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Planting Instructions

Properly planted perennials, shrubs and trees develop roots faster and establish more quickly than those planted improperly.  To ensure that your plant is as healthy and long-lived as possible, follow these simple instructions when planting your newest garden addition.

 


LOCATION


The first step towards growing a healthy plant is to make sure you choose the right location to plant.  If it wants full sun, will it receive at least six hours in this area of the garden?  Plants that don’t get as much light as they need become gangly, paler in leaf colour and have fewer flowers.  So if you have a shady spot, you’re best to pick something that loves the shade.  Also, consider if your plant has enough room to spread to its maximum size, or will you end up having to keep it tightly pruned so it doesn’t take over the garden?  Properly placed plants are much healthier and require less maintenance in the long run, which makes your job much easier!


PLANTING



Once you’ve determined the best location for your plant, proper planting techniques will ensure its health and happiness.  Good soil is extremely important to the health of your plant.  Make sure you have Triple Mix on hand to mix in with your existing soil unless your bed has been freshly prepared for planting.  First, dig a hole roughly double the width of the pot and about the same depth.  Using the soil you removed from the hole, combine one part existing soil with one part Triple Mix and mix well.  Place your plant in its hole and fill around it with soil, compressing with your hand or heel as you go to make sure there aren’t any air pockets in the soil.  Fill with more soil if needed to make sure that your plant is secured in place.


MULCH



Once you’ve successfully planted your new addition, be sure to apply two inches of mulch around the base of your plant to prevent moisture loss and suppress weed growth.  Be careful not to mound the mulch too close to the stem as this can cause rot.  Organic mulches such as pine or cedar chips are great as they keep the soil nice and cool and also add nutrition to the soil as they break down.   


FERTILIZER



Transplant fertilizers stimulate root growth, helping your plant to establish quickly and to bounce back from any shock endured in the planting process.  Miracle-Gro® Liquid Quick Start® Plant Food helps to ensure the success of newly-planted or transplanted plants.  Simply follow the printed directions on the container at the time of planting and water thoroughly to ensure that the whole root zone is soaked.  Reapply Miracle-Gro® Liquid Quick Start® Plant Food once a week for the first month after planting.  Regular feeding with appropriate plant fertilizer of your choice can begin after the first month, following the directions on the package.

It may take a few seasons for your plant to become fully established in the garden.  During this time, it’s important to ensure that it receives adequate moisture in order to develop a deep, healthy root system.  This root system will support your plant for its lifetime, helping it withstand adversity far better than a plant with shallow, poorly developed roots.  It’s best to water deeply and infrequently as this will force roots to delve deep into the soil in search of water.  Watering early in the morning is ideal, as less water will be lost to evaporation in the cooler morning temperatures.