The Vinca is disease resistant plant, and thrives in our deser...
Price: $16.00
Prepare Beds For Winter Planting
The importance of proper preparation of the beds prior to planting cannot be over stressed, the condition of the soil is the single most important factor that affects the growth of your annuals. Without a well maintained, fortified and well drained soil, plants cannot take up the nutrients they need to grow. 70% of all problems can be avoided by properly preparing your soil, the remaining 30% by maintaining proper watering & fertilization practices during the season.
We recommend the following steps for bed preparation:
1. Pull summer plants approximately 2 weeks before planting. Dig the soil in the beds to a depth of 10 inches to ensure good drainage.
2. Allow soil to rest 7 to 10 days, continue to water during this period and control weeds as they appear. During this period have a complete soil test done (we can recommend testing labs where this can be done).
3. A few days before planting apply mulch and incorporate other soil additives as required to correct pH and nutritional deficiencies shown in the soil test. Be sure that mulch and additives are incorporated evenly and thoroughly.
4. The day prior to planting water the bed thoroughly to ensure that the roots do not dry out during the planting process.
5. Plant with care - push plants out from the bottom of the pack instead of pulling them out by the stem, this will prevent root and stem damage. Seat the plant carefully into the prepared holes and tamp the soil down around the root ball to ensure proper contact with surrounding soil. The hole should not be any deeper that the rot ball so that the bottom of the stem sits just above the soil level, this will avoid stem rot.
6. Water well as soon as possible after planting do avoid root loss.
7. ONCE PLANTED DO NOT OVER WATER-TOO MUCH WATER WILL ROT THE ROOTS AND DEBILITATE OR KILL THE PLANTS AS WELL AS LEACH OUT NUTTIENTS FROM THE SOIL.
