Proper Planting
Turfgrass
Proper preparation of a lawn prior to planting will ensure the
establishment of a quality turf. Whether you are planting a new
lawn or replanting and old one ideally you want to remove any
old grass, debris and large roots. Once the turf is laid you must
water everyday for 2 weeks or until sod has taken root. At that
point water as needed.
You must also choose the correct turfgrass for your landscape
environment. We recommend using a St. Augustine variety. For best
results use Floratam for areas in full sun and Persley Seville
for areas in shade. We DO NOT recommend using Palmetto under any
circumstances.
Woody Ornamentals
According to Larry Williams with the University of Florida the
two most common causes for plant failure are Planting Too Deep
and Pot-Bound Plants.
Planting Too Deep
Most trees and shrubs will not forgive you for planting them
too deep. At best the plant will become stunted. At worst it will
die. Planting trees and shrubs too deep is a slow but sure way
to kill them and can sometimes take up to 18-24 months. There
are two main ways deep planting causes the death of landscape
plants.
Suffocates
the Roots:
 Tree and shrub roots need atmospheric oxygen
which is available close to the soil surface. When these roots
are covered with too much soil and mulch there’s simply
not enough oxygen to survive and they begin to decay.
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Rots the Base of the Trunk:
 The trunk is supposed to be exposed to air, not covered by
soil. As a result, the bark and wood begin to rot and the plants
vascular system becomes compromised. It is no longer able to
move water and nutrients from the roots to the leaves or manufactured
food from the leaves to the roots.
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You can never plant too high. Make sure the top of the root
ball or root flares are 2-3 inches above the soil surface. This
will compensate for mulch and natural settling.
Pot-Bound Plants
When plants have been left growing in a pot for an extended period
of time the roots begin encircling the pot in tight masses and
become pot bound. When these same plants are put into the soil
the roots continue growing in the same pattern and never establish
a healthy root system.
Plants will begin showing signs of dessication or lack of water
and dieback will slowly occur. It may take up to 18-24 months
for the plant to completely die. At any time you can pull this
plant out of the ground with little effort and the roots will
look very similar to the day it was removed from its pot.
You can increase the success rate of your plants by following
these simple rules when planting.
- The planting hole should be twice as wide as the root mass.
- Break apart the root ball using a knife which will encourage
the roots to discontinue the encircling pattern.
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