HOW TO PLANT?

Step 1

After researching which native plants will perform best at your site, dig a hole as deep as the pot and twice its width.

Remove as much of the potting medium from the roots as possible. This mixture is inert, provides no nutrients, and, if it dries, will become hydrophobic and prevent the roots from accessing water. It's okay if you don't remove all of it!

Step 2

Step 3

Place the roots in the hole and backfill with the native soil, making sure you are planting it at the correct depth (i.e. not burying the crown or leaving roots exposed). It is typically not recommended that you amend the soil, because you want the plant to adjust to the soil you are planting it in. Remember, these plants are adapted to our soils! Tamp the soil down around the plant and water immediately to remove air pockets.

Step 4

Keep your new transplant well watered for the first season, watering every 2-3 day the first two weeks, and then once a week after (unless you get rain). You can stick your finger into the soil to see if the soil is still moist and needs watering.

We recommend caging all new plants during the first season if you have deer-- even those listed as deer resistant. Deer are curious and will commonly nip at new plantings. This ensure your plant gets well-established during the first season. You might remove the cage the following season to see if the deer eat it; if they do, your plant should have healthy roots and will most likely rebound.