Product Info

Soil Preparation

Your plants are only as good as what you plant them in. First determine your soil type. If you have clay, apply 4″ compost humus, or other organic material and till it into the native clay soil as deeply as possible. This will break up the clay particles and allow water and nutrients to be absorbed and processed by the plant.

If tilling a large area is not possible, dig your hole and add 50% compost and 50% native soil to the hole. Do not add only compost to the hole, this will create a bucket affect because the water will sit in the hole rather than draining into the clay soil.

If your soil is very compacted and/or doesn’t drain well, your best option is to berm the soil up to get the plant’s root system out of the undesired soil.

First put 4″ of the topsoil you are going to use for the berm and till it into the existing soil. By doing this you are breaking the barrier between the clay soil and the newly-imported soil. It’s important to have this transition to promote proper drainage and encourage the plant’s root system to go into the existing clay soil.

If you have sandy soil adding compost to it will benefit your plants by providing more nutrients and creating more water-holding capacity to the fast-draining sandy soil. We believe in compost.

Planting Balled & Burlapped Plants

Balled in burlap plants are field grown and dug with a ball of native soil around the roots. The ball is wrapped with burlap and secured with nails and/or twine. They are usually held in the nursery in sawdust beds so the roots can grow through the burlap and into the sawdust. The burlap will decompose with time, so complete removal is not necessary. This root ball must not be allowed to dry out or be exposed to extreme conditions before planting.

1) Place plant in proper-sized hole at proper depth.

2) Cut the twine that is tightly wrapped around the trunk of the plant.

3) Peel back the burlap and twine away from the top of the root ball.

4) Backfill with native soil, compost or any other humus.

5) Construct a ridge of soil or berm around the plant with the leftover soil. This will create a basin to hold water.

6) Water it immediately.

Our Selection

Come stroll our paths and feast your eyes…

  • Outstanding Selection of Evergreen Trees & Shrubs
  • A Shade House Featuring a Variety of Unique Perennials and Other Shade Loving Plants
  • Shaped & Sculptured Specimen Trees
  • Ground Covers, Perennials and Herbs
  • Unique Pots & Gifts
  • Landscape Sculpture & Garden Art
  • Arbors, Birdbaths, Benches & More!
  • Pond & Water Plants

 

Planting Instructions

The plant that you have purchased is top quality and has been produced so it will transplant easily and give you many years of pleasure and enjoyment.

Our focus is to educate you on soil types, proper planting procedures and watering practices in order to set you up for success. Your success with our plants is how we stay in business so we rely on you to properly plant and care for your plants once they leave the nursery.

 

Plants In Containers

1) Water plant thoroughly.

2) Dig proper-sized hole.

3) Remove the plant from the container. Do not leave the plant in the fiber pot. Plants in fiber pots are usually field grown plants and, depending on the time of year they are purchased, they may have loose soil around the root system.

4) Gently loosen only the roots growing around the outside of the rootball. Use your judgement, not all potted plants need to be loosened. If the roots are thick and woody, they may require vigorous loosening or even should be cut with pruners or a sharp knife. This will prevent them from continued circling and possbily choking the root system in later years. Lay the plant and pot on its side and slowly take it out. Immediately put in into the ground and backfill with native soil enriched with compost to the proper level.

Care After Planting

By far, the most important phase in assuring that your new plant survives is proper watering. The root ball of the plant must be kept evenly moist until it has the chance to grow into the surrounding soil. Creating a water basin, so the water will not run off when applied , will greatly help. Add water when necessary to keep the roots moist, but not soggy. Frequency of watering will depend upon a variety of factors, including soil type, temperature, wind, rainfall, time of year, etc. It may be necessary to water almost daily to very infrequently, depending on conditions. After the plant is established (usually one growing season), the basin can be leveled off and less intense watering practices followed.

Do not let grass and weeds grow within a 2-3 foot area around the trunk for a few years. They compete for water and nutrients and can severely stunt the plant beyond repair.

Pond & Water Plants

Many of you have been asking if we carry pond and water plants and the answer is that we do! These include tropicals such as lotus and papyrus, water lilies, hardy cannas, floaters, oxygenators, and many others. Looking for a particular kind? Feel free to give us a call to ask. Otherwise, come on out to see our expansive selection.