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Transplanting 101

Time to move out to the garden?


Here are some helpful tips to ensure success!

seed starting

1. If you are transplanting new seedlings that have been started indoors, be sure to harden off your plants before transplanting. Take them outside for an hour the first day then increase the outside exposure a little each day until they have been outdoors throughout an entire day

2. Till the soil in the area where you intend to plant. Make sure it is loose at least 8 inches deep for easier root growth and development.

3. Test your soil to make sure it has proper PH levels and good nutrient levels for the type of plants you are transplanting.

4. When transplanting annuals and vegetables, transplant when there is no more frost at night.

5. Transplant when the sky is overcast or early in the evening to avoid the hot bright sunshine so you do not stress your plants.

6. It is absolutely necessary that the plant be watered an hour or so before transplanting so that the soil around the root ball will not fall apart when you pull the plant out of the container. You don’t want bare roots exposed to sun and heat.

7. It’s now time to dig the hole for your plant. Dig deep and wide. The rule of thumb is to dig the hole so that it is twice as deep and 2 1/2 times the width of your root ball.

8. Add water to the soil in the hole before replanting your plant.

9. Be sure you position the top of the root ball in the hole to about the same depth as it was previously planted. Holding the root ball in proper position with one hand, add enough soil underneath it to keep it in the correct spot. The top of the root ball must not be higher than the surface level and, depending on the plant, not that far below the surface level. Once the bottom of the hole has been filled up to the root ball, tamp it down gently with your hands to remove air bubbles and add water.

10. It’s important to keep the newly planted plant moist.