One of the many questions we usually start hearing this time of the year is “Can I still plant in the summer?”
We understand why people may be nervous but the answer is an overwhelming YES!
Our nursery yard is filled with beautiful specimens waiting to beautify your landscape.
Here are a few easy tips to follow before you get started:

1) Choose the right plant for the right space

If you have a sunny, dry spot you’re looking to fill, choose trees, shrubs, or perennials that will be happiest in those conditions. Similarly, avoid sun-loving plants for those shady areas.
Not sure about plant requirements? Come pay us a visit and we’ll gladly work with you.

2) Start Digging

Dig your hole twice the width of the root ball and no deeper than the height. (You want the top of the root ball either at ground level or slightly higher.) If you’re planting a container plant, make sure to score the roots first. If you’re planting a tree with a wire basket take off all the burlap as well as the basket. In both cases, this will prevent girdled roots from developing.

3) Amend your soil

Mix together Van Wilgen’s Premium Planting Mix with your existing soil. If you only add new soil, without any native soil present, the roots will stop dead in their tracks once they outgrow the pocket of nice new soil.

4) Place your plants

Place your plant into the hole you dug, making sure you’re happy with the placement and orientation. Backfill the hole with your soil mixture, tamping the soil as you go, to eliminate any air pockets.

5) Fertilize

Add Van Wilgen’s JumpStart fertilizer or our organic option, Van Wilgen’s Root Boost to the hole when planting. (Just make sure it comes into contact with the root system.)

6) Mulch

Add a 2-3” layer of Van Wilgen’s mulch around the base of the plant, in your preferred color. Be careful to leave the stem or trunk flare exposed. Over-mulching can lead to its own set of problems!

7) Water, water, water!

Water the base of the plant thoroughly while avoiding overhead watering. Your new plants will need a deep soaking two to three times a week for the first season, though with the summer heat we’re currently experiencing, you might have to water more frequently. Click here to reference our watering guide.
Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy your new plantings and some warm summer weather!