By Jackie Sledge
Big Country Master Gardener Association
Do you have planting questions? I’m sharing some of the planting questions I have had during the last couple of years and the answers I found during research of the problems. So, here we go…
Do I need a landscape plan? One of the biggest mistakes we make is not having a landscape plan when we are purchasing plants, shrubs, or trees. We should have a plan drawn to scale with trees, shrubs, plants, beds, and hardscape shown on the drawing. I had drawn a plan years ago when we moved in our current house, and I followed it for the original plantings. Over the years I have added other trees, walkways, and a storage shed so I updated my plan before incorporating changes and additions this year.
Is there anything I can do to prepare for planting flowers and vegetables? Mark planting sites and dig planting holes in advance of purchasing plants or immediately after purchasing them. Having the holes already dug will make the work go much faster on planting day, and your new plants won’t have to stay in containers very long after being purchased. My yard is clay soil, and it sometimes takes several days to get holes dug to plant my new purchases so digging holes in advance makes planting day much easier and faster for me.
Can I plant in wet soil? Don’t plant right after a rain. Working soggy soil can destroy its structure, and roots can rot in waterlogged soil. You should plant in dry soil and then immediately water the new plants.
How deep should I put my new plant? Do not set a plant higher or lower in the soil than the depth at which it was previously grown. The only exception is planting a tomato, and it can be planted deeply because it will produce new roots along the stem underground. For example, if a tomato plant is spindly, you can remove the bottom leaves and plant the stem underground up to the new bottom leaves. New roots will grow along the stem.
Does it matter how I remove the plant from the pot? Absolutely! You should never pull or tug a plant out of the pot by its stem. Squeeze the sides and bottom of the plastic pot and carefully remove the new plant. If that doesn’t work, then cut the side of the pot with a knife or scissors to remove the plant. It is important not to damage the stem prior to planting the new cultivar.
What do I do if the roots of a container-grown plant are compacted from being in the small pot too long? Never just remove the plant and plop the tight square of soil and roots in the ground. First, use your fingers to tease the roots apart and loosen the soil. If that doesn’t work, use a trowel, knife, or kitchen fork to separate the roots and break up tight soil. Now it’s time to put the plant in the hole, spread the roots in all directions, backfill with soil, and water the plant.
How should I water my plants? Plants develop shallow root systems and become vulnerable to drought if you water frequently. You should water less often, but water slowly and deeply. This causes the plants to develop deep roots and helps them search out moisture in the soil. Use a bubbler, soaker hose, or drip irrigation to water correctly.
Should I put mulch around new plants? You can protect the roots, suppress weeds, moderate soil temperature, and prevent soil from splashing on the leaves of your plants by covering the beds with attractive mulch.
Should I mark the edges of gardens? If your gardens are surrounded by grass, you should edge them with metal edging, bricks, or stones. This makes lawn maintenance easier and provides a visual transition between the beds and the lawn.
What if I forget what I planted? Be sure to label the plants right after you put them in the ground. I hate to admit how many times I have planted and then said I would go back to label them and update my landscape plan. Unfortunately, I didn’t do that, and I couldn’t remember what and where I had planted. This is just a reminder to immediately mark the locations of your new plants and update your landscape plan with the new cultivars so you know what you have before planting in the future. Earlier this year when the weather was cold and rainy, I painted small rocks with flowers and names of plants because rocks are less likely to get moved or disappear from their locations. I also painted rocks for herb and vegetable plants and marked them the same way. The rocks are still in place, and I know what each plant is!
If you have any questions, call the Taylor County Extension Office at 325-672-6048 or email us at mgardeners@yahoo.com. We hope you visit bcmgtx.org for all Big Country Master Gardener information and events, like us on BCMGA Facebook, and check out training presentations on BCMGA YouTube. We are here to help you!
