When Is the Ideal Time to Start Planting Your Spring Plants and Flowers Outdoors?
November 6, 2026
Highlights
- Healthy foliage with even color is one of the easiest signs of a strong plant.
- Sturdy stems and a full, balanced shape point to good growing conditions.
- White, healthy roots that hold the soil together are essential for a plant that establishes well.
- Choosing plants with plenty of unopened buds means more blooms after planting.
- Checking leaves and stems for pests and disease keeps problems out of your garden.
- Schwartz's Greenhouse has grown plants for Southeast Michigan gardeners since 1939.
A trip to the nursery can be one of the most exciting parts of gardening. Rows of colorful blooms, lush foliage, and fresh new varieties make it easy to fill a cart in minutes. Yet not every plant that looks good on the table will thrive once it's in the ground.
Michigan gardeners have no shortage of places to shop. According to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, Michigan is home to 1,775 horticultural operations, the second most of any state, and those operations sold $912 million in horticultural products. With so many choices available, a little extra know-how at the nursery can make every purchase count.
Knowing what to look for helps you bring home plants that establish quickly, bloom beautifully, and last for years. Below, we'll walk through the key features to check when selecting a healthy flowering landscape plant, so every addition to your garden gets off to a strong start.
Checking for Healthy, Vibrant Foliage
Leaves are the first clue to a plant's overall health. Look for foliage with rich, even color that's typical for the variety. For most plants, that means a deep, healthy green, though some varieties are bred for purple, gold, or variegated leaves. Be cautious of yellowing, browning, or pale leaves, especially if the discoloration is widespread.
These can signal problems such as overwatering, underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or root issues. Brown, crispy edges may indicate stress from heat or drought, while wilting in moist soil can point to root trouble. A few damaged leaves on an otherwise healthy plant aren't necessarily a concern, particularly late in the season. But when choosing between several options, a flowering landscape plant with full, healthy foliage is usually the best pick.
Looking for Sturdy Stems and a Balanced Shape
A healthy plant should have strong stems that hold the plant upright without flopping or bending. Stems should feel firm, not soft or mushy, and should be free of cracks, breaks, or dark lesions. Shape matters too. Look for a full, compact plant with even growth on all sides.
Plants that are tall and stretched with long gaps between leaves, often described as leggy, may not have received enough light while growing. They tend to be weaker and less attractive once planted. For flowering shrubs, check for multiple well-spaced branches rather than one or two dominant stems. A balanced structure makes the shrub easier to shape over time and produces a fuller display of blooms.
Inspecting the Roots Below the Soil
What's happening below the soil is just as important as what you see above it. A plant with a weak or damaged root system will struggle to establish, no matter how good it looks on top. If possible, gently slide the plant out of its pot, or ask a staff member for help with larger plants.
Ideally, roots should hold the soil together in a solid root ball without being so dense that they wrap tightly around the container. Roots growing heavily out of the drainage holes can also be a sign that a plant has outgrown its pot. A plant with a few circling roots isn't necessarily a lost cause, but healthy, well-distributed roots give your new plant the best chance to settle in quickly.
Choosing Plants With More Buds Than Blooms
It's tempting to choose the plant with the most flowers already open. However, a plant covered in fully opened blooms may be near the end of its flowering cycle, which means you'll enjoy fewer flowers after planting. Instead, look for a flowering landscape plant with plenty of healthy, unopened buds along with a few open flowers.
This lets you see the bloom color while ensuring the plant still has much of its display ahead of it. Buds should look plump and healthy, not dried out, brown, or dropping off. Planting before peak bloom also reduces stress on the plant. It can focus energy on establishing roots in its new home, then reward you with a fuller show of flowers as it settles in.
Spotting Pests and Disease Early
Bringing home a plant with pests or disease can introduce problems to the rest of your garden. A quick inspection at the nursery can prevent that. Check both the tops and undersides of leaves for insects, webbing, sticky residue, or chewed edges. Look along stems and where leaves attach, since pests like aphids and scale often hide in these spots. Gently shaking the plant can reveal tiny flying insects such as whiteflies.
Watch for signs of disease as well. Powdery white coatings, dark spots, unusual blotches, or distorted new growth can indicate fungal or other problems. Also check the soil surface for mold, fungus gnats, or weeds, which can hitch a ride into your garden beds. Buying from a reputable greenhouse that grows and cares for its plants on-site lowers the risk of bringing problems home and gives you access to knowledgeable staff who can answer questions.
Reading Labels to Match Your Growing Conditions
Even a perfectly healthy plant will struggle if it isn't suited to where you plan to put it. Before buying, read the plant tag carefully. Check sunlight requirements first. Some plants need full sun to bloom well, while others prefer partial or full shade.
Next, confirm the plant's hardiness, especially for perennials and shrubs that need to survive Michigan winters, since plants rated for colder conditions are more likely to return year after year. Finally, note the mature size so you can choose a flowering landscape plant that has enough room to grow without crowding nearby plants.
Finding Healthy Plants at Schwartz's Greenhouse
Choosing healthy plants sets the stage for a beautiful, long-lasting garden. Vibrant foliage, sturdy stems, healthy white roots, plenty of unopened buds, freedom from pests and disease, and the right fit for your growing conditions all help ensure your new plants thrive.
At Schwartz's Greenhouse, our family has been growing plants for Southeast Michigan gardeners since 1939. Across our 12 acres of greenhouses in Romulus, we offer annuals, perennials, flowering shrubs, and gardening supplies, along with friendly guidance to help you choose the right plants. Stop by today and let us help you find the perfect flowering landscape plant for your garden.
