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How to plant DROUGHT TOLERANT PLANTS
1. Dig a hole of a size into which the plant will fit. Don't have to be perfect, just bigger than the plant's roots.
2. Carefully remove the plastic bag or plastic pot from around the
plant(recycle bag/pot).
Don't plant the pot! Don't rip up the root ball, run one finger along
the side, like scratching your head.
3. Carefully place the plant into the hole, slightly higher than the
surrounding soil. (Again, disturb the root ball as little as possible.)
Not three inches higher, maybe a quarter inch, you know 4 millimeters
or so.
4. Do not add amendments, just plant in native soil. Not a 'little', 'smidgen', 'trace' or shovel full, NONE. Our plant to your dirt.
5. Do not add fertilizer. None. There is no fertilizer or amendments on a native hillside. Unless you put it there?
6. Backfill the hole with soil. The dirt you dug out! (Not manure, compost, chicken poo or other such stuff.)
Have you seen a chicken pen, feedlot, or horse corral? Want your yard to look like one of those?
7. Water lavishly (lots and lots, like 30 gallons. If it rains five
inches right after you plant, skip.) When a native plant is planted properly, the numbers are something like: first watering is 50% of the extra water needed for the life of the plant, second 25%, third 12%, fourth 6% and so on. Pay attention to the first waterings!
8. How to Water (After the First Watering): DO NOT USE DRIP IRRIGATION. Use microspray emitters instead, so that the plant will be irrigated in a pattern more similar to rainfall. If you use microsprays, do not water against the crown after the first few waterings (the crown is the main stem of the plant at the soil surface). Water should fall in the area of the drip line of the plant and beyond. If you use sprinklers like the mp-3000 or impacts water heavily at planting, then back off to about 5 minutes every week or two. Watering the whole area is fine if you use area sprinklers. Overwater at planting, underwater after a few months.
9. For perennials and subshrubs, place a rock next to the plant, on the
west side of it.
10. Place mulch, 2 to 4 inches thick, on top of the soil around the plant in a
four-foot-diameter circle. Four most plants leave a small hand sized circle of bare dirt right next to the mainstem.
Mulch Types: (this is preferred, most of you cheat.)
A. Desert plants-rocks Use a 30-50 pound rock next to each plant. Preferable on the south side.
B. Perennials and subshrubs. Use a 5+ lb. rock and shredded redwood bark or shredded cedar bark.
C. Long-lived trees and shrubs- mostly evergreen oak leaf mulch (the
best) or shredded redwood bark or shredded cedar bark.
11. The first year- check the soil, down about an inch or two, once a
week with your finger; if it is dry, water it; if it is moist, don’t
water it. Checking with a finger will give you an excuse to avoid such
things as garbage and dishes, but, come on, no daily checking!
12. The second and succeeding year- water, if needed, during the months
of December through April, and abstain from any real watering in the
summer/fall. Desert plants, which receive summer rain showers, and coastal
plants that normally receive fog drip/summer rain showers, like a once
a week or two sprinkling. Most of the natives, in most of California, enjoy this. This gives more excuses for being in the yard with
beverage of choice. But only wash the foliage, DO NOT wet the ground.
13. Depending on the origin of the plant, you may need to water extra
or not. (If the plant originates from an area with equal amounts of
rainfall and equal rainfall patterns, you don’t need to water extra; if
the plant originates from an area of higher rainfall or different
rainfall patterns, you may need to water extra).
Plant a
redwood in Barstow, water it, plant a cactus in Eureka, don't water it. In Eureka, don't water much of anything.
This basic planting guide, was written to help insure the long-term
health of the native plants in your garden; if you water more than is
recommended here, the plants will appear more lush, but their life span
will be reduced. Look up at a native hillside, see any sprinklers?
Ceanothus live for 150 years in the wild, 3 years with soil admendments and drip irrigation, 25+ years in one of our natiuve gardens.
*** RIPARIAN/WETLAND PLANTS- Plant your native shrub, tree, or perennial in
the ground near a water source such as a bird bath, pond, dripping
faucet, etc. where the plant will receive regular water. Drip
irrigation is o.k. for riparian plants.
Hey, you're not perfect, you
will lose a few plants the first time you plant, don't worry about it.
It's not anyone's fault. Have FUN, plant a few more plants, you will get
better.
For more, see A Short lesson in planting a single California
native plant or search our website
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