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Started By
Message
please help me keep my new plants alive
Posted on 5/1/24 at 10:15 am
Posted on 5/1/24 at 10:15 am
yall, i'm at least competent at many things - woodworking, some automotive work, outdoorsman, basic handyman skills around the house, etc, but the one thing I have had just terrible luck with is landscaping. It seems like virtually every time I try to plant some new bushes, I kill them. I think it’s either overwatering or underwatering, but without knowing WHICH of those it is, I’m in no position to learn from mistakes. My wife really wanted some new landscaping this year, so I put some new plants in this past weekend. I come humbly before you all asking for best practice and tips for keeping this bushes not only alive – but maybe actually thriving?
I planted: gardenias, ligustrums, hydrangeas, and indian hawthorne. I followed the full sun / part sun recommendations on the little tags to the best of my ability. Yard is the standard Northshore type – multiple pine trees in the yard, so lots of pine needles, dirt is some sand but mostly clay. I dug huge holes for all the plants and put in garden soil around the root balls, so I’m hoping that will eliminate or at least help with potential drainage issues with the clay.
Now it’s a question of where do I go from here?
I planted: gardenias, ligustrums, hydrangeas, and indian hawthorne. I followed the full sun / part sun recommendations on the little tags to the best of my ability. Yard is the standard Northshore type – multiple pine trees in the yard, so lots of pine needles, dirt is some sand but mostly clay. I dug huge holes for all the plants and put in garden soil around the root balls, so I’m hoping that will eliminate or at least help with potential drainage issues with the clay.
Now it’s a question of where do I go from here?
7
Posted on 5/1/24 at 10:33 am to Northshore Aggie
I'm not an expert by any stretch but I do have a little experience with ligustrums and hydrangeas.
We have a lot of sunshine ligustrums planted outside at work. From what I can tell they need little maintenance. Ours get watered once a day by sprinkler for about 10 minutes. The vendor we use to care for the landscaping cuts them back in early spring. Not a dead-head cut back. Just trimmed more than usual. They come by monthly to trim and shape as needed.
I have personal experience with the hydrangeas. My wife and I both love these plants but find them a pain in the arse sometimes. Everyone we've ever bought was supposed to be full sunshine to part sunshine. I can tell you that they DO NOT like full sunshine. They will melt like an ice cream cone. Giving them plenty water helps but it's not enough to overcome a hot, sunny afternoon. We just pulled the two we planted in our new bed and moved them to pots under the covered entrance at the front door and they're doing much better. We have a hydrangea tree in the same bed that's doing ok for now with just plenty of water. However, we haven't reached the 90s yet.
We have a lot of sunshine ligustrums planted outside at work. From what I can tell they need little maintenance. Ours get watered once a day by sprinkler for about 10 minutes. The vendor we use to care for the landscaping cuts them back in early spring. Not a dead-head cut back. Just trimmed more than usual. They come by monthly to trim and shape as needed.
I have personal experience with the hydrangeas. My wife and I both love these plants but find them a pain in the arse sometimes. Everyone we've ever bought was supposed to be full sunshine to part sunshine. I can tell you that they DO NOT like full sunshine. They will melt like an ice cream cone. Giving them plenty water helps but it's not enough to overcome a hot, sunny afternoon. We just pulled the two we planted in our new bed and moved them to pots under the covered entrance at the front door and they're doing much better. We have a hydrangea tree in the same bed that's doing ok for now with just plenty of water. However, we haven't reached the 90s yet.
Posted on 5/1/24 at 10:35 am to Northshore Aggie
Water in the morning. Avoid watering at night.
In my experience I've killed more plants by not watering them enough, overwatering my snake plants was the only time I've overwatered anything. I can tell when my potted plants have had enough water when the soil starts to drain out from the bottom of the plastic pot and the top of the soil doesn't look like a pool. That still varies by plant, but the plants I have love water regularly.
Based on what I'm reading from the plants you added, you'll want to water regularly. Some issues plants might face are establishing a good root system. I'd say water every other day for now as temperatures are rising. Other plant experts may tell you otherwise. I've had pretty good luck so far with what I've done for my plants.
In my experience I've killed more plants by not watering them enough, overwatering my snake plants was the only time I've overwatered anything. I can tell when my potted plants have had enough water when the soil starts to drain out from the bottom of the plastic pot and the top of the soil doesn't look like a pool. That still varies by plant, but the plants I have love water regularly.
Based on what I'm reading from the plants you added, you'll want to water regularly. Some issues plants might face are establishing a good root system. I'd say water every other day for now as temperatures are rising. Other plant experts may tell you otherwise. I've had pretty good luck so far with what I've done for my plants.
Posted on 5/1/24 at 10:36 am to Northshore Aggie
Keep the root ball half in the ground and half out and build a mound (kind of) of top of the soil. Helps with excess water. Also make sure to fertilize well when planting and water deeply everyday(preferably in the morning)for 2 weeks(after planting)
This post was edited on 5/1/24 at 10:38 am
Posted on 5/1/24 at 10:37 am to WigSplitta22
quote:
fertilize well
can you be a little more specific on this? type / amount / etc
thanks to all for the responses so far
Posted on 5/1/24 at 10:39 am to Northshore Aggie
quote:
quote:
fertilize well
can you be a little more specific on this? type / amount / etc
Just get you a bag of fertilizer at home depot and put a couple handfuls in there when planting. If you forgot to do that then sprinkle a good bit around the base of the plant and water well. I usually do it every 6 months or so until they are mature
This post was edited on 5/1/24 at 10:40 am
Posted on 5/1/24 at 10:43 am to WigSplitta22
ok, good tip - thanks
anyone got any specific tips on the gardenias? i love gardenias, but they also seem to be the most susceptible to my Death Touch.
anyone got any specific tips on the gardenias? i love gardenias, but they also seem to be the most susceptible to my Death Touch.
Posted on 5/1/24 at 10:48 am to Northshore Aggie
-Plant high never die
-Add mulch, it helps with dry plants and adds organic matter as it breaks down
-Use fertilizer but be gentle...you can always add more
-Build good, loose soil - there are tons of youtube videos that can help you
-Your County Extension is your friend, they have tons of articles and are usually the best resource if you have specific questions.
-Be tough, plants are gonna die. We know a lot about them but not everything
One other thing I'd recommend is to drive around town & look at other's landscapes. How are they planting their gardenias, ligustruks etc. Where are they succeeding? Where do they have dead spots? This often shows the difference between a "tolerable" site and an "optimal" site
-Add mulch, it helps with dry plants and adds organic matter as it breaks down
-Use fertilizer but be gentle...you can always add more
-Build good, loose soil - there are tons of youtube videos that can help you
-Your County Extension is your friend, they have tons of articles and are usually the best resource if you have specific questions.
-Be tough, plants are gonna die. We know a lot about them but not everything
One other thing I'd recommend is to drive around town & look at other's landscapes. How are they planting their gardenias, ligustruks etc. Where are they succeeding? Where do they have dead spots? This often shows the difference between a "tolerable" site and an "optimal" site
This post was edited on 5/1/24 at 10:49 am
Posted on 5/1/24 at 10:50 am to Northshore Aggie
Miracle-Gro Shake 'N Feed should have instructions on the back on how much you would need to sprinkle on top of the soil. I used it for the first time awhile back and it's working wonders. You should only have to use it twice a year and one container of it will go a long way.
Posted on 5/1/24 at 11:21 am to Bigdawgb
quote:do these two things and your success rate will skyrocket
-Plant high never die
-Add mulch, it helps with dry plants and adds organic matter as it breaks down
Posted on 5/1/24 at 11:23 am to cgrand
plant high never die is definitely a good tip that i wish i had thought to ask for BEFORE planting hahaha. will definitely do so going into the future.
however, i DO have a few bags of mulch i can add around the beds, and i will do so.
however, i DO have a few bags of mulch i can add around the beds, and i will do so.
Posted on 5/1/24 at 12:19 pm to Northshore Aggie
quote:
gardenias
good luck with these. I wish I could offer advice but I have managed to kill numerous gardenias despite multiple tries. Maybe my soil is too alkaline, idk. Anyways they can be really finnicky in my experience.
Posted on 5/1/24 at 12:44 pm to Northshore Aggie
Once established you should only water when soil is dry. This should not take too long and being in the ground will not stay dry as long somewhat normal rain occurs.
Osmocote is a good all around fertilizer. You’ll want to sprinkle under the surface of mulch.
Osmocote is a good all around fertilizer. You’ll want to sprinkle under the surface of mulch.
Posted on 5/1/24 at 12:51 pm to Northshore Aggie
May want to address the clay in the soil. You can break it up by adding peat moss and compost.
Posted on 5/1/24 at 1:48 pm to HBomb
quote:
Once established you should only water when soil is dry
in your opinion, what is the water schedule needed to get it established?
another poster said every other day for a couple weeks, which seems reasonable
Posted on 5/1/24 at 1:49 pm to bbvdd
quote:
May want to address the clay in the soil. You can break it up by adding peat moss and compost.
i dont really know what this means. add peat moss and compost to what? just put it in the bed? does that break up the clay below the surface?
sorry - i'm super uneducated on this
Posted on 5/1/24 at 2:03 pm to Northshore Aggie
He means take a shovel and break up all that hard clay in the ground and add some peat moss and compost to it before planting in it. You can get both in a bag at HD for pretty cheap
This post was edited on 5/1/24 at 2:04 pm
Posted on 5/1/24 at 3:47 pm to WigSplitta22
Got it.
Thanks y'all
Thanks y'all
Posted on 5/1/24 at 7:11 pm to King George
What hydrangea?
Posted on 5/1/24 at 8:37 pm to Northshore Aggie
Probably a good soak every other day for a couple weeks, unless there is rain.
After that just look at the soil around the plant just below surface. If it’s dry water, if not let it be.
After that just look at the soil around the plant just below surface. If it’s dry water, if not let it be.
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