To give your newly purchased plants the best shot at thriving and performing the way you want them to in your garden, planting them correctly is crucial.
With few exceptions, the following instructions apply to nearly anything you might plant whether it is a marigold, lantana, ornamental grass or palm tree! Always carefully read the tag supplied with the plant at the time of purchase for any particulars that might apply to the variety you are planting.
Enhance Your Soil
All soil can be enhanced by amending it with organic material to make it nutrient rich and enhance drainage so always prepare your soil before planting. Let’s say this again – as it is maybe the MOST important part of gardening – good soil. No matter what type of soil you have, everyone’s soil can be improved – most builders when they built homes took away the good soils and left us all with an opportunity for improvement!
Soil conditions will vary by region of the country – and to a local level down to your exact house – soil may even vary from the front of your home to the backyard. Add a LOT of organic material; from peat moss to composted manure or organic soils (all easily found at the garden center) there are many types of organic matter to use.
So dig as large a hole as you can, add much organic material to the soil, mix well and you have taken the all-important first step to successful gardening!
This is also a good time to add a balanced, timed-release fertilizer like a 14-14-14 to get the plants off to a good start. Common sense must prevail at this point. If you are adding a lot of composted manure as your organic matter then you may add less time-release food as the composted manure will add nutrients, if your organic matter is more peat moss or aged compost, then add the full dose of time release.
Choose Where to Plant
Choose a site appropriate for the plant. This is information generally included on the tag or pot information panels, such as sun or shade, and the size of the plant at maturity. If the plant will grow to be 36” high, you probably don’t want that plant to be placed in the front of your flowerbed because it will block the other flowers. Think about the height and width of the plant when it becomes mature, as it may not grow to that size in the first season it’s planted.
Prepare a Hole
The main rule of thumb for preparing a hole to plant in is to make the hole twice as deep and twice as wide as the size of the container the plant is in. You will then backfill in around the plant with the amended, loose soil. This is the second most important part of the planting process behind amending the soil.
Prepare the Roots
Gently remove the plant from the container and examine the roots. If they are extremely wrapped around and around the root ball, carefully tease them apart to loosen them up from the root ball. This will give them a better start in their new soil. There are a few exceptions, bougainvillea for example. It has a very tender root system and does not like it fussed with at all! So as always, do your homework, research your plants.
Settle the Plant
Always place the plant in the soil at the same level it was in the pot. This means when the plant is in the ground (or new container for that matter), what was the top of the soil in the pot should still be even with the top of the soil in the new location. Again, there are exceptions like tomatoes that prefer to have their stem buried. In most cases, burying the stem or crown of most plants will harm or kill them.
Add more soil
Gently firm the soil in place around the plant to remove any large air pockets or spaces. Create a water basin by making a raised mound of soil a few inches tall all around the perimeter of the new hole. This will serve as a dam to hold a few inches of water around the plant when it is watered providing a good thorough soaking. Fill the basin making sure to soak the new soil as well as the existing root ball; if the water soaks in quickly, re-fill the basin again. Some plants may need temporary or permanent staking; this is the time to do it.
You’re finished!
From here on follow the appropriate watering (yes, they will need watered!), feeding and pruning requirements and look forward to a rewarding plant experience!
Take a look at more of our Gardening 101 posts here on The Apron Blog.
Check out our Home Depot Forums, too, for gardening advice. Get your gardening questions answered by Home Depot gardening experts. We’d also love to hear your gardening stories–triumphs, tragedies and clever ideas.
You can also always speak to one of our Certified Nursery Consultants at your local Home Depot Store. He or she will be happy to give you gardening advice, point you to the right product or offer ideas how to make your garden a place of pride.
