Spring is around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about gardening again. At All Green Nursery and Garden Supplies, we stock hundreds of plants ready for springtime planting, both native and exotic. Before you get planting, it's important to know how you should care for them once you get them home. It's vital that you know how to put plants in the ground. Read on to find out more about how to plant your plants.
All Green Nursery and Garden are here to help you get the best out of your plants, so we’ve compiled these top tips for transplanting your new plants into your garden.
Transferring from pot to garden
1. Choosing the right plants
The secret to gardening success is to choose the right plants. No matter how good a plant may look in the pot, you need to ask yourself:
- Will it be the right shape and size for the site once mature?
- It is a good match for the temperature range, sunlight and soil/water conditions of its new home?
If you’re not sure what’s best for your specific needs, then speak to our friendly on-site horticulturists. We can help you put together a customised plant list for your entire garden.
Our massive range of seasonal plants are all specially selected and bred to grow in Victoria’s unique climate conditions, many at our own five-acre plant nursery in Hoppers Crossing.
2. Soil preparation
It’s important to incorporate plenty of well matured organic compost into your soil before planting. Compost boosts soil quality by:
- Helping heavy soil to drain
- Enabling coarse, sandy soil to retain moisture
- Providing plants with a rich and long-lasting source of nutrition
However if you’re in an area with poor quality soil then compost alone may not be enough. You may want to consider introducing new soil before planting.
At All Green Nursery and Garden, we supply compost, general garden soils and specialised soils such as veggie garden soil by the ton, the cubic metre or the bag. You can collect or we can deliver.
3. Dig your hole
Dig your hole to the same depth as the plant is growing in the pot, and at least twice the width of the pot. This helps to ensure the soil around the root ball will be loose, making it easier for new roots to penetrate as the plant settles in.
4. Remove your plant from its pot
Before removing it from the pot, water the plant thoroughly or soak it in a bucket of water. This helps to ensure the root ball is completely wet, which is difficult to do after planting.
Hint: Using a mild Seasol solution for soaking can help to reduce the stress of transplanting on your plants and stimulate new root growth.
Turn the pot over and tap around the sides and the rim to loosen the plant and slide it out. Handle it by the root ball and not the trunk or stem.
Don’t disturb the roots unless the plant is really rootbound. In this case, gently loosen the outer roots with your fingers or use a sharp knife to make a few slices a centimetre or two into the root ball, from top to bottom.
If you do have to prune roots, make sure to give the plant plenty of water and some fertiliser according to instructions .
5. Planting
Once you have the plant’s roots in the hole, fill the hole about halfway with soil and then fill the hole with water and allow it to drain. This removes any air pockets in the soil.
Now finish filling the hole with soil and tap firmly around the base of the plant. Don’t stomp it in, as this over-compacts the soil.
If you are planting outdoors and soil or the hole take some time to adjust before planting, it is a good idea to have an old towel handy to cover the roots to protect them from sunlight and drying out.
6. Mulch
Finish off your planting with a layer of mulch to help retain moisture. Completely surround the plant, but ensure the mulch is pulled back a few centimetres from the trunk to prevent collar rot. A standard application of mulch is around 10cm.
7. Stake
Stakes can help protect larger plants while they become established. Make sure ties are loose to allow movement and to avoid damage to the trunk.
8. Aftercare
You’ll need to water your new plantings for at least four weeks to help them to become established.
During this time the plant's roots will grow out of the old root ball and into the surrounding soil. You’ll know this has happened when you see new growth.
Lastly, add a sprinkle of controlled release fertiliser to the soil around your plant to encourage growth for months to come.
Also if you happen to moving houses at the same time, here's a removalists service guide for moving plants
