Fall planting season is upon us, making this the perfect time for some gentle reminders as to basic planting techniques. Following these simple guidelines will give your landscape a good head start as we near the holiday season.
Customers come to us on a regular basis with samples of shrubbery and trees that have died as a result of being planted too deep. Make sure to leave a minimum of 1/2" of the root ball showing above grade when installing plants and trees. This leaves room for the settling that WILL occur after installation. By planting material at or below grade you are essentially burying the plant, and allowing for potential rot and insect damage.
Secondly, when laying out mulch, most folks tend to put down too much, and quite often put the mulch right up against the trunk. By banking the mulch directly against the bark they have in effect buried the plant, allowing for an over abundance of moisture retention and insect infestation. Approximately 2" of mulch is sufficient and keeping it away from the trunk is the healthier option for your plant material.
Happy Fall everyone!
