2002-07-08 P & R Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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create a small mound of soil. Break away the soli from the root ball to loosen the roots. Place the plant in the hole and bury (Rgure 2) Rrmly press the soil around the plant then water throughly. It is important to remember to soak the plants after installation. Poorly water plants wfl/ not establish quickly or can even die if not watered properly. This is especially important on well drained sites. During the first season, your plants might need a little watering once a week If It does not rain. A good soaking once a week ( a sprlnklerin the garden for an hour) will assist in the development of the plants. · Trees and shrubs should be installed using similar methods as described above. Remember, plants wfl/ establish quicker In a large planting hole. The hole should not be too deep, but it should be at least two times as wide as the root ball. The hole should be shaped like a saucer, not as deep around the edges (Figure 3). After you plant your woody species, carefully fill in the hole. Add no more than 25 percent compost or backfill to the soil and water as you fill in the excavation. This will settle the soil, eliminate air pockets, and provides enough water to . stimulate plant growth. During the rest of the summer, the plants will need to be checked often and watered when necessary. However, avoid over watering because you can drown the plant roots. A useful me,asure Is to sick your finger about 2 inches Into the soli, if they are dry water the tree or shrub thoroughly. · Trees and shrubs can be purchased as bareroot, balled and bur lapped (B&B), potted, packaged orpeat balled (Figure 4). Bareroot plants tend to be less expensive than the other types of stocks and can make your project more affordable. However, precaution must be exercised when using bareroot trees and shrubs. Bareroot plants have had the soli washed from the roots after being excavated Since there is no soli to keep the roots moist, the roots can dry out very quickly. They needed to be stored ina cool, moist location, and roots covered in saw dust, damp stra'fv, soil, or wet burlap when holding them on-site for planting. They are sold in the spring when dormant and must be planted before they leaf out and while temperatures are still m.oderate. Figure 3 Figure 2 .......:: ....:.. Figure 4 -. tJ 3 Balled & Burlapped Peat Bailed Container Packaged Bareroot Seeding The major advantages to seeding your garden is that it is less expensive than installing plants and does not require as much labor. However, the garden will take more time to establish itself. It will take about three years for the Rain Garden plants to become established. By installing plants, you will have fully functioning Rain Garden by the first season. · Begin by tilling up the area that you have prepared (see eliminating turf on page 13). Make sure area Is clear of roots from perennial weeds. Seed can be planted from early May to mid July. Forthe best results, plant from mid May to mid June. The use of moist stratified forb seed will improve geiminatlon during the springtime. Ask the nursery or garden center for assistance In determining the best planting conditions for each particular species when purchasing your forb seed. If the forb seed Is sown untreated, it may not germinate until the following spring. Most grass species do not need to be moist stratified and can be planted with excellent results during the springtime. · Fall planting in our area is from mid October to mid November. Native grass sown ear/Jerthan October may germinate if the weather Is unseasonably warm. If this occurs, the seedling may germinate and be destroyed by the colder weather. It Is important not to plant too early in the fall. The major advantage of a fall planting is the high percentage of forb germination. The "winter overing" of fall planted seed helps break down the inhibitors to the seeds germination and the native plants that require cool soil temperatures will also be favored. l'