Planting Groundcover Plants
After you've set the plants or marked the spots where you will plant them in the planting area you can begin planting.
STEP 1
If you applied mulch first, rake back a small area of the mulch in order to dig a planting hole.STEP 2
Use a shovel or hand trowel to dig a hole at least 2 to 3 times as wide as the container the plant was growing in. If you are planting springs dig the hole at least 6 inches in width.STEP 3
Depending on the type, fertility and porosity of the soil you are planting in, you might need to add a soil amendment to the native soil removed from the planting hole. When planting in heavy clay soil thoroughly mix in some good organic matter, a good planting mix, and/or sand at a 50/50 ratio with the clay soil. When planting in very sandy, quick-draining soil you might want to consider adding in some peat moss and or compost to help retain moisture. When planting in fertile, loamy soil you might not need to add any soil amendments at all.STEP 4
After preparing your backfill soil mixture, remove the plant from the container and scratch root ball to loosen feeder roots.STEP 5
Place plant in hole making sure that the top edge of the root ball is level or slightly above the level of the ground to allow for settling.STEP 6
While gently holding the plant at the right level with one hand, use your other hand to start backfilling around the rootball with your soil mixture. Tamp lightly as you backfill to remove air pockets.STEP 7
When you have finished planting, I recommend broadcasting weed preventer granules over surface of bed for season-long weed prevention. I use a weed preventer called Hi-Yield Weed & Grass Stopper containing Treflan.
