How to Plant Your New Plant- A Good Start Means a Better Garden
1. Water First Before doing anything, water your plant well while it's still in its pot. A well-hydrated plant handles transplanting much better.
2. Dig the Hole Make the hole twice as wide as the pot, but only as deep as the root ball. The top of the root ball should sit level with the ground.
3. Prep the Roots Gently remove the plant from its pot. If the roots look tangled or are circling the bottom, loosen them with your fingers so they can spread outward once planted.
4. Position the Plant Before filling the hole, rotate the plant until its best-looking side faces the direction you'll see it most. Make sure the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding ground. You don't want it sunken in or mounded up. Avoid covering the crown, which is the point where the stems meet the roots at soil level. Burying the crown can cause rot and will weaken or kill the plant.
5. Fill the Hole Use the soil you dug out to back fill the hole around the plant. You don’t want to add garden soil or heavy amendments right now. Mixing in richer soil can create a situation where water gets trapped and can't drain, which can harm roots. Press the soil down gently with your hands to eliminate air pockets.
6. Optional but Recommended: Add Mulch Spread a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the plant, but keep it a few inches away from the stems to prevent rot. Mulch isn’t strictly necessary but it helps protect the plant’s roots from heat and cold and helps to keep weeds at bay.
