Here is the way to plant native plants (Best time to plant: in November)
Native plants like best to be planted in plain, native, un-amended soil. Amended soil where garden plants have grown is not the best environment for native plants because native plants are sensitive to fungi and other pathogens that have been brought in with exotic plants. Best scenario is to plant natives straight into bared bulldozed ground with all prior plant material removed.
- Make sure plants were well watered prior to planting. (If they are dry water them in the can again.)
- Clean any existing mulch off the ground, making a large bare space surrounding the hole that has no mulch. (Mulch must not touch roots or get mixed into native soil.)
- Dig the hole to the same depth as the depth of the plant from soil level to bottom of root ball.
- Place the soil you remove from the hole onto clean ground. Or you can put it onto a tarp.
- Fill the hole with water and let it drain out.
- Fill the hole a second time with water and let it drain out once again. (In very dry soil it’s wise to do this 3 times before planting.)
- Carefully remove plant from can supporting root ball with your hands so roots do not break. (Native plants have notoriously fragile roots. Plants are often killed by careless handling at planting time.)
- Sometimes roots are wound around in can. If so, gently loosen them but take care while you are doing this that roots don’t break off from the crown of the plant because of the weight of the root ball.
- Place the plant into the hole with the top of the plant on the same level as surrounding ground. Check the soil level. Fill in with native soil removed from the planting hole and press down with hands, never with feet.
- Use the extra soil taken from the hole to form a watering basin on the edge of the rootball. A week later move water basin out further.
- Replace mulch on top of the ground.
- Water the plant thoroughly.
- Water again the next day.
- Water 3 times a week the first week.
- Water once a week thereafter.
- In summer spritz tops of foliage in early morning or evening to mimic the effect of a brief monsoon rain that washes off dust but doesn’t really get soil wet. These plants can absorb moisture through their leaves. For many natives, watering the ground surrounding their roots in warm weather is likely cause root rot rot and kill the plants.
Related Articles:
- Native Plants of the Southern California Coast
- Native Plants Suitable For Planting Near A Coastal Lagoon
- Planting a Clump of Three Birch Trees. European white birch (Betula pendula)
- Native Plants Suitable For A Green Roof
- Native Plants Of Southern California’s Coastal Zones
What causes Stachy byzantina leaves to yellow and die?
Does it have a period of semi-dormancy? Knowing that it is a low water needs plant, what are it’s specific water, sun, and soil requirements? Should the dead leaves be removed to improve its appearance?
Thank you for your trusted advise.
Tina
Lambs ears (Stachys byzantina) is not a native plant. It is native to the Caucasus, Iran, but it grows well in Southern California’s dry Mediterranean climate and makes a good ground cover under native oaks. It can be short lived close to the coast. Clumps of lambs ears (Stachys byzantina) often die out in the center. Frost damages its foliage and heavy rains can mash the plants down and rot the leaves, but plants come back strongly once the weather warms up even if you do nothing. Lambs ears need full sun along the coast. They can take part shade inland and the green-leaved varieties must have shade at mid-day inland. Moderate water is best, once established, and good drainage is a must. If you live in Southern California, mid-February is the best time to clean up the perennial garden. I suggest you dig out and divide lambs ears in mid-February, throwing away the worn out center and all brown and unsightly sections and replanting the good divisions that are found around the edges. Never divide this plant in fall or your plants may die during winter. Amend the soil before replanting and add a little fertilizer, then follow up with a thorough irrigation. After this clean-up your plants should bounce back quickly.