Does size matter?

Bigger is often considered to be better, whether it be buying a house, a car, a diamond ring or even choosing a perspective partner, but is this always true? When it comes to plants, many can be bought as large specimens giving gardens an instant effect and preventing the frustrated home garden yelling at their plants to grow. I can see the appeal in purchasing established plants however this may not always be the best strategy.

To ensure you’re buying a quality product, the first thing to do is ensure that the tree/plant has an appropriately sized root system. If purchasing a tree, make sure that the trunk is thick and firm (indicating a quality roots system) as opposed to thin and wispy which suggests that its root system has not established sufficiently.

The size of the root system or pot size is extremely important when it comes to purchasing plants. At times I have seen small plants transplanted into larger pots to try to trick the consumer into spending more money. When this occurs, the roots are too small for the pot and waterlogging is a possible result. It also means that you’re spending money on unnecessary potting mix as opposed to buying a quality plant. Alternatively, I have also seen large plants sold in small pots with insufficient root systems, causing them to become stunted and unable to absorb sufficient water and nutrient required for healthy growth. If you see a large tree/plant in a nursery being sold very cheap, be sceptical as they may have these problems and be inferior stock!

A good way to assess if the plant is in the right sized pot is to gently press against the base of the plant above the roots. If it moves easily and displaces the potting mix, the pot is too large. If there is no flex whatsoever in the pot, it is pot bound and needs a larger pot. What you are looking for is the plant to be firmly anchored into the pot at the same time as having some gentle movement.

Purchasing larger plants and trees allows you the advantage of having an instant established look, however it is important to assess their quality and consider not only how they look now but also what they will look like next year and is subsequent years. Many smaller plants quickly catch up to the size of the larger plants purchased in the nursery within a couple of years.

So yes, size does matter if you’re after that instant ‘wow’ look, however the most important thing to do is make sure that the plant you’re purchasing is a quality specimen!