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Steps to planting Perennials
The best time to plant perennials isn't a hot, sunny day but a
cooler, cloudier one — such conditions are less stressful for the plants,
and the gardener.
Give the
planting area a good watering, preferably the day before so  you don't work in
muck, or plant after rain has moistened soil.
If
perennials are dry in their pots, water them first to get them moist.
To plant:
- Dig a hole
that's wider but not deeper than the container. Never shoehorn a plant
into a hole that's too small.
- When
planting perennials, work with one plant at a time, so that tender
root hairs aren't exposed to drying air longer than necessary. Tap
sides of container or squeeze pot to loosen plant, and turn upside
down so plant slides out into your hand. Handle plants by their root
mass, not stems; stems can easily be damaged.
- Inspect
roots; if circling, gently tease apart or they will continue to make
circling growth. If roots are difficult to loosen by hand, make four
shallow cuts into root mass near the bottom with a sharp knife. This
promotes growth into surrounding soil
 .
- If you see
lots of potting mixture but few roots, work off some potting soil with
your fingers to ensure plant roots will make physical contact with
garden soil. Potting mix dries quicker than surrounding soil, making
new plants susceptible to drying out.
- Set plant
into hole; place exactly as deep as it was in container. Cover roots
with loose soil, water lightly; add remaining soil and pack gently but
firmly; never stomp on delicate roots. Water well.
- Do not
apply water-soluble fertilizer when planting perennials, but wait
about a week or so to allow roots to grow a bit. Organic fertilizers are the
best choice because they support both root development and the
soil-borne organisms that are beneficial to healthy root growth.
- Keep new
perennials moist for a couple of months, but don't kill with kindness:
let top 2 or 3 inches (5 to 7 cm) of soil get a bit dry-looking
between waterings.
<Planting Instructions
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