Don't Worry, Be Hardy

June 10, 2009, 11:37 ambetterhomesgardens

Hardy plants are low maintenance and so make for easy gardening. But there is also a much larger group of plants hardy once established. Establishing a plant well gives you an open door to include more than just the traditional toughies in your garden. So just how do you establish a plant to give it the best chance of being considered hardy?

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* Read the plant label to check that you can meet its basic requirements, such as correct light levels, temperature range and space.
  • Soak the plant in a solution of seaweed tonic and soil wetter while you dig the hole.
    Prepare the hole to twice the size of the pot, improving the soil to suit the plant. Add pre-soaked water crystals if they suit the plant's needs.
    Don't dig a dish into clay soil, your plant may well drown after heavy rain. Instead fork gypsum into the clay surface and create a planting mound on top using quality soil.
    Remove the pot and gently tease out the roots. Be aware that some species should not have their roots disturbed.
    Position your plant in the hole, the root-ball soil level should be at the same height as the surrounding soil.
    Backfill around the rootball with the improved soil. Press the soil down firmly to remove air pockets but don't compress it.
    Create a small dished mound on the surface around the edge of the root ball as a watering dish.
    If staking is required, add the stakes now ensuring that they are not pushed through the root ball. And use at least three stakes.
    Spread a slow release fertiliser to suit the plant and granulated soil wetter.
    Water in well with a solution of seaweed tonic.
    Mulch well, apply the mulch at least 50mm thick, and then water again.

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