Thoroughly soaking the ground up to 8” (20 cm) every few days is better than watering a little bit daily. Refer to the plant label to check a plant’s specific requirements. Some plants prefer staying on the dry side, others, like to be consistently moist. Clay soils hold moisture longer than sandy soils, so expect to water more frequently in sandy settings.ĭifferent plants have different water needs. After that, depending on the weather and soil type, watering may be adjusted to every two or three days. New plantings should be watered daily for a couple of weeks. New plantings should be watered daily for a couple of weeks to get them well established.įinish up with a 2” (5cm) layer of mulch such as shredded bark or compost to make the garden look tidy, reduce weeds, and retain soil moisture. The soil covering the planting hole should be even with the surrounding soil, or up to one inch higher than the top of the root ball. Firm the soil down around the plant by hand, tamping with the flat side of a small trowel, or even by pressing down on the soil by foot. Push the soil gently around the roots filling in empty space around the root ball. This is especially important if the roots are dense and have filled up the container. Grasping the plant at the top of the root ball, use your finger to lightly rake apart the lower roots apart. Rotate the container and continue to tap, loosening the soil until the plant pulls smoothly from the pot.ĭig the hole up to two times larger than the root ball and deep enough that the plant will be at the same level in the ground as the soil level in the container. To remove the plant from the container, gently brace the base of the plant, tip it sideways and tap the outside of the pot to loosen. Position plants so that taller plants are in the center or background of the landscape design and shorter plants in the foreground. Organic ingredients improve drainage, add nutrients, and encourage earthworms and other organisms that help keep soil healthy.Ĭheck the plant label for suggested spacing and the mature height of the plant. Add organic matter such as manure, peat moss or garden compost until the soil is loose and easy to work. Prepare the garden by breaking up the existing soil (use a hoe, spade, or power tiller) to a depth of 12-16” (30-40cm). Pots can be brought indoors for the winter and placed near a sunny window for a continuous harvest year-round. Perennial herbs can be planted anytime from spring through fall.

Magic carpet creeping thyme seeds