Planting Guide

Please follow this planting guide to ensure your plants have the best possible start in your garden.

For shrubs, trees and cottage garden plants:

• Soak your plant in a bucket for 20 minutes.
• Dig a big hole for the plant, twice as wide and a little deeper than the pot.
• Dig in some good garden compost, well rotted manure or other product we have recommended. Ensure thorough mixing of compost with existing soil.
• Turn the plant out of its pot and gently tease out the roots to help them grow away easily. For best reults add some 'Rootgrow' which contains beneficial fungi and will help protect your plants roots and supply it with micronutrients and water. Place the plant in the hole being sure it is upright and not deeper in the ground than it was in the pot.
• Firm in the plant well to prevent air pockets in the soil and ensure the plant is well anchored.
• After planting soak the soil around the plant to ensure the soil comes into good contact with the roots. Thereafter let nature take its course except in hot dry weather when it is better to soak the soil around the plant once a week so that the water gets deep into the soil and developing roots chase the water deep into the soil. Regular light watering has the opposite effect and will encourage shallow rooting or at worst sour the soil around the plant and cause root dieback.
• If your purchase is a tree it may well require staking at one third its height. Please ask staff for help and guidance.