|
Please read all instructions carefully before starting and call to clear up any
confusion or questions.
INITIAL WATERING
Water container plants thoroughly 30 minutes before removing from container.
Balled and burlaped plants should be moist not muddy.
EXCAVATE
Place organic material and soil additives on area
to be planted. Dig area 1” les than root depth and at least twice as wide
with irregular or jagged sides.
|
PLANT PLACEMENT
|
| |
A. |
Plastic Containers
--Remove plant from pot and cut or tease outside roots apart over entire
root ball including bottom. Cut and leave in place any root that
it is larger than your pinky finger to prevent girdling.
|
| |
|
Adjusting Height
Set root ball in hole being sure top of root
ball matches surrounding grade. (In clay soils, raise top of root
ball 1” to 2” above grade.) Adjust for extra depth of new sod as
required i.e. set root ball higher, backfill with mixed soil, water
well, add soil to areas that sink.
|
| |
|
* Stick with it.
|
| |
B. |
Peat Pots --Set plant
and pot in hole and adjust height (see Paragraph A). Carefully tear or
cut pot rim and tear down and away from root to remove pot sides.
Leave bottom of pot under root as it will degrade. Backfill with
mixed soils, water well, add soil to any area that sinks.
|
| |
|
* Stick with it.
|
| |
C. |
Balled and Burlap with wire or string
or both Carefully position root ball near or in the
hole.
|
| |
|
Adjust height (see Paragraph A).
Tip rootball to cut bottom wire and wire which cannot be removed after
plant placement. Carefully lower into the hole and when positioned
correctly, stake tree to prevent shifting. Cut up wire basket and
remove basket sides and all burlap and/or strings that secure basket to
trunk. Burlap and wire that is under root ball may remain. Do not
loosen stem to root ball!
|
| |
|
*Stick with it.
|
BACKFILL
Mix backfill of organic material and soil
additives thoroughly to eliminate layering of different types of soil.
Firm soil around bottom to provide stability ad carefully make any adjustments
to tilt now. Firm soil by hand around root ball—water in—add more backfill
if necessary. Do not stamp backfill with foot.
WATERING
Saturate root ball and surrounding area thoroughly with water (10 – 15 gallons).
Because soils have different water retention characteristics, you may have to
water well again in as few as three days or in as many as seven days in clay
soil. Plants want to be watered well then allowed to go slightly dry then
watered well, etc. The main cause of plant loss is over or under
watering. (This loss is a cultural factor the homeowner controls
and is not covered by our warranty.) Winter watering is critical.
Water every three to four weeks on warmer days—10 gallons per 1” diameter of
trunk. Water between trunk and canopy line—not close to trunk.
| **Watering Tip: Use our
Stick With It program.
Insert a stick to a depth of the root mass at the outside edge of the
root. Check moisture appearance on the stick every three days
being sure to reinstall stick and firm soil around the shaft to prevent
unnatural drying. A loose stick won’t give accurate moisture
reading. Bottom of stick dry as a bone, add water-bottom of stick
muddy, reduce water. Let stick dry before reinserting it in the
hole. |
STAKING
Most small trees don’t require staking. Large trees
may require staking to prevent shifting or tilting in the hole. A tree
should be staked to provide stability until roots are able to take hold.
Typically large trees are staked to reduce chance of tilting which may be
difficult to correct. Position stakes at two or three evenly spaced points
around tree. Use grommetted straps to wrap trunk as wire or string used by
itself will cut into tree and cause damage. When first planting, snug wires or
lines to prevent movement without damaging trunk or bark. After a few
weeks, wires or lines should be loosened to allow upper tree trunk to sway up to
2 – 5 inches. This will allow normally root development that eventually
will stabilize the tree naturally. Stakes, wires, and straps all should be
removed after one year or one growing season. Staking is only temporary
support and should not be left in place for extended periods. Inspect
straps periodically to expose trunk and ensure no damage has occurred from wires
or lines being too tight.
OUR GURANTEE
All perennial and woody plants
are warranted for six months from the date of purchase (void of neglect, misuse
of pesticides / fertilizers, or adverse weather). Any plant loss will be
replaced at half price when defective plant is presented with
accompanying receipt. Trees and shrubs
planted by
Phelan
Gardens are
warranted for an entire year (void of neglect, misuse of pesticides /
fertilizers, or adverse weather). Any plant loss will be replaced at the same
price when defective plant is presented with accompanying
receipt. Customer and
Phelan
Gardens will share
one-half of the new installation charge. If any of your plants purchased
at our nurseries are experiencing declining health, please contact us
immediately so we have the opportunity to assist and rectify any
potential problems prior to losing the plant completely. Failure to notify
us will void the warranty.
Please call
Phelan
Gardens at 574-8058
if you have any questions or see any declining health in your tree or shrub.
|
