DO’s and DON'Ts 
For Planting Nursery Stock 
Nursery plants and trees are grown in two different ways: 
in the open ground or in pots, cans, tubs, or boxes. The latter are 
easily handled; if grown in the open ground, they are taken up 
either bare rooted or with earth held around the roots. Then they 
are called balled and burlapped (B&B). 
Bare-rooted plants are moved only in the dormant season, 
but plants grown in containers may be moved at any time of 
the year. Balled and burlapped plants may be moved at any 
time except during July, August, and September. 
Below are some planting suggestions that may be helpful. 
DO 
1. Plant the shrub or tree just as soon as possible after its ar- 
rival. 
2. Keep the plant in a cool, shady place until planted. 
3. Keep well watered until planting is done. 
4. Dig hole for the plant about three times as wide as the ball 
and twice its depth. 
5. Prepare the soil before planting, mixing 50 per cent peat with 
the best top soil removed from the hole. 
6. Leave the burlap fastened around the ball, if the plant is 
B&B. If the plant is in a pot, turn the pot on the side and 
tap it lightly until the plant slips out. If in a can, cut with 
an opener down opposite sides and lift the plant out with 
roots intact. 
7. Be sure to pack soil firmly around the plant, thus preventing 
air pockets. Watering the plant liberally will help in doing 
this. 
8. When planted, mulch with oak leaves or pine straw, to help 
hold moisture. 
9. Keep watered well until plant is well established. 
10. Fertilize your plants regularly and keep them in good con- 
dition, spraying them as needed. 
DON’T 
1. Leave the plant in the sun until you are ready to plant it. 
2. Forget to keep the plant watered and in good condition until 
planted. 
. Just dig a hole the size of the ball, and set it in. 
. Use just the coarse sandy top soil in planting. 
3 
4 
5. Use all peat in the hole around the plant. 
6. Remove the burlap from the plant before planting. 
7 
. Set the plant any deeper than it grew in the nursery row. 
This may be determined by the “earth collar” mark. On 
ce plants, the top of the ball should be at the ground 
level. 
8. Leave any air pockets around the plant. After packing soil 
thoroughly around the plant, pour on water, and as it sinks 
ne the earth, it will pack the soil in all the corners around the 
plant. 
9. Forget to water the plant regularly. A newly transplanted 
plant needs more water and will need to have the foliage 
sprinkled to keep it from drying out. 
10. Expect a plant to grow and thrive if you neglect and starve 
it. Keep your plants in good condition by fertilizing. 

54 Florida Nursery & Landscape Co. 

