How to Plant Your Perennials

Your Guide on Planting Your Newly Arrived Plants

Getting Them In The Ground

Dig a planting hole as deep as the height of the root ball and at least twice as wide as the container or root ball.
Loosen the root ball to expose the roots and remove any loose potting mix. Unwind or trim any roots that are circling the root ball and trim any that are broken.
Center the plant in the hole with the crown at soil level. Do not bury the crown.
Soak the hole and the root ball. Fill soil around the roots. If the plant is large, stop when the hole is half backfilled and water it to settle the soil before adding remaining soil.
Water well to settle all soil, to minimize air pockets and to moisten the surrounding area. The level of your plant when you are finished should be the same in the garden as it is in the container, or slightly higher, if drainage is poor.

Watering

Water when the root ball is dry. You should check frequently because the root ball typically will dry out before the surrounding soil.
Depending on the plant and the weather, you may need to provide supplemental water during the plant’s first year in the garden or until it is well-established.

Mulching

Natural mulches (like pine bark and shredded hardwood) are great for reducing weeds, for maintaining soil moisture and even temperature, and will eventually break down to add beneficial organic matter to the soil.
Usually 1”-2” is sufficient - do not use more than 3” of mulch.
Do not pile mulch on the base of the plant, as it will encourage rot and boring insects.
Some Mediterranean and dry climate perennials (like sedums) can be mulched with gravel. It dries rapidly and reflects light and heat, so their foliage dries quickly. Approximately an inch of mulch is sufficient.

If you are interested in a more detailed guide on all things perennials check out our blog posts: