Whether preparing beds for vegetables and flowers or single holes for trees and ornamentals, it's important to set your plants up for success so you can enjoy their beauty later.

Planting Trees and Ornamental Plants

Location

Firstly, we want to account for how much sun your plant can take and whether it needs full sun or shade to thrive. Ensure this correlates to the amount of sun the plant will receive in your desired location. When you see the plant tag that says “full sun” or “part shade,” that doesn't necessarily mean the plant has to be planted under a shady tree or in a fully open area. It actually refers to the amount of sunlight the plant will require in a day.

Full Sun typically means the plant needs 6 or more hours of sun, while shade will have 4 hours of sun or fewer. This is also an indicator of how much water the plant will need in the future. Full Sun means the soil will dry out quicker and will require watering more often than a shady area, which will retain moisture for longer. Make sure the desired location is able to be easily watered or irrigated, most trees need multiple gallons of water per day.

You also want to take into consideration how much real estate this plant will need. If its a shrub or bush you may not need a large space for it to thrive. But when planting a tree you always need to consider how big the tree will get. Will falling fruit or branches damage surrounding property like buildings, windows, neighbors property, utility lines, street signs, and sidewalks? Is it an evergreen or is it deciduous. if you’re trying to make a privacy hedge or simply don’t like seeing a plant lose its leaves in the winter, a deciduous plant probably isn’t for you. You also have to consider the roots and weather or not they might encroach on garden beds, sidewalks, foundation and pipe lines.

Digging and Planting

Once you’ve found that perfect spot, it's time to start digging! Depending on the size of the plant, you need to dig a sloping hole twice as wide and as deep as the plant's rootball. You don’t want to plant too deep as this could kill the tree or shrub. If you plan to add fertilizer, do so before placing the plant in the hole. We recommend a slow-release fertilizer, as synthetic fertilizers can burn the plant if applied at the wrong time, and compost may slow the root's ability to acclimate to the native soil.

Once the hole has been dug to the proper dimensions, cut any burlap or string holding the root ball together, and loosen the root ball to promote better growth. Digging that sloped hole will encourage the roots to spread out, while backfilling the hole with soil you previously dug out will help the plant acclimate to its new environment. Leave the root ball exposed at roughly two inches above the dirt and add water.

Final Touches

Now that your plant is in the ground, thoroughly water around it to prevent air pockets that will cause the plant to sink and destabilize. Sinking happens after watering as the soil compacts and falls deeper into the hole where an air pocket was previously. If sinking occurs while watering, straighten the plant and add more dirt. Be sure to water often, especially with developing trees that need multiple gallons of water a day, depending on the size. Finally, to prevent pesky weeds and retain moisture, add a layer of mulch over the topsoil. You don't want to mound the mulch around the plant; leave roughly 6 inches of space between the trunk and the mulch. This gives your plant room to grow while retaining moisture in the surrounding ground.