Receiving and Planting a Dormant Plant From Sooner Plant Farm
If you happen to purchase from Sooner Plant Farm and have your order shipped during the months of October through March, there's a good chance you will receive a dormant plant. Dormant plants and trees are plants that are in a resting stage, as opposed to a green growing stage that you see during warmer spring, summer, and fall months.
Planting dormant plants is not much different than planting growing plants, and in many cases it is less stressful on the plants and result in less transplant shock.
If the plant or tree you receive from us is dormant, the first thing to do is make sure that your new plant is well watered. Keep in mind, plants without leaves do not need much water, since it is the leaves that use the water during the transpiration process that occurs during photosynthesis. Throughout the winter and dormant stage of the plant, the soil only becomes dry because of evaporation.
When the desired location for your new plant or tree has been established, the first thing you will need to do is check for good drainage. Fill the hole with water and let it drain, then fill it again. A good draining location should drain within 30 minutes. If the hole still has water in it after this time frame, you should find a better draining location, or contact us for advice on how to amend the soil in your desired location.
Once you find a suitable location, your hole should be about twice as wide and no deeper than the depth of the root ball of the plant. If you are planting a plant or tree that requires dryer or very well-draining soil, you may want to dig the hole 1/4 to 1/2 of the root ball depth. Mound the soil up around the root ball and be careful to not bury the trunk or stem. After planting your new arrival, always water it well to remove any air pockets and help the soil settle. Mulch your plant about 2-3 inches deep. This will help the soil retain moisture and help protect the roots from fast freezing and thawing.
It is ok to fertilize your plant when it is dormant, if you use a temperature controlled, time released fertilizer, such as our Best-Paks that we supply with our plants.
If possible, we suggest that you refrain from pruning in the fall, as pruning will encourage your plant to produce new growth. It is best to not encourage plant to growth late in the season as early frosts or freezes could cause damage.
Planting plants when they are dormant is a great option as it gives them more time for roots to develop before the spring and new growth emerges.
That's about it concerning the planting of dormant plants, and you should see a good flush of growth in the spring and summer! We hope this information helps you with your new plant or tree from Sooner Plant Farm. As always, if you have additional questions, please contact us at info@soonerplantfarm.com or call us at 918.453.0771.