Planning ahead for planting.

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Well the summer (if thats what you want to call it!) is almost over, and fall is rapidly approaching. Now is the time to start planning any renovations to your lawn(seeding, sodding) or any plantings ...

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Well the summer (if thats what you want to call it!) is almost over, and fall is rapidly approaching. Now is the time to start planning any renovations to your lawn(seeding, sodding) or any plantings you want to put into your landscape.
The fall is the best time of the year to plant, as it gives the new additions to your landscape 3 mseasons to adjust to their new surroundings instead of just 1. Many people think that during the winter plants go dormant, that is only half true. Over the winter months the plant (be they grasses or woody ornamentals) redirect their energy from top growth to root growth.
As I said before, now is the time to plan out your fall work. This entails going to your local nursery, looking at the plants that are there, deciding what plant material you would like to purchase,finding out how long the stock that they have on hand is and if they are getting new stock in.
Most deciduous trees (maples, oaks, crabapples etc.) are not dug from the ground at the growers until October or November, so keep this in mind when looking for trees.
Some tips on planting:
1) When digging the new hole, make it wider
at the top than at the bottom. this will
encourage a more extensive root system
in the top 12-18 inches of the soil,
where all the nutrient, air and water
are located.
2) Make sure that you remove or cut away
any burlap around the root ball, or if
you are planting container plants that
you cut into the pot shape. This will
encourage the root systems to grow out
instead of staying in the pot shape it
is used to.
3) Plant the tree or shrub with about 1/3
of the root ball above soil level. This
will allow for any settling that may
occur, and eliminate any crown rot
problems from being planted too deep in
the future.
4) Incorporate a good starter fertilizer
into the backfill soil. This will
stimulate new root growth and give the
plants a fighting chance to survive.
Some dont's when planting:
1) Do not put gravel in the bottom of the
hole to improve drainage. Studies have
shown that this make drainage worse as
it traps water in the bowl that the
tree is planted in.
2) Whatever you do, do not forget to give
your new plantings water. Lack of water
is the major reason why plants go into
transplant shock. I recommend using a
soaker hose around the bases of the
plants if we do not recieve at least an
inch of rain per week.
Following these steps, you will be able to establish strong, healthy plants that will live for many years and make your landscape
beautiful.
If you have any questions, or want more information you can E-mail me at aplantdoctor64@aol.com or call my office at 516-496-7096 in Nassau or 631-698-4900 in Suffolk. Mention that you saw this article and recieve 10% off any work we do for you.