Your
YARD AND GARDEN

Dave Robson

January can be one of the gloomiest months of the year. But, it's also the start of a new gardening season.

Garden catalogs can be a wealth of information, or a dearth of details. As more and more pictures are thrown in the catalog, less and less can be said about the plants.

The biggest problem with catalog pictures and descriptions is that they're written by the people who are trying to sell you the item. You won't find someone saying "nice tree, but every insect or disease is attracted to it, which makes it a poor choice for the landscape," or "does nicely as long as the temperatures don't go below 40° F or above 80°." To do so wouldn't be the best marketing strategy.

So descriptions are kept to their flowery minimum and pictures are taken of the prime specimen, probably completely covered with netting or cloth to prevent insect attacks. Pictures can be made redder, bluer, greener in a lab.

Which brings to mind the adage "Caveat emptor — let the buyer beware."

When ordering from a garden catalog, take descriptions, pictures and recommendations with a grain of salt. That's not to say that the plants won't perform as stated or shown. Most do. Some sort of. But not all, and that's the key.

Catalogs are like a smorgasbord buffet. We want to try a little of this, a little of that, some of this. some of that, and before you know it. we need another plate, or in this case, another acre or so.

We tend to forget from year to year how difficult it is to raise some plants from seed. We think, "By golly, if they're being sold, they must be able to be grown." And that's how we get suckered in hook, line and sinker.

This happens to everyone sooner or later. Eyes always tend to be larger than the stomach. Fortunately, reality and dollars do set in eventually.

As the years go by, I tend to think that mail order catalogs are great sources of seeds and probably not the best choice for live plant materials.

It's hard to mess up seeds. As long as they're in a waxed, foil or plastic packet it's hard to damage them. True, you could subject them to extreme heat, cold, nuclear fallout or floods, and they might be damaged. But that usually doesn't happen.

Live plants are different. Catalogs may be the only choice for finding certain plants such as lacebark elm, disanthus, fall blooming bearded iris or hardy camellias, especially if the closest nursery is two hours away.

But it seems that discount stores are within easy driving distance. Talk to most of the store managers in January or February, and they can just about order you any plant you want. Then when the plant comes in, you can look it over and see if the quality is high, and if not, reject them.

That's the biggest problem with mail-order plants. You're left at the whim of the person who hunts through the freezing warehouse, picks out the plant, puts it in some sort of package and ships it to you,

If you are going to order plants from a catalog, follow these steps:

• State specifically what type of plant you're looking for. Most trees should be straight stemmed with the leader or main trunk still growing.

• Ask for plants to be sent after April 1, but have them reserve your plant immediately. Early April is a good time for planting, but you don't want the bottom of the barrel as far as quality. If given a choice, get your plants early and find someone with a large refrigerator to store your plants.

• Avoid plants over 6 feet tall. They're likely to be damaged during packaging and transit.

• Make sure plants are guaranteed for replacement, not purchase price. If the plant dies the following winter, but the price goes up, you're stuck.

• Check the plant carefully once you receive it. This means roots and all. If the plant appears damaged, or you're less than thrilled, send it back.

• Ordering by credit card might give you a little more power, especially if you have problems with the company. Don't pay for anything unless you are happy with the quality.

• Select plants that will live in your area. Orange and palm trees will not do well outdoors in Illinois no matter how hard you wish or try.

• Order from a well established nursery or seed company.

• Cheap prices can mean cheap plants. A particular company comes to mind. They offer 10 plants for $1. and deliver 10 plants that are barely rooted cuttings or division. They haven't lied, but the quality is terrible.

David Robson is an Extension Educator, Horticulture, at the Springfield Extension Center, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Illinois. You can write to Robson in care of Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708. Telephone: 217-782-6515. E-Mail: robsond@idea. ag. uiuc. edu

14 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING • JANUARY 1996