Thinking of changing or adding to your landscaping this spring? Before you start to dig, make a plan on paper. With good planning from the beginning, you will do much less digging and removing of plants that turned out to be bad choices. A plan will encourage you to take the time to put the right plant in the right place. Now is the time to be making your plan and doing your research, so you are ready to go in the spring.

Decide on the area you would like to work on first. Draw its rough shape onto your plan. Take measurements, and try to draw it to scale. Do a soil test. A soIl test will tell you what nutrients may be lacking, and determine your pH level. (Obtain one from the Penn State Extension office at 670 Old Harrisburg Rd., Gettysburg, Pa.) Go ahead and add plenty of organic amendments such as compost, mushroom soil, and/or shredded leaves to the area. This will go a long way toward making your soil more workable, and easier to maintain.

Is this area sunny, shady, moist, dry, rocky, or sandy? You will want to check the lighting several times during the day to be sure of how many hours of sun the area actually gets.

Once you have made note of the conditions, then make your plans around those conditions. Never buy a plant simply because you love it, then try to force it to grow in a spot that is not to its liking. For instance, most trees and shrubs will die if planted in soggy soil, but there is a rather large selection of trees and shrubs that will actually thrive in those conditions. You just have to pick the right ones. How do you know what they are? It’s easy, these days, to google "Trees for soggy sites" and suggested lists will come up. Another approach is to go to a reputable garden center, and ask an expert for advice. Better yet, you can come into the Extension office and ask a master gardener for help.

When landscaping, always think about the shrubs and trees first. Check the eventual size of the plant, and leave ample space for its mature size. If the tag says the shrub will grow to five feet wide, dig the planting hole at least three feet from the house or any structure. For trees, try to plant a tree that will be in proportion to your house. Don’t plant an 80 foot tree beside a small ranch house. Remember to always look up. Never plant a tree under power lines. Mark the reserved areas for these on your plan.

A bird’s-eye view of your plan will show you how much area you are covering. You can also try a simple 3-D plan which will show shapes i.e. balls, triangles, fountain shaped plants. The drawing doesn’t have to be pretty. Later, you can shop for the right plant that has the shape you envisioned. Also consider variations in height, texture, and color. If the garden is large, leave room for paths.

Consider focal points such as arbors, fountains, lighting, garden art, and benches. Add these to your diagram.

When you start the actual shopping process, always carry your site-analysis checklist with you and check it against the plant you are thinking of buying:

Hardiness: We are zone 6b. Look for plants listed for hardiness zone 6 or lower. Plants listed for zone 7 or above will probably not make it through our winters. (Sometimes those rated for zone 6 can be questionable)

Moisture requirements: Is your area marshy, moist, normal, or dry? Be sure to pick the plant that likes what your area has to offer.

What are the light requirements of this plant?: Plants that need sun will flop and get leggy in the shade. Plants that require shade will fry in the sun. Some are more versatile than others.

pH Needs: Will this plant accept the pH level your soil has to offer? Remember, you can never permanently change your soil’s pH. Again, never try to force a plant you want into planting conditions it will not like.

Disease and insect resistance: If this plant is prone to disease or specific insect attack, do you want to have to deal with that every year, or will you keep looking to find something which will have greater resistance? The plant tag will not tell you this, but you can easily google a reputable web site for the information. A reliable site that I like is Missouri Botanical Garden which always tells you what a plant’s potential problems might be.

Maintenance: (Watering, deadheading, pruning, winter protection) How messy is it?

Write down the full botanical name of any plant you are thinking of buying. Then come home and google as much information about it as you can find. If you decide it meets all the criteria you are looking for, then go back and make the purchase.

Once your garden is planted, be sure to mulch it and water your young plants diligently for the first year. Be sure to keep it fairly moist, but never soggy.

Remember among gardeners and non-gardeners, there is no such thing as a green thumb. Successful gardeners do the research and preparation before planting, and follow up with the care afterwards. If you do these things, your chance for success will be great!

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