On the face of it placing a new plant in the garden just involves digging a hole and plonking the flower into it. While this is basically true there are a few wrinkles that can make all the difference. These seven Rules of Thumb come from a gardener whose experience and common sense confirm that she has her own green thumb. The article is by Patti Estep and comes from the Hearth and Vine website.
According to the dictionary, the term Rule of Thumbs means; ?a method of procedure based on experience and common sense.? So today I?m sharing a few gardening rules of thumb, that I have learned over the years.
7 Gardening Rules of Thumb
Sometimes it?s the little tips people tell you, that make all the difference.
1. Use Native Soil
When planting a new perennial, shrub or tree, don?t fill the whole with a bag of topsoil or compost, but rather use the soil that you just dug up. It?s fine to add a little compost or slow release fertilizer, but the majority should be native soil. Why? Because this will help the plants roots get established in the new environment, and reach beyond the planting hole.
2.?Plant on a Cloudy Day
Whenever possible, plant?on a cloudy day, preferably when rain is in the forecast. This helps reduce transplant shock. If you plant on a hot sunny day, even if you water well, the plants will not be able to acclimate to their new home as well.
via Tommy Sea on Flickr
3. Dig the Right Size Hole
A great rule of thumb here is, 2 times the width but no deeper than the pot it came in. Plants will tend to settle a little, ?and you don?t want it to sink below ground level. This also helps the roots grow out into the loose surrounding soil which is likely to be more beneficial and rich.
See more at Hearth and Vine
