by Cathy Caldwell
Yes , there ’s more for the amateur cosmetic nurseryman to know ! If you somehow missed reading Part I or you wish to review the initial step , go back to the July issue .
So you ’ve selected a website , you ’ve prepare the soil and you ’ve cautiously opt some plant . But as I mentioned last calendar month , you ca n’t just plop them in the bottom . And please do n’t do it at all until the conditions begin to cool a act , probably September . Aim to get your novel plants establish before freeze temperatures get down . On average , the first hoar in our area come between October 10 and October 29 , depending upon your pinnacle . Va. Planting Guide
in conclusion , there you are with your new plants on a planting - favorable overcast daytime in early September . First , while the plants are still in their container , arrange them on the surface of the bed . Perhaps you ’ve draw a architectural plan or peradventure you ’re play it by capitulum . In any event , be sure you read the top and paste ( width ) information on each label to ensure each plant has enough space for maturation — and also so that magniloquent works are behind short ones .
You ’ll desire shrubs as ground for your blossoming perennial ( perennial are the plant that “ come back ” twelvemonth after year , unlike yearbook ) , Those beautiful efflorescence and leaf show up well against a leafy dark-green ground . You ’ll in all likelihood re - arrange and abuse back to inspect more than once .
For lots more about shrubs — how to use them in your design and how to set and care for them — take a gander atShrubs : Functions , Planting and Maintenance , Va. Coop . Ext . If you ’re implant azalea or rhododendrons , you ’ll want to take after the command that encounter their very specific needs . Growing Azaleas and Rhododendrons , Va. Coop . Ext .
Once you ’ve catch your plants arranged to your eye ’s satisfaction , it ’s time to plant those babies ! The steps are listed below .
1 . Water each plant good before off it from the container . If it ’s dry , specify it in a bucketful of water while you ’re digging the yap .
2 . excavate a kettle of fish that istwice as wideas the origin ball of your industrial plant , butno deeperthan the rootball . You desire the roots to have lot of room to expand outwards . If the hole is narrow , the root may remain small and start out circulate — not good at all ! The bottom of the yap should be strong , not bathetic .
3 . Gently remove the works from the container . Turn the container upside down and tap the bottom of the container . I ’ve been live to tap quite smartly . If the root clump does n’t skid out easily , do n’t jerk on the plant ; or else , dilute away the container .
4 . rally out some of the roots so they ’ll spread out in the planting mess . Cut — yes , cutting — any circling source . This wo n’t hurt the plant ; in fact , it will help . But what if the roots are such a involved stack that simple teasing out is impossible ? You ca n’t leave them as is or they ’ll just stick around that mode in the ground , result in “ girdling ” and killing the plant .
— If the root formal was difficult to remove and source are packed tight together , you ’ve probably engender a “ antecedent - bandage ” ( a / kB / a “ plenty bound ” ) plant .
— If the plant is so etymon - attach that untangle the root is unsufferable , you ’ll need to do some cuttingto prepare the roots for successful maturation . Since scientist are not in perfect agreement on the best way to do this solution - cutting , I ’ll give you both method .
— Conventional Wisdom : cut 3 or 4 slit through the tooth root on the sides of the root ball , from top to bottom .
— New Advice:“Box Cut ” the root musket ball , essentially twist it into a square root ball . habituate a incisive knifeand trim off the bottom of the root orchis . Then make 4 erect slices around the edge . Voila ! You ’ve given your source ball a Box Cut . I say “ you ” because I have not yet tried this new method myself . If YOU try it , please permit me have sex how it mold out .
5 . Set the flora in the planting hole so that the top of the root ball ( the bit on the stemwhere the roots begin ) isat or above mark tier . If the hole is too deep , you ’ll have to take the plant out and bring soil to bring up it to the right peak . If the plant is too deep in the soil , it will be more susceptible to disease and rot . In fact , in our mud - ish stain , placing the antecedent globe a minuscule bit ABOVE form degree is a good melodic theme , specially for shrub .
6 . Re - fulfil the hole with the soil you removed . This is called backfilling . If you ’ve prepared your soil in advance , it wo n’t be necessary — or even a good idea — to add up any amendments to the soil now . Also , remove all tatter and wires from the plant .
7 . Water generously and tamp down the soil so it settles and air pocket are eliminated . Air pockets are bad ; those root word postulate to be in contact with the soil and wet . see to it that your plant has n’t sunken below form level . If you ’re planting a shrub , you ’ll urine and tamp down down when the jam is partly fill with soil ; then you ’ll do it again when the yap is full . Find bush - planting counsel atShrubs : mapping , Planting and Maintenance , Va. Coop . Ext .
Should you add one of those transplantation starter solutions to the water?I loosely do , but I ’ve wondered if it really aid to prevent transplant daze as the labels promise . I did a spot of research and here ’s what I learned . Transplant starter solutions that carry settle down hormone and fertilizer may supercharge growth of roots and relieve the transplant operation . But do n’t pay for a root that contains vitamin because vitamins do n’t do a thing for transplants.ColoState.edu/Garden MythsVirginia Tech scientists recommend using a starter solution of high phosphate fertiliser which is water - soluble . Va. Coop . Ext . Pub . 426 - 203 “ Perennials : Culture , Maintenance and Propagation ” . So adding some transplant fertilizer wo n’t hurt and may indeed help . Just be indisputable to follow the directions on the recording label .
8 . Mulch around your novel plant . A layer of mulch — earth hardwood , leaves , or barque — is essential for keeping the roots nerveless and moist .
9 . Keep Watering!Regular lacrimation is of the essence for your raw plants . We ’re not blab out about effortless sprinkling ! We ’re talking about along , tiresome drinkfrom a hose or a tearing can . Keep it gentle so as not to disturb the growing roots . You require to commit to watering on a regular basis — often enough to keep the roots moist for at least a few months and providing extra water for up to a year until the flora is well established .
10 . begin Weeding!Those new radical will do well without competitors , and the skunk may start chop-chop because the planting process brings weed seeds to the Earth’s surface . Mulch will help , but keep an eye on your new plant and rip locoweed as soon as they start .
Your new plant need your nurture and attention for the first year . Think of that prison term spend lachrymation and weed as an opportunity to admire your new industrial plant . You may get hold that you revel this chance for closemouthed physical contact with flora . You may even retrieve yourself talking to your new plants . I live I do . Is there any science to back up this ? Well , I doubt it . But that ’s never stopped me , and it probably wo n’t stop you either . You ’re a gardener now .
Sources :
Taylor ’s Master Guide to Landscaping(R. Buchanan , Houghton Mifflin 2000 )
The First - Time Gardener(P. Barron , Crown Publishing 1996 )
“ Selection and Use of Mulches and Landscape Fabrics , ” Va. Coop . Ext . Pub . No . 430 - 019,Mulches Va. Coop . Ext .
“ Perennials : Culture , Maintenance and Propagation , ” Virginia Cooperative Extension Pub . No . 426 - 203,http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 203/426 - 203.html
“ implant It Right for Healthier , Long - Lived Plants , ” Penn State Extension ( 2015),ext.psu.edu / plants / gardening / news/2015 / flora - it - right - for - healthier - long - hold out - plant
“ Planting and Transplanting Trees and Shrubs , ” University of Minnesota Extension , www.extension.umn.edu / garden / yard - garden / trees - shrubs / planting - and - transplanting - tree - and - shrubs/
“ bush : Functions , Planting , and Maintenance , ” Va. Coop . Ext . Pub . No . 426 - 701,https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426 - 701/426 - 701.html
