1) Proper planting techniques such as incorporating organic amendments, using mulch, planting in fall, and watering thoroughly before planting can help newly planted plants establish strong root systems and reduce water needs. 2) Good drainage and adequate organic matter in the soil supports plant growth by improving water retention and nutrient availability while allowing for oxygen movement to the roots. 3) Amendments like compost and manure should be incorporated throughout the soil to improve structure, while inorganic amendments can be used to improve drainage in poorly drained soils.

1. Hold the Fertilizer For additional information on saving water in Make Every Drop Count!
Granular fertilizers can dehydrate the roots of
2. Raise the bed to assure good drainage and the landscape, see Georgia Cooperative Extension
visibility of the display. Bulletin 1073, Xeriscape: A Guide to Developing
newly planted plants. Since plants are already
stressed from the planting process, wait until they
Elevate the bed 8 to 12 inches above the a Water-wise Landscape on the Web at http://pubs. Proper planting
are established before fertilizing. Once established,
lightly sprinkle a complete fertilizer, such as 8-8-
surrounding landscape. caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/B1073.htm. Also visit
http://www.caes.uga.edu/topics/disasters/drought/ results in healthy,
8 or 10-10-10, along the perimeter of the planting
hole. Compost incorporated into the soil at planting
3. Follow the 3/12 rule.
Place 3 inches of organic amendment on the soil
or contact your local county Cooperative Extension
office by calling 1-800-ASK-UGA1. water-efficient
time add nutrients and does not injure the roots like
chemical fertilizers.
surface and incorporate it to a 12-inch depth.
Organic matter adds nutrients while improving PREPARED BY: plants
soil tilth and water retention. Robert R. Westerfield and Gary L. Wade
The University of Georgia, Department of Horticulture
Mulch is a Moisture Mizer 4. Recycle newspaper holds moisture in the Georgia’s
soil.
Applying 3 to 5 inches of mulch to the soil surface
Soak newspaper briefly in a bucket of water ENDORSED BY: population
is an important step in the planting process. Mulches
and place two sheets thick on the soil before growth is placing
maintain a uniform moisture level in the soil and
prevent weeds that compete with plants for moisture.
planting. Hide the newspaper by covering it with an ever-increasing
Fine-textured mulches, such as pine straw, pine bark
an organic mulch, like pinestraw, pine bark or
strain on water In summer,
hardwood mulch. residential
mulch, or shredded hardwood mulch, do a better supply.
job of conserving moisture in the soil than coarse-
5. Place a slow-release fertilizer in the
water use increases
textured mulches, like large-nugget bark.
planting hole. significantly when
Time-released fertilizers, such as Osmocote, citizens use water
placed in the planting hole beneath the plant,
outdoors for landscape
provide season-long nutrients and do not injure
the roots like granular fertilizers. Look for a maintenance,
product with an 8 to 9 month release duration. recreation and
cleaning.
6. Mulch with a fine-textured organic
material. As water
Apply 3 to 5 inches of pine straw, pinebark mulch
The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S.
becomes more
or shredded hardwood mulch on the soil surface Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating. limited, water
to hold moisture in the soil. Cooperative Extension, the University of Georgia College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, offers educational conservation is essential.
Six Simple Steps to a Water- programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to
race, color, national origin, age, gender or disability. A water-wise landscape
wise Annual Flower Bed An Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Organization
Committed to a Diverse Work Force
can reduce outdoor
1. Think small, but plan for high impact.
Publication C895-3 July 2006 water use by as
Small beds in high impact areas of the landscape Make Every Drop Count...
provide eye-catching displays. Because seasonal Our Future Depends on It!
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8
and June 30, 1914, The University of Georgia College of Agricultural
much as 50%.
color requires regular watering, limit the size of and Environmental Sciences and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
cooperating.
the bed to 50 square feet or less. A bed 50 sq. ft.
J. Scott Angle, Dean and Director
in size can be watered efficiently with 3 gallons
per day.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

2. P lanting ornamental plants correctly not only
increases their survivability and performance in
the landscape, it also helps them develop a vigorous,
To check soil drainage before planting, dig a
hole approximately 15 inches deep by 15 inches
Inorganic amendments are either mined or man-
made. Examples are vermiculite, perlite, pea gravel,
shale, and coarse sand. They are used to improve
Don’t Be Afraid to Rough it Up
When container-grown plants are removed from
their pots, inspect the roots to see if they appear pot-
healthy root system that increases their drought in diameter and fill it with water. If water is left the structure and drainage of a soil. Unlike organic
bound (a mass of dense roots along the outer edge of
tolerance during periods of limited rainfall. This standing in the hole after 1 hour, the site may be amendments, these products have little nutritional
the root ball). If so, use your hand or a knife to open
publication provides research-based guidelines for poorly drained. If water remains in the hole for value.
up the root mass before planting. Although this may
proper planting. several hours, site improvements are needed. Apply organic amendments, 3 inches deep on
appear harmful to the plant, it actually encourages
the soil surface and incorporate them uniformly to a
new root growth while allowing water to move freely
12-inch depth. One cubic yard of organic matter per
Fall Planting is Best Deep tilling the entire planting area: 100 square feet (14 – 2 cu. ft. bags) provide 3 inches
into the root ball.
Fall is the ideal time to plant trees, shrubs, vines, • Improves soil structure on the soil surface.
groundcovers, and herbaceous perennials. Cool fall • Allows plant roots to grow without If your soil dries out quickly or becomes rock Pull Back the Burlap
temperatures are less stressful to plants than the heat impediment hard when dry, add organic matter. It is one of the
Some garden centers sell balled-and-burlapped
of late spring and summer because there is less • Permits water to move freely throughout best investments you’ll make in your water-wise
(B&B) trees and shrubs at certain times of year.
evaporative water loss from the foliage. Plants the soil to the roots landscape.
When planting B&B plants, cut the wire or cord
established during fall require less frequent A good soil structure encourages rapid
around the trunk and pull the burlap off the root ball,
irrigation and are less likely to suffer sun plant establishment and a healthy root
so it does not impede root growth. On large trees,
scorch or heat-related stress than those system. As roots grow, they increase their
it may not be practical to remove all the burlap, but
planted in spring and summer. ability to extract nutrients and water.
pull it away from the top one-third of the root ball.
Another advantage of fall planting When planting a solitary plant in
is that above-ground portions of the undisturbed soil, dig the planting
plant stop growing and go dormant hole at least two times wider than Too Deep ? Too Shallow?
soon after planting, so there is less the width of the root ball. Research
demand on the roots for water. Roots, shows that a wide planting hole
Just Right?
on the other hand, do not go dormant provides a favorable environment for Planting depth is critical. Always set the top of
and continue to grow all winter long. root growth and results in rapid plant the root ball level with the soil surface. Planting
So when spring arrives, a healthy, well- establishment. The old adage “never put too deeply may restrict oxygen movement to the
developed root system will be in place to a ten dollar tree in a two dollar hole” has roots, which results in root suffocation. Planting too
absorb water and nutrients been validated by science. shallow may expose roots to sun and wind which
may cause them to dry out and die.
Good Soil, Good Roots Amendments Pay Dividends
An ideal soil for optimal plant health
There are two types of soil amendments: Don’t Forget the Berm !
organic and inorganic. Organic amendments Once plants are in the ground, use your
contains pores for good drainage and has Water Plants Thoroughly
come from something that was once alive. hands to shape a shallow berm, 4 to 6 inches
good water holding capacity. It also contains
some organic matter that supplies nutrients and
Examples are composted yard waste, livestock Before Planting high, along the perimeter of the planting
manure, or peatmoss. Organic amendments: hole. This will help funnel water to the roots
improves soil structure and texture. A poorly The structure and texture of the soil in your
• Improve the water retention, oxygen each time you water during the establishment
drained or compacted soil can shut down landscape is different from the prepared media or
infiltration, and nutrient-holding period. Once the plant is established (4 to 6 weeks
a plant’s root system, encourage disease field soil in which the plants were grown in the
capacity of a soil after planting), use a rake to pull the bermed-up
problems, and cause runoff and wasted nursery. Therefore, it is difficult to re-wet a dry root
• Provide beneficial fungi and bacteria, soil outward and away from the planting hole.
water. ball once it is in the ground. To avoid this problem,
earthworms, and other living organisms Otherwise, it may erode over the roots and cause
always water plants thoroughly before removing
that improve nutrient availability and root suffocation.
them from their containers or burlap.
aeration of the soil