Did you know?
Fall Is For Planting? Not Here!
We have all heard the inspiring words of “fall is for planting”. Did you know that in the maritime climate of Western Washington, we have far more leniency than Mother Nature affords most other areas of the United States?
There are three primary reasons that “fall is for planting” is a slogan. Working the soil while it is wet, impending dormancy of the above ground plant parts and the lack of watering that are required.
Our demonstration garden (shown at the top of this page) is a perfect example. Due to the nature of our business, we have little time to plant in the spring. All those plants were planted at slow times for the nursery. Either the dog days of summer or the dead of winter is when we have time for our own gardening.
If the garden is to be worked in the winter, we dig the hole and using the edge of the shovel, we chop the clay/soil into small chunks. We place the plant in the hole, add some Soil Conditioner/Compost to the chopped soil, and mix it up a bit and then backfill with that mixture. We do not pack the soil mix down. Leave it lightly piled in to the hole and water in well. Those loose particles of soil, clay and conditioners will fill in the voids with the addition of the water. The top of the plant may appear dormant, but the roots grow slowly during the winter. In spring, the plant will respond as though planted a year prior rather than just a few months.
When planting in the height of summer, the main concern is keeping the plant moist. We do very little root disturbance at this time. Remove the plant from its container, lightly pick out some of the root tips to direct them outward and plant. Bear in mind that the roots do not extend into the surrounding soil yet. When watering, focus the bulk of the water on the area that the root ball is. No, you may not take a two-week vacation now! It isn’t that a great amount of water is needed. It is that a moderate amount is required often. Perhaps only a quart of water for a gallon sized container plant, but that quart needs to be applied every day during the establishment period, which may take several weeks.
As long as the roots’ ability to absorb water has not been compromised, this action only stimulates the plant into thinking its pot just got bigger!
So never fear! Look to our garden for assurance that year ‘round planting can be done successfully. For more information, do not hesitate to ask us.