How to plant any outdoor plant in 8 steps

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We’re often asked the correct way to plant. The following steps will help you successfully plant annuals, perennials, shrubs, vines and trees!

  1. Determine if the location of your planting is in full sun, shade, morning sun only or afternoon sun only. The aspect of light will dictate which plants are best suited. Providing a plant with its preferred light requirements will eliminate 50% of any potential insect and diseases problems.
  2. If multiple, smaller plants are to be installed, the entire planting area should first be covered with the appropriate soil amendment (determine the coverage/area from the back of the bag). This way, the native soil and additive can be completely mixed as holes are dug. For larger plants, it is easiest to add the amendment to the soil surface (general rule of thumb is amount of amendment needed is equal to the size of the plant container times 2). Again, the native soil and additive will be well mixed as the hole is dug. If water holding granules will be used, prepare them according to the directions so they will be ready to use when needed.
  3. Dig holes as deep as the container and twice as wide. In heavier, clay soils, be sure to scour the sides of the hole, creating small gashes. Do not leave holes with slick, impenetrable sides. Holes for 1 gallon size and up should be filled with water prior to planting to ensure water is in the root zone. This practice will also let you know how quickly your soil drains, giving insight into how often you may need to irrigate in the future. You will need to water more in fast draining, sandy/loamy soils and less in clay soils.
  4. Put a small mound of the mixed earth at the bottom of the drained hole and add a pre-plant fertilizer according to the directions. These pre-plant fertilizers contain beneficial mycorrhizae and humic acids which work to create a “nutrient web” around the plant’s roots.
  5. Remove the plant from its container by turning the pot over and gently tapping the bottom of the pot or squeezing its sides. Larger containers can be turned on their sides and the plant gently shook/slid out. Larger plants can sometimes “stick”, so pushing down on the sides of the container in a couple places will often set the plant loose. Do not grasp the plant by its stem or top and pull upward to remove from a container as this could separate the plant from its roots.
  6. This next step is critical to encourage the new plant’s roots to seek a good hold in the ground. It is necessary to “rough up” the rootball either by gently tearing the sides to form a “fuzzy” ball of soil and root or scoring the sides with a tool such as a transplanter or root/sod knife to break up the rootball into a more amorphous shape. Circling roots at the bottom of the ball should be pulled to straighten them. Woody shrubs and trees sometimes have roots that are seen to circle the rootball. These need to be pulled at to straighten them. This process may seem detrimental but in fact greatly stimulates new root production. Breaking up the rootball will also improve future irrigation fully entering and wetting the root zone. There are a few plants that this process should not be used, most notably Bougainvillea and Daphne.
  7. Set the prepared plant in the potting hole on the small mound of soil you added earlier. Spread the roots out and over the mound. If you are adding moisture holding granules, incorporate them according to the instructions now. Fill the hole with the mixed soil ensuring that the soil fills in around the roots fully. The plant should sit slightly higher than the hole to allow for settling when watered. A small levee can be created around larger plants with remaining soil from digging the hole to act as a water basin.
  8. Water the plant thoroughly, starting from the outside and working in towards the center of the plant. Once the water has percolated into the soil, water again. Check the soil every other day or so for the first couple weeks to ensure the soil closest to the plant is not dry. The soil may be damp on the outward edge of the hole but drying out faster where the roots are located at the center of the hole.

2 comments on "How to plant any outdoor plant in 8 steps"

  • Kathy Bahr

    This is helpful information, thank you. I was given incorrect soil amendment advice to mix mulch in w/ native clay based soil. Now ground is dry, hard on surface day or so after watering, but somewhat damp 4″-6″ down. Plants (Lavender , Sweet Pee ) look undernourished, haven’t grown properly. I’m in the process of mixing in Loam & compost (Sloats Organic) , not sure of what ratio of compost, Loam to native soil. And is the correct way to amend the soil ?

  • Sloat Garden Center

    Hi Kathy — Amendments as a rule are always mixed in 50/50. To help with even moisture in the soil profile, apply Monterey Percolate or Scotts Easy Wet according to directions.

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