Choosing Healthy Plants at the Nursery: Fall Shopping Tips

Fall offers cooler temps and bargains, but don't buy sick plants. Inspect before purchasing:

Examine the Root Ball

Lift the plant from its pot. Spring roots should be white/tan, just circling. Fall roots form a dense mat—slice it vertically in several places before planting to encourage outward growth.

Know What Can Be Fixed

Leggy azaleas/rhododendrons can be pruned hard next spring. Bedraggled daylilies/hostas rebound if roots are healthy.

Buy Recommended Plants

Ask friends what works. Photograph attractive landscapes for nursery ID. Use expert-vetted lists:

• Georgia Gold Medal Plants: Selected annually by horticulturists, nurseries, and UGA for superior ornamentals.
• Athens Select Plants: Heat/humidity-tested at UGA Trial Gardens. Recent intros: 'Linde Armstrong' cleome, 'Firefly' cuphea, 'Tricolor' graptophyllum, 'Azure Skies' heliotrope, 'Athens Rose' lantana, 'Stars & Stripes' pentas, 'Variegatus' plectranthus, 'Susan's Song' buttercup, 'Athens Blue Spires' rosemary, 'Ground Hugger' ruellia, 'Lemon Sorbet' scabiosa, 'Persian Shield' strobilanthes, 'Ron Deal' verbena.