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Index : Flowers - Annuals
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- 9. Small Plants Provide Fast Growth! - Top
- In this age of instant gratification, we have a tendency to want immediate results. We can't wait for young landscapes to grow; for shrubs to reach full size and trees to mature. We want instant color in our flower beds and instant fruit from our vegetable gardens. To this end, we buy the largest plants we can possibly afford. But is there really an advantage in selecting large plants over smaller ones?
We have a long growing season here in Tucson that extends from late February to mid November. As a result, plants have plenty of time to grow, and they do! Given the proper care of watering and fertilizing, small shrubs can become large and overpowering in just one season. The same is true for ground covers and perennial flowers. For this reason, why buy large nursery plants, when small ones will work just fine. By small, I am referring to shrubs in three or five gallon containers, and ground covers and perennial flowers in one gallon pots.
Buying small not only saves money, it also saves the backaches of hauling, heavy lifting and large hole digging. Also, small plants are generally more energetic than large ones and will grow at a faster rate after planting.
As for trees, the theory of buying small also applies. Numerous research studies have shown that small trees quickly outgrow large ones. In the case of trees, small ones are typically sold in five to 15 gallon plastic containers, while large ones are sold in 24 or 36 inch wood boxes.
An example of how fast small trees can grow, can be seen here at the Extension Center. Many trees, of various types, were planted from small 15 gallon containers back in ‘92. At the time of planting they were only lightly branched, four to six feet tall, with nickel-sized trunk thickness. Now, just seven years later, the difference is amazing! From those little ash, mesquite, acacia, and desert willows have grown big trees with width and height of 20 to 30 feet and trunks a full 10 and 12 inches across! It's even been necessary to prune some to control their size.
If both small 15 gallon and large boxed trees were planted together, research shows that we could expect the small trees to overtake and surpass the large ones in just four or five years. So is the higher cost of a larger tree really worth it? Probably not, if you can wait a few years. But for the impatient, larger trees will provide more immediate impact, short-lived all-be-it.
Another advantage in planting small trees is when it comes to caliche. Many gardeners have hardpan caliche layers, something like concrete, in the soil. It's arduous work getting the caliche dug out to plant new trees. However, if there is at least 10 inches of soil over the caliche it need not be removed!
Small trees, with their small root balls, can be planted right on top of the caliche. A few inches of the root ball may stick up above the surrounding grade. Simply cover the protruding part of the root ball by mounding soil around it. Then gradually taper the soil away to blend with the natural grade. This type of planting is called "mound planting", but when done properly it's hardly noticeable.
About the only group of plants where size counts are the herbaceous types. These include annual flowers, vegetables and herbs. They all have delicate, fibrous roots that are slow to grow. The smaller "cell packs" of six or eight plants each, usually struggle when planted out. Plants grown in the larger three or four inch individual pots, tend to establish quicker and grow larger.
So the next time you go to your favorite garden center shopping for plants, don't overlook the small fries. They may be small to start, but in no time flat they'll be bigger than you had ever expected!
Answers to gardening questions may be obtained by phoning the Extension Center Plant Clinic, weekdays for 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 626-5161.
- Updated: November 22, 1998
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