How to Plant WATERWISE Perennials

1) Digging the Hole—Plants need plenty of room to spread their roots. Make the hole several times wider than the root ball, but no deeper than the existing soil level.

2) Amend the Soil from the hole—Improve soil texture with the addition of good quality compost such as Soil Mender Blend compost. Feed the soil that feeds your plants with Yum Yum Mix.

• For xeric (low-water need) plants that prefer growing in a “lean” or infertile soil, dig in a handful of Yum Yum Mix into a nice wide planting hole.

• For plants with moderate water needs, Combine the Yum Yum Mix with compost (usually 1 part Yum Yum Mix to 3 parts Soil Mender Blend compost.

3) Planting—Remove plant from pot and gently scratch out any tangled roots with the corner of a plant tag or knife blade. Place plant in hole at the same level as it was in the pot. Fill hole with amended soil and firm into place; water thoroughly.

4) Avoid Transplant Shock—To help plants establish roots quicker, use Lady Bug® "John’s Recipe Liquid Fertilizer", an all-time favorite that has it all! This special formula is designed to get to the roots quickly and promotes healthy microbial activity to support both your plants and your soil.

5) Water—It is important to water deeply. Using a a gentle stream from a watering can, water in your new plant and then repeat. Always water thoroughly twice, the 2nd time use Lady Bug Brand John’s Recipe Liquid Fertilizer. Continue to water your new transplant 2-3x/week until established.

6) Mulch—Mulching provides your garden and landscape with a multitude of benefits including;

- “Dressing up” your plantings to give them a neat, finished look,

- Keeping the soil shaded and cool for optimum root growth,

- Conserving the soil moisture by protecting it from the sun and drying winds,

- Adding invaluable organic matter to the soil to improve its fertility and water penetration and keeping down the weeds.

Plant derived materials like shredded bark and crushed pecan shells are both decorative and effective mulches. Back to Earth Blend compost is a Southwest regional favorite and can be used as a mulch as well as a soil amendment. Gravel is a superb mineral-type mulch for very xeric plants and works best when used at a sufficient depth of at least 1 to 2 inches. Use smaller 3/8 to ½ inch diameter crushed (angular) rock for best results.