
Tips to Give Your Plants the Best Start
Planting isn’t just digging a hole and hoping for the best—it’s an act of intention. Whether it’s trees, shrubs or perennials, giving your plants the best start goes a long way.
Know Your Soil
You can get a soil test, but we find most soil in our area to be high in minerals, low in organic matter, with an alkaline pH. In our experience the composition of the soil is more important. Is it clay, lean and gravelly, or loamy? Does it vary throughout your property? Is it quick to drain, or slow to dry? Knowing these simple facts will help you plan and plant for success.
Can You Dig It?
Digging the hole at the right depth is very important; you want the crown to be slightly above the ground, that way most of the water will flow out to the drip line of the plant, saturating the hair roots.
The width of the hole should be at least 3 inches wider than the root ball. Keep the native top soil you’ve just dug for later.
Once the hole is prepared, fill it with water and allow it to drain. This is helpful—not only to fully saturate the ground and root zone, it also gives us an idea of what the drainage is like.
Once the water has drained, roughen up the sides and bottom of the rootball. Plant using the native soil, and water again from the top.
Amendments
We often shy away from amending the hole with compost, since we want the plant to adapt to the native soil. Adding compost to the hole may make the root zone "too nice," keeping the roots from growing out, inhibiting a strong-growing, healthy plant as it matures.
However, we do recommend using a good quality compost to add on top, as if it were a mulch, to slowly feed the soil, and in turn, the soil will feed your plant. Also, using a starter fertilizer sprinkled in the hole prior to filling it with water will give it a well-deserved boost for its new home.
Be an inquisitive consumer when choosing your compost. Local options are always best, but be sure it is well aged before spreading. Bagged goods are a great route too, however steering away from chemically based amendments is not only going to help the longevity of your plant, but also your soil. These petroleum based products are tricksters; it may seem like your plants are thriving, but in truth the amendment, so to speak, is actually robbing nutrients from the soil and creating a dependency with your plant. Choosing a bagged good that is organic and inoculated with beneficial microbes will ensure healthy plants and healthy soil.
Protect & Support
Newly planted trees sometimes need support to allow new roots to establish when they are introduced to a windy site.
At the ground level, if the root ball moves in the wind, stake the plant using wide straps and a sturdy support.
If it stays firm, let it sway—this builds resilience.
Stake only when necessary; for one or two years.
Be sure to protect new plantings from deer browse, if necessary. For more on this, check out "Protecting Your Garden from Wildlife.”
Water Strategically
After planting, water deeply. Create a mote or watering basin around the root zone to keep water where it is needed. Avoid frequent shallow watering—it trains roots to stay near the surface and will not encourage drought tolerance over time. For more on watering, see “Watering and Feeding Your Plants.”
Final Thoughts: Plant with Intention
These planting tips are more than tasks — they’re part of forming a relationship with your land. Take time to learn the soil, observe the light and water, and choose plants wisely. Thoughtful planting builds a stronger garden, and the care you show in the beginning will reward you for years to come.
Let’s Grow Together!
Have questions? Ask away. Whether you’re unsure about soil prep, staking, compost choices, or plant selection — we love to share our gardening insights.