If at all possible, buy plants that are not flowering [2]. Flowering plants are putting nearly all of their energy into seed production, and when transplanted into the garden, will sulk for days. If you just can't resist those plants with flowers, then pinch the flowers off when you set them out. Don't worry, you will be rewarded with an abundance of color later.

Look for non-leggy plants; plants with food foliage along the stem appropriate to the plant's growth habit.

Bedding stock grown in small containers is often root bound, but try to avoid those plants that have excessive amounts of roots [3] hanging out of the bottom of their container.

Check your plants for insect, disease and physical damage. Also, be sure that your selections have enough moisture to survive the trip home.

Remember that the best choices are early in the season, often a good month before it is safe to put them in the ground. So choose carefully and provide the plants with lots of TLC.