Planting & Care Instructions
A basic guide for planting and maintaining trees, shrubs, roses and groundcovers

Trees and shrubs

Select a place with good drainage. Avoid wet spots and heavy soils.

Dig the hole at least two times as wide as the soil ball or container.

Mix one part original soil with one part peat moss or compost. Add slow-release fertilizer if desired.

If the original soil is extremely poor, it may be necessary to add new topsoil to mix with the peat moss or compost.

For burlap-wrapped plants, cut all strings and loosen or cut the burlap at the top of the ball. If the burlap is plastic, remove it completely.

For container-grown plants, remove the pot and loosen or cut any tightly bound roots.

Set the plant into the hole at the same level it was grown or slightly higher (mounded). Do NOT set the plant too deep!

Backfill around the root ball with the soil and peat moss mix. Tamp the soil and water thoroughly. You may use a water soluble fertilizer at this time.

Mulch around the plant with an organic mulch such as shredded bark, 1 or 2 inches deep.

Large trees may need to be staked or guywired to prevent wind damage. Protect the trunk with tree wrap or collars. Remove stakes and wires after one year.

Remember to allow room for growth. Space the plants so they won't crowd each other or be too close to buildings, etc., when they mature.

Roses

Roses grow best in full sun and in raised beds. Prepare all of the soil in the beds by mixing in peat moss and cow manure. Adding perlite or vermiculite to the soil will help the drainage.

Plant roses as you would container-grown plants. The lower part of the bud union should be level with the ground. With bare-root roses, carefully spread the roots out and fill with loose soil.

Mulch around each plant or the entire bed with an organic mulch 1 or 2 inches deep.

Protect roses in the winter by mounding soil or mulch around the entire base and stems.

Groundcovers

Remove existing grass or weeds by spraying herbicides or cultivation. Till organic matter into the top 4 inches of soil.

Set the plants with the crown at soil level.

Prevent weeds and grass with a pre-emergent herbicide or weed barrier.

Cover the entire bed with an organic mulch 1 or 2 inches deep.

Water thoroughly and regularly.

Fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer.

Maintenance

Watering

• Most plants need 1 inch of water per week during the growing season.
• New plants have a greater need for water than established plants.
• Water thoroughly and slowly to ensure the water soaks in.
• Check the soil to see if the water has saturated the root level.
• Plants require more water during periods of prolonged heat and drought.
• Plants under overhangs or near large trees with extensive root systems will require more water than normal.

Insect and disease control

• Healthy plants are less susceptible to insect and disease attack.
• Watch for signs of insects or disease and spray as needed early, before the problem spreads.
• Use the proper chemical. Read the directions.

Fertilizing

• Fertilize your plants regularly through the growing season. Use a slow-release fertilizer for extended feeding or a water-soluble one for more frequent applications. Follow the manufacturer's directions.
• Start fertilizing in mid-spring and stop in the early summer. Slow-release fertilizers may be used in the fall.

Pruning

• Prune to remove dead or diseased branches. Most evergreens can be safely pruned any time of the year.
• Rhododendrons and azaleas can be pruned after blooming.
• Prune to retain the natural shape and form of the plant.
• Cut back only into the previous year's growth. Cutting into old wood may leave unsightly stubs.
• Old overgrown shrubs may require drastic pruning to get them back into shape. Do this in the winter or early spring. Cut out the old wood and thin any crowded branches.

Mulch

• Most plants benefit from organic mulch or at least 1 inch.
• Replenish the mulch as needed by topdressing the existing mulch.
• Use a pre-emergent herbicide if weeds and grass are a problem.

Miscellaneous

Avoid lawnmower and string-trimmer damage to the trunk and branches.

Plants grown in pots require lighter, porous soil and more frequent watering and fertilizing than plants in the ground.

If you have any questions or problems with plants, please call us or stop in. We are here to help.