.

What Are the Common Diseases and Pests in the Area?

Talk to your neighbors, coworkers, and employees at the local nursery to see what diseases and insect pests are problematic locally. Then choose plants resistant to these problems to avoid constant struggles down the road. Remember that humid areas are more prone to fungal diseases like anthracnose and blight.

Can I Handle Maintenance?

Lastly, think about how much effort and time you’re willing to dedicate to maintenance. Do you want to prune your shrubs every spring, or would slow-growing varieties better suit your lifestyle? Drought-tolerant options are great for homeowners without a lot of time to water.

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How to Propagate Succulents

One of the great things about growing succulents in your home is how easy they are to propagate. Many succulent owners even find that a dropped leaf can start to grow roots on its own. Propagating succulents is a fun and satisfying way to grow your houseplant collection, or to share plants with your friends.

Leaf Propagation

Succulents are unusual because many varieties can be propagated from a single leaf. These plants include a node at the base of each leaf. In general, succulents with thick leaves can be propagated from a leaf. This method is successful with succulent species including sedum, kalanchoes, echeveria, sempervivum, and jade plants.

Leaf propagation is very simple. You can use a leaf that has fallen or been knocked off the plant naturally (as long as it is healthy), or you can remove some leaves to use for propagation. Wait for the end of the leaf to dry out, as this helps avoid the leaf rotting from too much moisture. Place the leaf on a shallow tray of soil and keep the soil moist but not wet. Put the propagation tray in a location where it gets plenty of bright, indirect sunlight. Roots will begin to emerge in two to three weeks.

You can also propagate leaf cuttings in water. For this you’ll need a container with a mouth just wide enough to hold the node in the water while the rest of the leaf is above the water line. Keep it in bright, indirect sun and change the water every few days. A leaf propagated in water will develop roots at the node, and can be moved to soil once they are a few inches long.

Propagating with Stem Cuttings

For succulents that cannot be propagated from a leaf, use stem cuttings instead. In this type of succulent, the nodes are located on the stem instead of on the leaf. Some succulents in this category include aeoniums, agaves, and haworthias.

To take a stem cutting you will need to be sure you’re including several nodes. Nodes are the part of the plant that can generate new growth, so they are necessary for propagation. There is a node at every part of the plant where a leaf is attached, so if your cutting has at least four or five leaves, it should be fine.

Cut through the stem with sterilized shears or a knife, and remove the lower leaves from the stem. Let it dry, then root the cutting in water or plant it directly in soil. There is no special care needed for newly rooted succulents; you can treat them the same as your established plants.

Watering Succulents

The most common way that people kill their succulents is by watering them too much. Succulents need for their soil to dry out completely before they are watered again, since they can easily develop root problems if they’re kept too wet.

Why is Good Drainage so Important for Keeping Succulents Healthy?

Drainage simply means the ability for water to drain out of the soil in a planter instead of being absorbed by the soil. Of course, some water needs to be absorbed into the soil so the roots can access the water over time. But succulent roots are adapted to dry conditions and can’t survive well in damp soil.

By having good drainage, you can be sure that there are pockets of air inside the soil that help keep the roots from staying too wet. Ensure adequate drainage by only using containers with drainage holes. The potting mix you use should also drain freely and not be too dense and absorbent.

How Can I Tell if My Succulent Needs Water?

There’s not a set schedule that works for every succulent, so it is important to check the soil each time you water. If it feels dry, your succulent should be watered. If the soil is even a little bit moist, wait a couple of days. It is always better to give a succulent too little water instead of too much. You can always add more water if needed, but it’s difficult to remove moisture if you’ve accidentally overwatered.

Symptoms of Underwatering

If your succulent is severely dried out, it will probably start to look shriveled and wrinkly. Some leaves may dry out and fall off. Some parts of the plant may start to turn brown and crispy. If you notice any of these symptoms, give your succulent water right away.

Symptoms of Overwatering

The first visible signs of overwatering show up in the leaves. They may turn yellow or translucent, and feel soft and mushy to the touch. Leaf drop is likely. A more severely overwatered succulent will develop a black, rotting stem and will eventually fall over as the softened stem is unable to support the weight of the plant.

Bringing Your Succulents Home

Congratulations on your new plant! But what should you do with it now?

Hopefully you have already chosen the location where you want to keep your new succulent. In most cases, you can just put the plant there and keep an eye on it to make sure it stays healthy. If you have any concern about disease or pests, it’s a good idea to quarantine the new plant away from your other houseplants until you have confirmed that it’s healthy.

Recovery and Adaptation Time

Succulents are kept in ideal conditions when they’re in a greenhouse or nursery. They get tons of light and are encouraged to grow as quickly as possible. But when you get your plant home, it is suddenly going into conditions that are less than ideal. Our homes are adapted to be comfortable for the people living in them, not for their indoor plants.

Because of this, your succulents may need a period of time to adapt to their new circumstances. Succulents are generally tough, so they don’t usually experience an extreme reaction to a change in environment, but you may see slower growth during this period, or some leaves may fall off. Don’t worry, though, as succulents generally recover within a couple of weeks and suffer no long-term effects.

When to Repot/Water/Fertilize a New Plant

Should you repot or water your new plant as soon as you get it home? What about fertilizer? In general, it is best to wait for the plant to adapt before you make any changes like repotting or fertilizing. Watering is a bit different, since you don’t want to deprive a plant of water if it truly needs it. Check the soil and water if it feels dry, but usually when you purchase a new succulent it won’t be totally dry since the seller should have been watering it on a regular basis.

If you are anxious to repot or fertilize your new plant, wait until it has adapted to your home before making changes. If you are seeing new growth, that’s a good sign that your plant has recovered and settled in. This may take a month or more, depending on the type of succulent, the season, and your home environment.

How to Choose the Right Soil and Container for Succulents

Succulent plants tend to grow in dry areas without a lot of moisture available through their root systems. For that reason, the roots are not adapted to being kept wet for very long. The deciding factors in choosing the right soil and container are that they promote drainage and help avoid root rot.

Best Soil for Succulents

Succulents are resilient and can tolerate a range of different soil types, as long as the soil drains well. Most stores that sell potting soil will have a succulent and cactus mix. The key feature of a soil made for succulents is that it will contain a lot of non-absorbent material such as perlite, vermiculite, or sand. These materials create air pockets around the roots which allow water to flow through the soil easily and keep oxygen flowing around the roots. After watering, roots dry out more quickly since there isn’t moist soil compacted against them.

Best Containers for Succulents

Succulents are efficient at absorbing water through their roots and storing it in their fleshy leaves and stems. Their root systems tend to be shallow, so they do not need a lot of space for their roots to spread out. The most important factors in choosing a container that keeps succulents healthy are drainage and size.

Drainage

Planters for succulents absolutely must have drainage holes. These holes in the bottom of the pot allow excess water to drain out each time the plant is watered. If you want to use a decorative pot that doesn’t have drainage holes, you can drill holes in the bottom or you can use it as a cache pot by placing a plastic nursery pot inside so it is hidden by the more decorative container.

Container Size

The size of the container used for a succulent should allow about 1-2 inches of soil around the root ball. When repotting a root-bound succulent, choose the next size of pot which will usually be 2 inches wider in diameter.

A pot that is too large will hold extra potting soil that is not necessary to support the plant. Too much soil generally holds on to excess moisture in the pot, which can cause problems for your succulent’s roots. It is best to keep the container on the smaller side to keep the plant healthy.

How to Select a Perfect Succulent for Your Home

There are so many varieties of succulent plants in all shapes, sizes, and colors. So when it comes to choosing the right one for your home, the options can be overwhelming. Of course you’ll want to select a succulent that is visually appealing to you, but it is also important to be sure that you’re choosing a healthy specimen and that it can thrive in the conditions in your home.

Environmental Conditions

To grow any type of plant indoors, it is important to understand the plant’s needs and to balance those with what you can reasonably provide in your home. The light levels, humidity, temperature, and air circulation can all affect a plant’s chances of survival, as do your watering habits and choices of soil and container.

Light

Before purchasing a succulent, it is a good idea to evaluate your indoor environment.

Many homes don’t get enough sunlight for succulents to thrive. Succulent plants require at least six hours of sunlight each day. Confirm the light levels throughout the day to determine if your preferred location can support a succulent.

Temperature and Humidity

Succulents prefer a less humid environment than many other houseplants. They may not do well in kitchens and bathrooms, where the air tends to hold more moisture. Normal indoor temperatures should be fine for succulents, as they can tolerate anywhere from 40-80 degrees fahrenheit.

Choosing a Healthy Succulent

Soil

When shopping for succulents, there are a couple of main ways to determine if you’re choosing a healthy plant. First, make sure the plant hasn’t been overwatered. Overwatering can cause problems in the root system that aren’t immediately obvious, so you may not be able to tell that anything is wrong right away. Check the soil and lift the pot, if possible. If it feels heavy or the soil is overly wet and dense, there’s a good chance that this succulent is suffering from too much moisture. While it could be salvageable, it’s safer just to move on to another choice.

Pests and Disease

The second consideration is whether there are any insects present. While different insects create different symptoms in plants, you will probably be able to see the insects themselves on the plant if you look carefully. Webs, sticky residue, and spots on the leaves are also indications that there may be pests.

Why Does My Houseplant Turn Yellow ?

You may feel like you’re doing everything right with your houseplant — and then its leaves suddenly turn yellow. What’s going on? Do you need to water more… or less? Is that plant already beyond saving?

While there are many reasons why a plant might be turning yellow, the good news is that most are treatable. Yellow leaves tend to be a warning sign that the plant is stressed, and if you can address the problem fast enough, you can reduce the risk of long-term damage. Learn to identify the problem, and you’ll be one step closer to bringing your plant back to total health.

Here’s a list of potential reasons why the leaves might be turning yellow. Note that this list is far from exhaustive — your plant may be experiencing a different issue.

Aging

Plants age just like people, and one of the signs they are getting older is yellowing leaves. There’s usually no reason to worry if the oldest growth on a plant is yellowing while the freshest leaves come in bright green. It only means that the plant is devoting fewer resources to maintaining the older growth. You can leave the leaves as-is or prune them off for a cleaner look.

Lack of Sunlight

When leaves all over are pale yellow or green, your plant might not be getting enough sunlight to produce the chlorophyll that’s responsible for the deep green coloring. One common sign is that the yellowing starts on the lowest leaves. Move the plant closer to a sunny window or add a grow light to perk things back up.

Moisture Stress

Both too much water and not enough can stress plants to the point that their leaves yellow. When water is in short supply, plants will drop their leaves to prevent them from losing moisture through them into the air in a process known as transpiration.

Likewise, too much water will oversaturate the soil to the point that the roots will drown, starving the leaves of oxygen. Avoid this problem by feeling the potting mix regularly and only watering when it is dry several inches below the surface.

Cold Air Exposure

Temperature is a significant stressor for plants, especially ones used to tropical conditions. Too much time in a drafty room or near a cold window can cause the leaves to yellow and fall off. Move afflicted plants to where they will enjoy consistent temperatures and fewer cold drafts.

Nutrient Deficiency

Without the right ratio of nutrients in their soil mix, houseplants will turn yellow. This commonly happens when there’s a nitrogen deficiency, or you are using hard water with a high calcium concentration.

This form of yellowing tends to be distinctive. It may start at the top of the plant or affect only the plant tissues while leaving the veins bright green.

Consider adding a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to affected plants. If the problem is extreme, you may want to repot the plant and replace its soil altogether.

Yellowing leaves can be a sign of stress for plant lovers, but they don’t mean you have a black thumb! Address the source of the problem fast, and the plant will go back to full health fast.

When Shall I Water My Plant ?

Second to light, water is the most important resource you provide for houseplants. Many plant owners err on the side of giving their plants too much water, which leaves them oversaturated and prone to rot.

For this reason, it’s essential to determine how much water each plant variety requires. This lets you meet their needs without exceeding them and causing problems.

So how much should you water? There are lots of variables to pay attention to when deciding. These include:

How much light exposure the plant gets (lots of light dries out the soil faster)
The room's relative humidity
The size of the pot (larger pots hold water longer)
The type of potting soil
The time of year (plants require less water in colder weather when growth is slower)

And more!

How Much to Water?

Every plant variety will have different water requirements. Research the variety, and you should get clear guidelines for the best frequency.

As a general rule, tropical plants need frequent watering, along with misting on their leaves. In contrast, cacti and other plants from arid regions can have their soil dry out entirely between watering sessions.

It’s usually a good idea to let the soil dry out between watering sessions. Use your finger to test the moisture level an inch or two into the soil. If it comes out dry, it’s likely time to water again.

Note: If your planting soil stays waterlogged for days after watering, the problem might be the pot. Consider switching to one with better drainage.

Can I Water with Tap Water?

There’s no easy answer to that question. In most cases, tap water is fine. However, sometimes it is softened with salts, which can build up in the soil and cause problems. And, while chlorine isn’t necessarily a concern, it’s usually better to avoid it.

If possible, try to water houseplants with filtered water or rainwater. Consider collecting some in a rain barrel to have on hand.

No matter the water source, you need to pay attention to its temperature. Use room-temperature water as much as possible so the plant isn’t shocked at exposure.

How to Tell if You're Overwatering Your Houseplants

Many a houseplant has met an early end because of overwatering. Plant roots need oxygen, and too much water will suffocate them. It’s important to know the signs early on to adjust your habits and help your plant recover.

Common symptoms of overwatering include:

The soil doesn't dry out between watering sessions
The soil smells perpetually damp and rotten
The base of the plant is mushy to the touch
Leaves are wilting, yellowing, and falling off
There are signs of mold in the pot or on the soil
Small water-loving insects like fungus gnats are in the pot

If you think you’re overwatering, consider cutting back to half your current water sessions. You may need to repot the plant and switch out the potting soil if it seems to be in distress.

Knowing how much to water your plants takes practice and research. Learn as much as you can about your variety before beginning, and you’ll soon learn how to give it what it needs to thrive.