Planting Information

RECEIVING YOUR PLANTS

When your plants arrive, unbox them and give them a drink as soon as possible. You can put them in a plastic container or tray to allow water to drip through the pots or coco fibre plugs. Read more below regarding spring, summer, and winter care of your plants. In spring, you will need to consider the risk of frost and potentially keep plants indoors.

We grow our plants in 3 different formats:

1. A peat plug that is cut and inserted into a 2.5 inch plastic pot. Remove the pot before planting. The coco fibre mat on top helps secure the plant for shipping. These can be placed on the surface of the plant after planting to deter weeds and retain moisture.

2. A growcoon plug that is cut and inserted into a 2.5 inch plastic pot. Remove the pot before planting. These plugs are created from biodegradable polymers and allow improved aeration and root growth for our plants. Read more in this information sheet here.

3. A coco fibre plug (some trees and shrubs). This can be planted directly into the ground.

GENERAL PLANTING TIPS

Refer to the tag on your plant (or information on our website) to see where the ideal location is for each species. Remove the pot from each plant. You can re-use these pots yourself or bring them back to our pick up location for us to re-use. Loosen the roots at the base of the plug with your fingers or a pruner if they are dense. In spring, the plant will not likely need this treatment as the roots are small. Dig a small hole slightly bigger and deeper than the size of the plug. The top of the plug should only be a couple of centimetres below the soil surface. You may choose to add a soil amendment (compost or triple mix) if your planting location is too hard or rocky. A soil dressing can also be applied to the surface or worked into the soil before planting as well. Mix the amendment with the soil you removed to make the hole and proceed to fill it in around the plug. Take the plants out of the plastic pots and plant directly in the ground in the peat or growcoon plug format (read more above). The coco fibre plugs can also be planted directly in the ground. Create a small well around the base of the stem for water collection. One or two inches of mulch on the surface will help retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing near your plants. The coco fibre mat can also be placed on the surface to deter weeds and retain moisture.

You will need to water your new plants every few days for the first few months, then only as needed. Watering requirements will vary based on the season. Read more below.

SPRING PLANT CARE

*Special Note: If you are planting before late May, you will need to keep an eye on overnight temperatures and protect plants if necessary. Look up the last frost date for your area.

You will receive plants in two forms:

1. Leaves are already out: In this case, the plants cannot handle temperatures below zero. Keep the plants inside near a North or East facing window until the risk of frost has passed (late May in Southern Ontario). Place the plants on a tray and remove the coco fibre mat. Check the soil daily and water as needed. If you do plant early and there is a frost risk (less than 0°C), please protect the plants with a pot or blanket for the night. 
2. Leaves are not out: In this case, the plant is still dormant. Plants can handle the freezing nights outside (-4°C or above). You can plant outside any time and monitor for frost risk (see above) after leaves appear. If you do not plant right away, keep the plants in a cool spot (-4°C or above, outside) until you can.

Key point about frost: If the plants have any leaves growing and the night will be less than 0°C, you need to protect the plants with a pot or blanket for insulation.

SUMMER PLANT CARE

The key note for summer planting is water, water, water! With hot temperatures and long days, plants will need to be monitored for water needs every day, especially when newly planted. The best time to water is early morning or late evening. Allow soil to dry out before watering. Planting on an overcast or partly cloudy day can also help plants adjust to their new homes.

You may also notice that some of the stems have been cut back into the summer months. This helps allow our plants to grow into a lush, full plant instead of getting tall too quickly. Some species may bloom in the first season, but some may take a few more growing seasons to bloom. 

FALL PLANT CARE

Fall is a great time to plant as the mild temperature is enjoyable for working outside and the plants are large and hardy with well developed roots. You will enjoy the benefit of less frequent watering in fall due to the cooler temperatures and mature plants later in the season. Allow soil to dry out in between watering.

When fall planting, we recommend breaking up the base of the root ball of each plant with your fingers or a pruner before you plant. Cover the soil that surrounds your new plants with a couple inches of mulch after planting. These two steps will help to prevent any frost heaving.

WINTER PLANT CARE

All plants enter dormancy over the colder winter months. For wildflowers, grasses, sedges, or ferns, leaves and flowers die back in the winter, but the root mass remains below ground (plants re-sprout in the spring). Add a few inches of mulch (straw or wood chips work well) on these plants to help insulate them. Some ferns (like Christmas or Wood Fern) keep some of their green leaves over the winter.

Deciduous trees and shrubs enter into a different kind of dormancy. They lose their leaves and “set” their buds for next year’s leaves in the fall, halting growth until the warmer spring months. Stems and root systems remain intact for the winter.

Evergreen plants, such as White Cedar, keep their leaves year round but slow down growth over the winter. Protect your plants from herbivores (like rabbits and deer) with chicken wire cages. Place chicken wire around plants using stakes and leave space between the plant and the wire. These cages can also become the structure to wrap burlap or cloth around sensitive tree species (like Pawpaw) over the winter.

While snow insulates plants throughout the winter, heavy snowfall (such as from off of a roof) may cause broken stems. Protect plants from drifting snow with board wind breaks and be mindful of shoveling near your plants! Consider flagging your young plants for easy spotting in the spring as it can be easy to lose track of where you planted the year before.

Enjoy and Happy Planting!