Perennials can be planted anytime from spring through fall.
Prepare the garden by breaking up the existing soil (use a hoe, spade, or power tiller) to a depth of 12-16” (30-40cm). Add organic matter such as manure, peat moss or garden compost until the soil is loose and easy to work. Organic ingredients improve drainage, add nutrients, and encourage earthworms and other organisms that help keep soil healthy. Give plants an extra boost by adding a granulated starter fertilizer or all-purpose feed that encourages blooming (for example fertilizers labeled 5-10-5).
Check the plant label for suggested spacing and the mature height of the plant. Position plants so that taller plants are in the center or background of the landscape design and shorter plants in the foreground. To remove the plant from the container, gently brace the base of the plant, tip it sideways and tap the outside of the pot to loosen. Rotate the container and continue to tap, loosening the soil until the plant pulls smoothly from the pot.
Dig the hole up to two times larger than the root ball and deep enough that the plant will be at the same level in the ground as the soil level in the container. Grasping the plant at the top of the root ball, use your finger to lightly rake the roots apart. This is especially important if the roots are dense and have filled up the container. Set the plant in the hole.
Push the soil gently around the roots filling in empty space around the root ball. Firm the soil down around the plant by hand, tamping with the flat side of a small trowel, or even by pressing down on the soil by foot. The soil covering the planting hole should be even with the surrounding soil, or up to one inch higher than the top of the root ball. New plantings should be watered daily for a couple of weeks to get them well established.
Plan ahead, for plants that get tall and require staking or support cages. It’s best to install cages early in the spring, or at planting time, before the foliage gets bushy. Vining plants require vertical space to grow, so provide a trellis, fence, wall or other structure that allows the plant to grow freely and spread.
Finish up with a 2” (5cm) layer of mulch such as shredded bark or compost to make the garden look tidy, reduce weeds, and retain soil moisture.
can you plant this panicum virgatum northwind in a container
thankyou
Hi Chris,
Most ornamental grasses do just fine in a container or large permanent planter. However, the ‘Northwind’ variety has the potential to grow as tall as 4-5’ (taller when the flower heads appear). You’ll want to be sure you have a pot big enough to handle a plant of that size and heavy enough that it won’t tip over in the wind. The container should have a drainage hole.
Most perennials reach a mature size at around 3 years and from that point continue to spread via root growth. Every few years you should expect to have to either transplant your grass into a bigger pot, or divide it and then return just a portion of the plant back in your container. You can hold a potted perennial grass over for the winter if you protect it from severe winter temperatures. Place the container against a wall, fence, building, or inside a shed or garage to shelter the plant from cold winds. (Plant roots in containers are more vulnerable to freezing than those planted in the ground.)