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Good Planting Guide

Date: 12-Feb-2017
Advice

water well before planting
Water well before planting
Dig a hole
assess root structure
root pruning 
submerge root ball
Step 3_Submerge rootball into water.jpg
Submerge root ball into water before planting
Plant below surface
create a moat
drip lines
Mulch well
 
 

A PRACTICAL PLANTING RESOURCE  | How To Plant

PREPARING YOUR SITE FOR PLANTING:

Check drainage.

  • Proper drainage is critical. Water should not sit in a dug hole.
  • If drainage is poor, build up the garden beds, or add additional drainage infrastructure (e.g. Agi pipes).

 Check the condition of your soils.

  • Before planting, make sure the soil has been dug over and friable (crumbly) to a minimum depth of approximately 250-300mm, or deeper for larger pot sizes.
  • If the soils appear dry or dusty, add organic matter (compost) and blend thoroughly through the soil.

 NOW TO PLANT:

  1. Water plants well prior to planting.
  2. Make sure your hole is big enough and deep enough for the size of the plant (twice the size of the root ball).
  3. Ensure plant has good healthy root structure as you remove from their pots and assess for root pruning.
  4. Scrape with a sharp tool around the crown at the top and sides of root ball. Remove up to ¼ of the root ball from the bottom to encourage fresh root growth.  The amount of pruning depends on root structure and plant variety, with heavily rooted plants requiring a more vigorous pruning.
  5. Immerse root ball of smaller pot sizes in a bucket of water and allow to soak in. With larger pot sizes water well twice while still in their pots with a wetting agent.
  6. Place in the hole.
  7. Backfill the hole with damp soil and create a moat around the base of the plant. Add slow release fertiliser.
  8. Fill moat with water and allow to soak into the plant root ball. Repeat.
  9. Ensure any drippers are located near the root ball.
  10. Mulch around the plants to protect this water catchment area.

 

NOW YOUR PLANTS ARE IN THE GROUND:

  • Hand water your plants for the first summer to ensure good root establishment.
  • Drip lines work best once plants are established but will not provide sufficient watering in the first year.
  • Keep young plants cool on extremely hot days by misting with water.
  • Check your mulch to ensure it doesn’t form an impermeable crust around the base of the plant and renew regularly.
  • Feed in Spring using a slow release fertiliser to ensure regular feeding.
  • Prune regularly to encourage growth, preferably in late Spring, or after flowering.

 

 

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