How to Reduce Transplant Shock Using Proper Planting Techniques 

Whether you are planting your favourite Supertunia^® petunias and Suncredible^® sunflowers, or installing hardy perennials like Color Spires^® salvia and ‘Cat’s Meow’ catmint, it’s important to transplant them properly. It can make all the difference in how quickly your plants get established and begin to grow in their new home in your landscape. I’ll walk you through the eight steps you’ll need to know to plant them properly so transplant shock will be significantly reduced and they will get off to the best possible start.

Step 1: Water the Plants Before You Begin

It’s never a good idea to plant dry potted plants, so begin by watering anything you plan to plant first before taking them out of their pots. Transplanting is stressful for any plant, but well-hydrated ones are far better equipped to handle the transition and recover quickly. The moisture also helps the root ball hold together better when you take the plant out of the pot.

Step 2: Gently Loosen the Roots

Plants growing in pots tend to circle their roots around the inside of the pot. The longer it has been growing in the pot, the more rootbound it becomes. If left as-is, the plant will continue that pattern of circling roots once in the ground and won’t develop to its full potential.

Take the plant out of the pot, then gently loosen or “tease” the roots apart to encourage outward growth into the surrounding soil. This will result in stronger, more stable plants over time.

Step 3: Move the Mulch Aside

If you are planting in a mulched bed, pull back the mulch before you dig your hole. This will ensure the plant’s roots will be placed directly into the soil where they can access moisture and nutrients. Planting into mulch alone will limit root contact with the soil and slow down the plant’s establishment

Step 4: Dig a Wide Hole

Give your plant plenty of room to settle in by digging the hole up to twice as wide as the root ball. A Twist ‘n Plant^® auger can make quick work of this task. This creates a pocket of loose, workable soil that new roots can easily grow into. Doing so will help your plant establish more quickly and efficiently.

Step 5: Gently Plant the Plant into the Hole

Next, gently set your plant into the hole you’ve dug and firm up the soil around the roots to remove any large air gaps. Take care not to pack the soil down too firmly. Roots need water and oxygen to grow, and compacted soil would slow down their growth.

Step 6: Form a Watering Ring

Using some of the soil you dug out when you made your planting hole, form a ring or berm of soil around the base of the plant to hold the water in around the root ball. Otherwise, water will drain quickly away from the plant before it is absorbed. This is especially helpful if you garden in sandy soil or are dealing with dry conditions.

Step 7: Water the Plant at the Base

Once you’ve installed your new plant and formed the water ring, it’s time to water. When you do, aim the water at the soil and the base of the plant, not at the leaves. Keeping the foliage dry helps to reduce the risk of disease development. Deep, targeted watering also encourages the roots to grow down deeper, which results in stronger plants.

Step 8: Replace the Mulch

Once you’ve finished watering your newly installed plant, replace the mulch that you moved away in step 3. Spread it around the base of the plant, leaving a small gap around the stems to keep them dry. Mulch helps to retain moisture, regulate the soil temperature and suppress weeds, which creates a more stable and supportive environment for new plants to get established.

By following these eight simple steps, you can ease transplant stress and set your plants up to flourish. A little extra care at planting time goes a long way towards growing healthy, happy plants.