The Big Move - Transplanting Trees and Shrubs
Transplanting shrubs and trees is similar to initial plantings – it combines art and science. One thing I've learned in many years of gardening – the best practices of science change and evolve. Fortunately, one of the more recent changes has been to reduce the size of the hole required for digging and the move away from amending soil while transplanting.
Before you transplant make sure that you know the answer to a few questions:- What is the best time t transplant the species you are working on? For most deciduous trees and shrubs, it is best to wait until they are dormant. However, native plants to your area may survive transplanting at other times. Contact your County Cooperative Extension Office to determine the answer to this question.
- Does the plant grow better with native soil or an amended soil mix? Unless it's vegetables, the answer is more than likely native soil. But check with your County Cooperative Extension Office to be sure.
- The depth and width of the planting hole – in general this is twice the width of the root ball and exactly the depth of the root ball.
- Watering requirements for new plantings and transitional watering as the plant matures.
The root system is essential to the health of any plant. Roots act like a straw and draw water and minerals from the soil, they store food for future use by the plant; and they help anchor plants and in turn keep the soil in place. There are tiny root hairs on each root that help the plant and roots with absorption of nutrients and moisture like everyone else, those roots need a little help from some friends. Roots of over 90% of all plants on earth form a symbiotic relationship with beneficial organisms known as Mycorrhizal Fungi. The mycorrhizae grow into the root and extend out into the soil. The fungi that is in the soil absorbs nutrients and moisture from the soil, wicking them into the plant roots. The fungi also help break down nutrients the plant must have into easy to absorb units.
Adding these fungal inoculants to soil results in a natural microbial system in the soil and on the roots of plants that will increase crop productivity, quality, and sustainability. We are pleased to provide the following products that contain mycorrhizae.
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$9.00–$329.00
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$390.00–$3,861.00
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$18.15–$162.00
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