Gardening and Landscaping Tips
How to Plant Trees and Shrubs for success
If not planting into a prepared bed of loose soil loosen soil 2-3 times as wide as root ball. Dig no deeper than root ball. Roots need to exchange gases and water and a loosened soil amended with compost soil conditioner. Bio-tone plant starter is used to provide an organic slow release fertilizer which will not burn. It contains beneficial bacteria and fungi which helps root development and plant health.
Upon planting water the plants well. Depending upon season of the year and amount of rain fall watering needs to be monitored and water well when soil around plant is dry.
We have found inserting a piece of pipe into the planting hole will enable you to water the roots quickly and thoroughly.
Remember plants like pets need water to survive.
The Skinny on Bark
Bark is the “Skin” of the tree and shrub. It is the protection from disease and insect infection. Damage from mowing and trimming equipment is becoming a major cause of plant failure.
Ban the Mulch Volcanoes
Mulch helps retain water and cools the roots.
Mulching too deeply results in Mulch “volcanoes” where the much is stacked on the bark of a tree resulting in damage the tree caused by disease fungi. More is not better. Mulch applied too deeply will encourage roots to grow in the mulch instead of the soil resulting in root damage due to drought and cold.