Planting and Care Guide
It’s the Root of the Matter
The top priority, when you get a new landscape plant, is to make sure they develop a strong root system. When the plant has a robust root system, the plant can handle environmental stressors, uptake nutrients, and overcome disease and insect damage easier.
After the plant has developed a robust root system, the plant is considered established.
The establishment time depends on the size of the plant and variety.
These are average establishment times.
Perennials: 1 to 2 years
Shrubs: 2 to 3 years
Trees: 2 to 4 years
Let’s Dig In
- Handle With Care: Always lift plants by their root ball. Never lift by the trunk or drag the plant. Keep roots moist (not soggy), to reduce stress on the plant prior to planting.
- Properly Dig Holes: Holes should be the same depth as the root ball and about two to three times as wide to allow for proper growth of the root system. If the hole is too deep, the plant can sink, creating a depression in the ground for standing water to collect. This will lead to problems over time.
- Filling With Soil: Once the plant is in place, remove plastic containers, mesh, twine, or burlap and backfill the hole with native soil. Once the hole is halfway full, water can be added to help close any air pockets. After the water drains, check to make sure the plant is straight. Fill the rest of the hole and lightly pack. Water the soil again to help settle and close air pockets.
- Adding Mulch: Proper amounts of mulch will help the roots retain moisture and help reduce manual watering. Put down a couple inches around perennials and annuals to retain moisture. Leave 2″-3″ open with no mulch around the base of the plant. Use a three inch thick layer of mulch for trees and shrubs and begin taper off as you near the trunk. Imagine a doughnut shape of mulch around your plant to create a central reservoir that traps water in a circle around the root zone to help retain water when you are manually watering. Avoid creating a “mulch volcano” as this can lead to disease and rot around the base of the trunk.
- Watering: Newly planted plants can be killed by over- and under- watering. The only area the new plant is getting water is in the root ball area until it grows new roots into your soil. Keeping this root ball moist, not soggy, is one of the most important things to keep your plant healthy.The best way to ensure your plant is receiving proper amounts of water is to stick your finger a few inches in the soil near your plant. If the soil is damp and sticks to your finger, there’s enough water. The general guide is 1 inch of water a week, including rain.
Tip for watering trees: Get a 5-gallon bucket, drill 1/8 inch holes near the bottom, fill with water and place it next to the tree. Do this once every week or two.
- Protection: Tree saplings have tender bark and need extra protection until they toughen up. The tender bark is also a preferred meal to animals like deer and rabbit. To avoid animal damage that can kill your tree, get a open mesh tree guard to provide year round protection and use animal repellents. At the end of October, wrap your tree to prevent issues like sun scald and frost crack. Watch our video below about wrapping your trees as well as evergreens!
Animals: A variety of shrubs, trees, and perennials are animal resistant but no plant is safe from a very hungry animal. If animals snack on a small branch or buds, it’s not going to kill your plant. However, if they eat through the inner bark, the phloem, and around the entire diameter, then the plant won’t be able take up nutrients.