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Most plants are commonly sold in containers, usually plastic
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Step 1
Remove the plant's root ball from the container. Break up the root
ball on the outer edges by teasing the roots apart with your fingers or
making several vertical cuts through the roots on the edges of the ball. |
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Step 2
Dig the planting hole. The
hole should be as deep as the plant's root ball is tall, but about twice
as wide as the root ball. Discard any large rocks that you remove, but
save the soil. You can mix the native soil with some compost or manure
to increase the amount of organic matter in the soil. |
Step 3
Position the plant in the planting hold. The top of the root ball
should be level with the surface of the ground. |
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Step 4
Return the native soil which you may have mixed with some soil amendments
to the hole. Pack the soil around the root ball so that no air
pockets are left. |
Step 5
Mound the soil up on the outer edge of the planting hole so that there is
a reservoir left around the trunk of the plant. This reservoir
will hold water and allow it to slowly penetrate the soil around the
root ball. |
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Step 6
Water the plant well to settle the root system and soil. You may
need to fill up the reservoir two or three times and allow it to soak
into the soil each time. |
Step 7
Apply three to four inches of an organic mulch around the plant.
Mulch will conserve water around the root system and insulate the roots
from extreme temperatures. |
