here's the dirt...

literally!

As requested, here is our amended soil recipe for shrubs and trees!  It's simple to do and makes a big difference in the survivability of new plantings.  As I mentioned before we've used this mix for years- here and in Dallas.  You can certainly buy pre-mixed products, but if you have a lot of planting to do this is much more cost effective.

The formula is not an exact science, but we mix approximately 6 parts of dirt (here we use screened top soil that is delivered via a dump truck, but in Dallas we bought bags of top soil at Home Depot/Lowe's) to 1 part peat moss and1 part cow manure.   We're looking for a light and fluffy soil mixture that will allow for good drainage and also keep the soil moist after watering.  We mix the ingredients really well and then go by look/feel and add more peat moss or cow poop, if needed, to get to the right consistency.  We've added other ingredients throughout the years- mushroom compost comes to mind, but this is our easy, go-to standard mix.
Depending on the amount of "good dirt" needed we sometimes mix it in the scoop of the tractor (a wheel barrel will work), or when mixing a large amount Dan will use the tractor scoop to mix the pile on the ground.   If you don't have a tractor no worries, in Dallas I would pour the ingredients on our driveway/parking pad and mix, using a shovel, a large mound directly on the concrete. 

It's that simple!  Depending on the size of a bed, we often will amend the soil in the entire bed- rotatilling it in, but we also simply amend the soil per hole when planting individual trees/shrubs as we did in the terrace wall bed.  To plant, we dig the hole at least twice the size of the diameter of plastic pot (or root ball) we are planting and at least 3-4" deeper.  A larger, deeper hole is always better since it allows for more of the amended soil to be placed around the new planting.   We then place a layer of the amended soil on the bottom of the hole and turn the shovel upside down and using the handle end "tamp" down the dirt.  Tamping is really important as you want to ensure that there won't be any air-pockets once all the dirt is in the hole, and that the plant won't sink in the hole over time.    We place the plant in the hole and add more amended soil, tamping the sides as we go.  Once we have filled the hole half way to 3/4 with dirt and have tamped really well (your arm will hurt, trust me;) we add my secret ingredient...  Miracle-Gro Quick Start or Green Light Root Stimulator.

For years we used the Green Light, but Miracle-Gro is more readily available in our area.  Both are excellent.   Using this product helps to prevent transplant shock.   We mix the liquid concentrate with water to the ratio written on the container for the size of tree/shrub you are planting.  I use 5 gallons for a 10 gallon tree/shrub.  I pour half of the solution directly onto the root ball and let it soak in.  After it has soaked in completely I apply the second half of the solution and again, let it completely soak in.  Depending on your type of soil and the amount of moisture in the surrounding soil this can take 5 minutes to an hour, but the point is that you want the hole to be wet, but not filled with water when you then go to finish putting dirt in the hole.  When I finish filling the hole with the amended dirt I continue to tamp, but only to the depth of the amount of dirt added at the end, not all the way to the bottom of the hole or you'll only be making air pockets, so tamp lightly.

Though the Quick Start instructions don't say to do this the Root Stimulator instructions used to say to repeat the application two more times at one month increments.  I think this is a really important part in helping the newly planted tree/shrub develop a healthy root system.  I make notes in my garden book (and iphone notepad;) to remind me to reapply.

My other ingredient for happy new plantings is water- the amount and how.  I realize this sounds simplistic, but it is an easy mistake that can cause a new plant unnecessary stress.  Never, ever let the roots of a new tree/shrub dry out.  Depending on your soil and temperatures most shrubs/trees take a month to three to establish a decent root system and you want to keep the roots moist until this happens. (I'm not saying drown them, I'm simply saying to not let them get bone dry:)

"How" you water is another important element to keeping new plants (or even established plants in extreme heat conditions) healthy and happy.  My method is that I always water plants twice.  As basic as this sounds I credit this technique for my lush potted plants thriving in the extreme Texas summers. (I use this same technique for plants in the ground, plants in outside pots and houseplants btw.)  Have you ever noticed how when you water an extremely dry potted plant the water seems to just runs through the dirt?  That's because it does.  If you only water once, the water you are intending for the roots isn't giving the entire root system a drink, it makes little pathways in the dry dirt and runs right through it missing some of the root system.  I water a plant, let it soak in, then re-water several minutes later.  The second watering insures that the water will get to the roots!  (In extreme heat conditions I will even hit the plant three separate times to make sure that it is well-watered.)

Then we mulch!  We're generous with the mulch and give the plant a wide, thick circle of mulch.   (I usually wait several days before adding mulch to make sure that I don't need to add more dirt to the plant's hole.)   We use natural pine bark mulch, mainly for the cost and I like that it decomposes fairly quickly.  I'm personally not a fan of dyed mulch- I don't like the idea of the chemicals from the dye leaching into the ground.  (And, don't get me started on the red/orange dyed mulch!   For the life of me, I can't understand what that stuff is supposed to mimic or why the manufacturers think anyone would want bright red/orange mulch in their yard.) 

 happy planting!

I recently found this tidbit in an O Magazine while waiting for a haircut appointment.  It could explain a lot....!

Here's my top-ten list for you know you're a gardener when...

1.  you have 6 nurseries in your contact list on your phone!

2.  you're the only person at the nursery when it's pouring rain or it's 93 degrees!

3.  while shopping, without consciously thinking about it, you deadhead plants at Home Depot!

4.  you accidentally hit one of your plants and tell it "I'm sorry!"

5.  you think nothing of driving an hour and a half to get to your favorite nursery!

6.  you know the days of the week the nurseries get new shipments!

7.  the thrill and anticipation of what you will find at the nursery the next day keeps you up at night!

8.  you sacrifice a fresh manicure to pull weeds!

9.  instead of jewels for your birthday you ask for plants!  (last year we bought a Sugar Maple as our anniversary present to one another!)

10.    you know and love that good, exhausted, aching, rewarding feeling at the end of a really long, hard day in the yard!

(feel free to play along and add what would be on your list in the comment section!!)