| WE HAVE JUST BOUGHT A NEW HOME AND I WOULD LIKE TO PLANT. ID IT TOO LATE? WHAT WOULD BE MY BEST CHANCE IN THE MIDDLE OF JULY? I LOVE ROSE OF SHARONS. WE ARE HAVING A BIG PARTY IN AUGUST, AND I WANT THE YARD TO LOOK NICE. MAINLY AROUND THE POOL. I WOULS LOVE ANY ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE ME. THANK YOU. LISA |
| Mid-summer is a difficult time to plant but if you take extra care, you should be successful. Landscape trees and shrubs can go through transplant shock when newly installed and it can take several weeks for them to adapt and adjust. With this in mind, your best chance of success is to prepare the soil prior to planting by amending it with compost or other organic matter (to help loosen the soil and help it hold moisture). After preparing the soil, dig the holes for your new plants, making them the same depth and slightly wider than the nursery containers. Lay the plants on their sides, slide them out of the pot and pop them into the soil, filling in around the sides and tamping the soil down. Then water thoroughly to help settle the soil. Try to pick a cloudy day to plant, or plant in the late afternoon, early evening so the soil has a chance to settle and the roots get a little head start before the sun comes out the next day. Sometimes it helps to temporarily shade new plants to they can concentrate on establishing their roots instead of dealing with hot afternoon sunshine. If you water your new plants deeply once or twice a week they should adjust to their new places in the garden and look spectacular by August. Best wishes with your new landscape. |
