Planting Tips for your New Plants

Make sure your new plants are watered well in their current pots before planting. You can even soak them in a bucket of water for deeper hydration. This is best done a few hours prior to planting, ensuring the entire root ball is moist and ready for transplanting.

Add in some organic matter like compost or aged animal manure. Use a fork to turn this into the soil, enriching it with nutrients that will help your plants establish quickly and thrive.

Do not step on the soil in your garden beds. Soil should be light and airy, not compacted. Compacted soil restricts root growth and water penetration, which is essential for your plants' success.

Have a good depth of soil in your planting area. Built-up garden beds and retaining walls are a great option for creating sufficient root-growing space and improving drainage in your garden.

This is one of the most important planting tips!

Dig your holes at least twice as wide as the diameter of the plant's current pot or bag size. The depth of the hole though should be as deep as the root ball itself.

Digging wider will allow roots to travel with ease – most tree roots run horizontally rather than vertically. If you are planting a hedge, you can also dig a trench rather than individual holes.

Approximate Pot/Bag/Rootball Sizes

* Dimensions are approximate and can vary depending on bag brand used by grower

This is important for the future health of the roots of your plants and many plant varieties need well draining soil to thrive.

You can test drainage by filling your hole with water and leaving it for about an hour.

• Good drainage: Water has completely disappeared
• Fair drainage: About half has subsided after one hour
• Poor drainage: Less than half has gone – needs improvement
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To improve poor drainage, dig a slip trench on the lower sloping side of the hole and backfill it with blue metal.

Remove your plants from the pot or bag. If your plant has a stake in it, do not remove it – it will need to remain on the plant until the plant has settled in somewhat and is able to support itself.

Check to see if there are any circling roots on the rootball.   If so, it is advisable to give your plants a light root-prune before planting. You can do this using a sharp spade or old bread knife, taking off approximately 1–2 inches off the sides and bottom of the root ball.

You are now ready to place your plants in the hole. Before doing so, cover the bottom of the hole with some compost or animal manure. Place your plants in the hole at soil level – never deeper than they were in their original pot.

Filling process:

• Fill soil 3/4 of the way into the hole
• Firm the soil gently
• Give a good watering
• Fill in the rest of the hole with soil
• Give another good watering

You can create a water basin or catchment for water by creating a raised well or circle around the root ball with soil or mulch. This will ensure water stays in and around the rootball rather than running off – critical for proper establishment.

Mulch your garden beds but do not pile mulch against the trunk of a tree as this can cause collar rot. Keep mulch an inch or two away (or further) from the trunk to create a catchment for water. Using an organic mulch is a top option.

When used correctly, mulching will:

• Act as a blanket - an insulator for roots
• Add organic matter to your soil
• Reduce weed growth
• Reduce water loss
• Retain moisture around roots

After planting, ensure that you water your plants directly onto the rootball well with deep watering practices for the first summer. This is when your plants need the most care and attention to establish strong root systems.

Effective watering methods:

• Drip irrigation system: The most effective method – delivers water directly to the rootball
• Hose on slow trickle: Place at the rootball for an extended period
• Soaker hose or sprinkler: Leave running for a couple of hours
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Watering frequency & timing:

• Water twice a week with deeper, longer watering periods
• This is better than a quick water every day (though adjust if particularly hot)
• Water at cooler parts of the day – morning watering is the most ideal
• Always water the root zone, not the foliage or flowers
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Avoid overwatering: Use the 'poke test' – insert a chopstick into the soil. If it comes out clean with no soil attached, it's time to water again.

Now it's time to sit back, relax and watch your new plants thrive!  You've done the hard work - proper preparation and planting will ensure your plants establish well and reward you with years of beauty and growth.