Professional Advice for Plant Buyers

First and foremost

• Now that you have received your delivery, there are a few important things to keep in mind.
• Unpack your plants from the transport packaging immediately.
• Check the quantity immediately.
• Cut any string around the bundles.
• Find buckets and tubs and make sure to place the plants in water immediately. Pot-grown plants should have moist soil.
• Let the plants soak in water for at least 24 hours before planting and ensure that all roots are thoroughly wet and moist.
• Place the plants in the coolest possible spot, away from direct sunlight.
• Planting should take place within 2-3 days of delivery.
• Pot-grown plants can last a few weeks with water. If you are unable to plant immediately, bare-root plants must be heeled in (buried).
• You can dig a shallow trench to lay them in and pour soil over them.
• If possible, choose a shady spot.
• Ensure all roots are covered with soil and that the soil is thoroughly moist.
• Water regularly.

Planting

When planting your plants, it is important to consider a few things.

The hole must be made larger than the root requires. This ensures the soil around the root becomes loose and friable in both width and depth, giving the plant room for quick establishment. Dig a hole that is 20 cm deeper than required and ensure the diameter is at least 20 cm wider than required.

If you dig small holes, you risk the roots becoming spiraled in the hole and unwilling to grow out, and with a hard bottom, they cannot penetrate downwards. In the worst case, this can delay the plants’ development by several years.

Soil conditioning

For the plant to take hold and thrive, you should condition the soil to ensure it is loose and nutrient-rich. We recommend Hasselfors P-jord to give the plants a good start. It is a professional-grade soil specifically developed for planting hedges and other garden plants. If planting in pallet collars or raised beds, U-jord is highly recommended.

Do the following:

• Dig a hole 20 cm deeper and 20 cm wider than the pot or root, fill it with water, and let it drain away.
• Mix the excavated soil with P-jord in a ratio of 30% conditioner and 70% soil.
• Place new conditioned, worked soil at the bottom of the hole to the appropriate planting height.
• Return the mixed soil to the appropriate planting depth, ensuring the soil covers the cow manure at the bottom so the roots do not come into immediate contact with it.
• Plant the plant and press down around it to form a depression around the shrub. Water generously.
• Leave the depression around the plant and continue to water it for a week, then add the remaining soil to form a small mound (hill). This will make it easy to maintain and weed later, and the soil will remain loose.
• Continue to water 1-2 times per week as needed during the first year.

Watering

When watering, it is important to water generously but not too often. Generous watering means checking that the soil becomes moist all the way down to the roots. It is not enough to water until it runs on top of the soil; it must get down deep!

Shallow watering causes roots to turn upwards in their search for water, which contributes to a greater risk of drying out. Roots should grow downwards to minimize your work. A few days before planting, try to thoroughly water the soil in the planting area. It is better to water in stages a few minutes apart so the water has time to sink in.

If you water too often (e.g., every day), the soil cools down and prevents the plant roots from developing. If the air is warmer than the soil, the plants will have difficulty absorbing water to the extent they need. It is normally sufficient to water 1-2 times per week during establishment.

Good luck!