One of the questions we seem to get virtually year-round is “Is it okay to plant?”, and this time of year is no different. With the upcoming warm weather, many of you may be nervous to put new plants in the ground, but we promise, you can ABSOLUTELY plant!

1. Choose the right plant for the right place. If you have a sunny, dry spot you’re looking to fill, choose a tree, shrub, or perennial that will be happiest in those conditions. Not sure about plant requirements? See a Van Wilgen’s plant expert and we’ll gladly work with you.
2. Proper planting technique is crucial. Dig your hole twice the width of the root ball and no deeper than the height. 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. For additional recommendations, be sure to reference our planting guide.
3. Add Van Wilgen’s Jump Start starter 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.)
4. 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.
5. Backfill the hole with your soil mixture, tamping the soil as you go, to eliminate any air pockets. Add a 2-3” layer of mulch around the base of the plant. Be careful to leave the stem or trunk flare exposed. (Over mulching can lead to its own set of problems!)
6. Water the base of the plant thoroughly. Avoid overhead watering. Your new plants will need a deep soaking two to three times a week for the first season, depending on water. Click here to reference our watering guide.

One of the many questions we usually start hearing this time of year is “Can I still plant in the summer? We understand why people may be nervous but the answer is an overwhelming YES!

There are a few things we should all keep in mind before we get started.

• Choose the Right Plant for the Right Place. If you have a sunny dry spot you are looking to fill, choose a tree, shrub, or perennial that will be happiest in those conditions. This dramatically improves the chances of success. If you are unsure of your requirements please see a Van Wilgen’s plant expert and we will gladly work with you.
• Proper planting technique is crucial. Dig your hole twice the width of the root ball and no deeper than its height. If you’re planting a container plant make sure to score the roots first. If you are planting a tree with a wire basket take of all the burlap as well as the basket. In both cases, this ensures the plants will develop girdled roots.
• Add Van Wilgen’s Jump Start starter fertilizer or our organic option, VW Root Boost to the hole when planting. Making sure it comes into contact with the root system. Both are formulated to get the fine feeder roots of newly planted plants into action.
• Mix Van Wilgen’s Premium Planting Mix with your existing soil. If you just added nice new soil, not incorporating any native soil, the roots will stop dead in their tracks once they outgrow the pocket of nice new soil.
• Backfill the hole with your soil mixture, tamping the soil as you fill to eliminate any air pockets. Add a 2-3” layer of mulch around the base of the plant. Make sure to leave the stem or trunk flare exposed. Over mulching can lead to its own set of problems.
• Water the base of the plant thoroughly. Avoid overhead watering. Your new plants will need a deep soaking two to three times a week for the first season, depending on water. Please visit vanwilgens.com for a watering guide that will take all the guesswork out of watering your new summer plantings.

Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy your new plantings and some warm summer weather!