Planting Trees & Shrubs

Before you plant, we recommend that you have your soil tested. If you don’t know your soil pH, soil type, and soil limitations, you won’t be able to make a good plant selection. Simple soil test kits are available at Ashcombe or your local agricultural extension office.

Once you have your plant selected, follow these tips and instructions for planting:

Prepare Your Plant

First, remove shrub or tree from its container. Next, check the root ball: if the roots have grown into a thick mass or are growing around the inside of the container, it’s crucial that you tease them out of their entangled mass. Pot-bound roots that are not teased apart will continue to grow as they are and won’t be able to sustain the plant that relies on them.

Pro Tip: Set your plant in a bucket of water with added root starter/rooting hormone. Soak for 10-15 minutes or until the soil mass has softened up. Use your fingers or a garden pick to carefully pull the roots apart. Don’t worry about breaking off a few, just cut the ragged ends with clean, sharp prunes.

Prepare the Site

Dig out a planting area only as deep as but at least twice as wide as your plant’s root ball. The wider the area dug, the better. If your soil is poor, add up to 50% organic matter, such as well-rotted compost, rotted leaves, or soil builders such as Bumper Crop. Ask our staff for details about this fabulous, organic product!

It’s okay to use a little bit of peat moss as a part of the organic matter, but too much peat can make soil dangerously soggy during wet periods and dangerously dry and hard during drought. Organic matter is always beneficial to soil, as it improves the flow and availability of oxygen, water, and nutrients to plants.

If your soil is more average than poor and you don’t want to take time to amend a large area around each planting hole, it’s best to skip amending. Pampering plant roots in a planting hole of rich soil doesn’t encourage them to grow out into your native soil. Your plants will actually grow better and be more self-sustaining in un-amended soil because roots have been forced to be tougher and more wide spreading in their search for water and nutrients.

Situate Your Plant

Hold your plant in the hole so that the top of the root ball is level with the existing soil level. Look for the spot on your plant where the trunk flares out to meet roots and set this line level with or above the soil surface. If the plant is heavy and may settle, place it one to two inches above the existing soil level. Fan out the plant roots you so carefully teased apart and begin to refill the hole. Throw your shovel aside and use your hands to scoop and pack soil in around the roots. It is important to fill in thoroughly. Avoid leaving any air pockets behind, they can dry out the roots.

Pack soil around the root ball until your planting hole is half full. Fill the hole up with water mixed with root starter. Let it drain down and settle the soil, then continue back filling the hole with soil until full. Water to settle soil again.

Be sure to not mound soil up around the base of your plant any higher than it was in the original container. Planting too deeply will kill your tree or shrub. If your soil has too much clay, is not well-drained, or if you have a plant that must have perfect drainage, it may be a good idea to plant your nursery stock in a raised bed.

Create a raised bed by digging out a planting area, then adding more soil to create a mound higher than your existing soil level. Planting in this small hill that you have creates will position your nursery stock up a little higher than it would be in an un-raised bed, and gravity will assure better drainage.

Mulch

Mulch your plant to conserve moisture, keep roots cool, control weeds, and add organic matter. Use only a 2-4 inch layer of well-aged material. Some tips to keep in mind:

• Avoid a heavy layer – it impedes water and oxygen flow into the soil.
• Avoid freshly chipped mulch – it produces acid that burns roots and young shoots.
• No mulch volcanoes – do not mount mulch around the base of your plant, but keep it pulled back 3-4 inches or to the drip line.

Mulch or soil in contact with a woody plant stem often causes rot and insect damage. Water again to settle mulch.

Water

Monitor the progress of your newly planted shrub carefully during the first growing season. Hand water new plantings regularly or as needed for the first year. Do NOT rely on rainfall to water a newly planted tree or shrub! Even after established, most plants need one inch of water every 7-10 days. If rainfall is inadequate, be sure to hand water. Water thoroughly and check the soil to ensure that moisture has penetrated down four to six inches.

Light and inadequate watering causes plants to form shallow roots and does more harm than good in the long run. So, water deeply, but only about once a week or whenever the top two inches of soil is dry. Be aware that overwatering can kill a plant just as fast as underwatering. If a container-grown tree or shrub can’t be planted right away, check it daily and water as needed. Again, don’t count on rain to water your container plants.

Fertilize

Fertilize a woody plant with caution, especially during its establishment period. For the first year or two, we suggest that you use only root starter to stimulate strong root growth, and/or slow-release pellet fertilizers such as Osmocote. Please do not use granular or water soluble “Quick Release” fertilizers (such as Miracle-Gro™) on newly established trees and shrubs. These fertilizers can burn young roots, especially if used too heavily or in drought conditions.

Please never use a fertilizer as a “quick fix” solution for your plant’s health problems. Fertilization will never be a good substitute for building up your soil’s organic matter, or for proper placement, planting, mulching, watering, and pruning. Know your plant and its needs. Keep your plants healthy with attention and good care.

Special Precautions

When to Plant

While fall is generally recommended as the best time to plant, any time can be planting time, as long as these notes are taking into consideration:

• Ground is soft and workable
• Plant is planted carefully (using these notes and tips!)
• You’re willing to put in the effort to care for it (watering, etc.)

Fall is typically most recommended as it allows roots to establish in still-warm soil before entering winter dormancy. The cooler air also reduces stress for water needs, making it a bit lower maintenance.

Tease Apart Pot-Bound Roots

Vigorously growing container plants sometimes develop pot-bound roots. These roots must be teased apart and fanned out before planting or they will be stunted, never grow properly, and never be able to sustain the plant that depends on them.

Amend the Soil Carefully

If you need to add organic matter to your soil, amend an entire planting site – not just the planting hole. Limit the use of peat moss – it can easily get too wet or too dry depending on weather conditions. We recommend wonderful soil-building amendments like “Bumper Crop,” leaf compost, or natural humus.

Plant and Mulch at the Proper Depth

A woody plant should never be planted (or mulched) any deeper than it was in it’s original container. It can “smother” and die a fast or slow death. When planting, the soil line should be where plant roots meet its stem or trunk. When mulching, keep mulch pulled back 3-4 inches from the trunk or to the drip line.

Eliminate Air Pockets

When filling soil back into a planting hole, it is extremely important to make sure it is packed in tightly around the roots of the shrub or tree you are planting. Air pockets left behind can cause roots to dry out.

Fertilize Cautiously

For the first year or two, use only root starter or slow-release pellet fertilizer on newly planted shrubs and trees. Please do not use Miracle-Gro as it can burn roots, especially in drought conditions.

Your Source for Trees & Shrubs

Looking for the perfect addition to your yard, or more tips on planting and growing trees and shrubs? Visit our Nursery – home to trees, shrubs, perennials, and pond plants. Open April-October and located across the street from our main store. Learn more at ashcombe.com/nursery