How to Plant a Flower Bed

·         Small garden spade

·         Garden hose or watering can

 

 

·  Remove seedlings from their containers and loosen the roots gently.

·  Place the seedlings that you have removed back into the nursery tray, lying on their sides with the foliage all facing the same direction. Work quickly so the roots don’t dry out.

 

· Begin planting at the back of the garden bed.

· This way you won’t be stepping all over the plants you’ve just put into the ground.

· Keep the tray of plants where you can easily reach it.

 

 

· Use a small spade to make a hole for each plant.

· Stab the spade into the soil, trying to gauge the depth so that the hole is only as deep as the root ball (the tightly packed mass of roots and soil produced by a plant, especially when grown in a container).

· The crown (the area where the foliage meets the root ball) of the plant should be at the surface of the soil.

 

 

· Pick up the root ball of a plant with your free hand.

· Lower the plant into the prepared hole.

· Adjust the depth if necessary

 

 

· With your small spade, shovel in a little soil to fill the hole around the plant, or scoop out a little more soil to make room for the plant.

· The top of the root ball should be at the surface of the soil.

· Push the soil into place around the roots with your trowel.

 

 

· Continue working backwards, planting as you work towards the front of the flower bed.

· Cover your footsteps by roughing up the soil with your small spade.

· Tender young roots push through soft, un-compacted soil much faster than through compacted soil.

 

 

· Water the newly planted garden immediately after you’ve finished planting the entire flower bed.

· Use a hose at low volume or a watering can. Try not to get water on the foliage, apply it near the roots to settle the soil.

 

 

·         Plant early in the morning or late afternoon to prevent roots from drying out.

·         Avoid using fertiliser until you begin to see new growth.

·         Stand up and stretch your back every 15 minutes while planting.