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Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 10D
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Sunday, April 12,1N8
Give landscape plants best chance of success
By Dan Rahn
Georgia Exteosion Service
A casual glance at any garden
center should make it clear that
many Georgians are busy planting
in their landscapes now. But many
unknowningly give their new
shrubs little chance to survive,
according to a University of
Georgia expert.
Gary Wade, an Extension
Service horticulturist with the
UGA College of Agricultural and
Environmeotal Sciences, said four
simple steps can greatly enhance
the success of landscape planting
efforts.
“The four most important steps
in planting shrubs," Wade said,
“are digging the right size hole,
planting the shrub at the right
depth, mulching and watering.”
The right size hole, he said, is
simply a good bit wider than the
plant’s root system.
“If you dig the hole too deep,
backfill with soil and tamp it to
prevent settling,” he said. “The top
of the root ball should be level
with the soil surface.”
Don’t mix organic matter in
the planting-hole soil. Wade said
research shows that soil amend-
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ments in a planting hole don’t
help. They can even hurt, by dis
couraging roots from venturing
into the surrounding native soil.
Four simple
steps can greatly
enhance the success
of landscape
*
If a shrub is planted too deep,
its deep roots die, Wade said. The
plant will try to develop a shal
lower root system. But its early
setback will likely keep it from
growing into a vigorous, hardy
plant. And it may not survive me
first harsh, stressing weather that
comes along.
A point to remember, Wade
said, is to plant the shrub with its
upper roots at ground level.
“You want to put very little
soil hardly any soil at all, on top
of the roots:’ he said. “Pull the
soil, to the sides, rather than on
top of the roots. Then cover it
with a good mulch. Research
shows mulching to have great
value to the plant’s survival and
growth.”
Mulching prevents severe
moisture fluctuations around the
roots, he said. It keeps the soil and
roots cooler in stressful Georgia
summers, too. It keeps down com
petition from weeds and grasses
and helps keep certain soil-borne
diseases off the leaves.
The fourth factor in successful
planting, Wade said, is water.
“Water the plant thoroughly in
the container before you plant it,”
he said. “It’s hard to rewet a dry
root ball once it’s in the ground.
Also, watering after planting helps
settle the soil and eliminate air
pockets that can dry out the roots.”
Don’t put fertilizer in the
planting hole, he said. Wait four to
six weeks. Then put a light appli
cation of 10-10-10 of the planting
hole.
Those four steps: digging an
oversized hole, planting at me
proper depth, mulching and water
ing—can help give new shrubs a
good start to a healthy, vigorous
life, Wade said.
(Dan Rahn is a news editor
with the University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and
Environmental Sciences.)
For a garden that keeps giving: Plant perennials
A perennial is any soft-bodied plant that survives for more than
one growing season, becomes dormant during the winter and
returns the following spring. The advantage of this type of plant
life cycle is that you don’t need to plant flowers every spring only
to lose them to the first killing frost. Perennials offer a vast variety
of colors, textures and scents to suit nearly any garden condition.
Whether your yard gets full shade, full sun or a little of each, all
you need is a little bit of knowledge and planning and you can
grow a successful perennial garden. From early spring to late
autumn for years to come, planting perennials will accent your
yard and garden beautifully.
