The Best Landscape Practices
/7 Steps to Happy Plants
#1. Choose the right plant
Shade or full sun? Wet tolerant or dry tolerant? Deer resistant, fast-growing, or black-walnut tolerant? Picking the right plant for your conditions is the number one secret to gardening success. At Victoria Gardens we know what plants work in all varieties of conditions. We can help you choose the right plant for the right spot!
#2. Dig the right hole
When planting trees, the planting hole should be bigger than the diameter of the root ball, but not deeper! You want the top of the container or rootball level with the ground surface. Once you finish your hole, you want to firm the soil at the bottom of the hole, so the root ball sits on a solid surface. If you set your tree on soft, freshly turned over soil at the bottom of your hole, the dirt could settle one way or the other and your tree could be crooked for a day or two (or forever after planting!)
#3. Soak before planting
If you’re planting during a dry week or month (assume June through August is pretty dry unless we've had a rainy week) you want to pre-water the spot your planting. It’s always good to dig the hole, fill it completely with water, and allow the water to seep into the ground, soaking the surrounding soil.
#4. After planting, water deeply
Running the sprinkler for 15 minutes or misting in the garden doesn't provide enough water to soak the roots deeply. For a strong, healthy plant, the root ball must be soaked after planting.
#5. Water, water, water
The first year of any tree's life is the most important when it comes to watering. When you pick up your trees from Victoria Gardens, they are addicted to water. You must wean them off their watering schedule: water every day for the first four or five days, then every other day for four or five, then every third day, etc. After that, supplemental watering should be done weekly during dry periods.
#6. Keep the weedwacker and lawn mower at bay!
The bark of most young trees damages easily-- extra care is needed when mowing or using any garden tools around them. Injuries not only weaken trees and affect their growth, but can also bring an onset of unwanted insects and fungus to the damaged bark. For more info read Why Did My Tree Die?
#7. Mulching the area around young trees can save their lives
Not only will an area of mulch around your tree prevent weedwacker damage, but mulch can also help with root compaction, preventing excess evaporation after watering, and ease of mowing.
Finally, don't throw the grass clippings into the garden!
Not only is it messy, but it introduces weed seeds into your garden, which can result in a lot of unwanted weed growth.