Native Wildflower Plug Care
Native plants adapt to the local climate and soil conditions where they naturally occur. They provide nectar, pollen, and
seeds that serve as a food source for native butterflies, insects, birds and other wildlife. In comparison, common
horticultural plants do not provide energetic rewards for their visitors and often require insect pest control to survive.
Drifts versus specimens: A garden planted with groupings of five or more plants of the same species will display drifts of
repeating colors and textures. In this type of garden, plants are used primarily as attractors for pollinators and have a
pleasing visual effect.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is the collector's garden, filled with one or two of all different kinds of plants. These
are the gardens of people who simply love plants and want to have one of everything. The look of this type of garden
may be a jumble of colors and textures, and maintenance is usually more challenging, but these gardens are about
plants first, and design second.
Native Wildflower Plug Care
Native plants adapt to the local climate and soil conditions where they naturally occur. They provide nectar, pollen, and
seeds that serve as a food source for native butterflies, insects, birds and other wildlife. In comparison, common
horticultural plants do not provide energetic rewards for their visitors and often require insect pest control to survive.
Drifts versus specimens: A garden planted with groupings of five or more plants of the same species will display drifts of
repeating colors and textures. In this type of garden, plants are used primarily as attractors for pollinators and have a
pleasing visual effect.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is the collector's garden, filled with one or two of all different kinds of plants. These
are the gardens of people who simply love plants and want to have one of everything. The look of this type of garden
may be a jumble of colors and textures, and maintenance is usually more challenging, but these gardens are about
plants first, and design second.
Perennial planting and care:








When planting a new perennial garden, prepare the soil well at the outset. That may be your only opportunity to
loosen the soil, remove rocks, and add organic matter.
The hole you dig for each perennial should be twice the size of the plug. The wider the hole, the better, since
plant's roots grow out more easily into loosened enriched soil. Lightly loosen the roots so the plant will grow out
of its tightly wrapped ball and settle in more quickly.
Refill the hole with enriched soil so your plants are at their original growing level. Never bury a plant deeper
than its crown (where the roots and the stems meet) Buried crowns mean suffocated plants! Plant 2 inches
higher than ground level if you are going to mulch. Backfill the rest of the hole with enriched soil. Tamp down
the soil to remove any large air pockets.
Water well, with a soft trickle of water that lasts long enough to saturate the root ball deep into the soil.
Perennials prefer one inch of water a week, in one application. However, different soil types may need slightly
more or less water. Monitor the soil moisture to help you judge when the plant should receive more water.
Spacing: Patience is a virtue, but when most people plant a perennial garden, their goal is to create a full effect
as soon as possible. The challenge is to plant the area to achieve a full effect, but not break the bank, or create a
crowded, unhealthy situation two or three years down the line.
In order to conserve precious moisture and to keep weeds down, mulch your perennials with a 2-3 inch layer of
organic mulch (not stones!)
Keep newly transplanted perennials well watered for the first few weeks. Water deeply to saturate the entire
root ball and establish good contact between the roots and the surrounding soil.
Most perennials prefer a pH of about 6.5, although, some prefer more alkaline or acidic soil. If you have trouble
with a particular plant, check its pH requirements and the pH level of the soil in your flower garden.
Perennial planting and care:








When planting a new perennial garden, prepare the soil well at the outset. That may be your only opportunity to
loosen the soil, remove rocks, and add organic matter.
The hole you dig for each perennial should be twice the size of the plug. The wider the hole, the better, since
plant's roots grow out more easily into loosened enriched soil. Lightly loosen the roots so the plant will grow out
of its tightly wrapped ball and settle in more quickly.
Refill the hole with enriched soil so your plants are at their original growing level. Never bury a plant deeper
than its crown (where the roots and the stems meet) Buried crowns mean suffocated plants! Plant 2 inches
higher than ground level if you are going to mulch. Backfill the rest of the hole with enriched soil. Tamp down
the soil to remove any large air pockets.
Water well, with a soft trickle of water that lasts long enough to saturate the root ball deep into the soil.
Perennials prefer one inch of water a week, in one application. However, different soil types may need slightly
more or less water. Monitor the soil moisture to help you judge when the plant should receive more water.
Spacing: Patience is a virtue, but when most people plant a perennial garden, their goal is to create a full effect
as soon as possible. The challenge is to plant the area to achieve a full effect, but not break the bank, or create a
crowded, unhealthy situation two or three years down the line.
In order to conserve precious moisture and to keep weeds down, mulch your perennials with a 2-3 inch layer of
organic mulch (not stones!)
Keep newly transplanted perennials well watered for the first few weeks. Water deeply to saturate the entire
root ball and establish good contact between the roots and the surrounding soil.
Most perennials prefer a pH of about 6.5, although, some prefer more alkaline or acidic soil. If you have trouble
with a particular plant, check its pH requirements and the pH level of the soil in your flower garden.