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Perennials are amazing because you plant them once and they continue to grow for years to come. But to help ensure they continue to provide abundantly, you want to plant them in a good way. 

Watch, “Getting Started with Perennials,” on YouTube>

I’ve refined this process through years of planting perennials at rentals where we’ve lived. I’ve used it for things like artichokes, raspberries, blueberries, rhubarb, and sorrel. While I’ve tried to avoid trespassing or stalking people on previous properties, I recently used Google Street view to confirm that plants I put in years ago are still thriving. There’s something wonderful about leaving a place better than I found it, knowing that people and plants are enjoying each other long after I’m gone. 

The 12-step plan to successfully planting perennials

Now, 12 steps for one little plant might seem like a lot, but I promise these are quick and simple!

Here’s what you need:

• Water can

• Fish and kelp emulsion

• Bowl

• Powdered slow-release fertilizer

• Potting soil (we use our special recipe)

• Empty bucket

• Hand shovel or trowel

• Mason jar

• Plant

Quick and Simple 12-step Plan

Step 1. Prepare the Bed

This step is all about where your plant is going to live. We’ve learned over the years that having good soil is one of the essential secrets to growing a good garden. The bed you see in the video took about 1 year of active planning to become ready for planting. We had to remove sod, add garden soil, grow a cover crop, then till it in. While it was a long process, it was worth it. 

Step 2. Soak the Plant

This step is the equivalent of taking a snack with you on a hike. The plant is about to begin a big journey, growing into a new space. A little extra nutrition will help it make the transition better. We use an old chipped bowl of water with a squirt of fish and kelp emulsion for this step. We pop the plant out of its container and let it soak while we perform steps 3 - 7. If you don’t have this liquid fertilizer, plain water is just fine too.

Step 3. Dig the Hole

Initially you want to dig the hole in the ground about double the size of the plant container. That’s both twice as wide and deep. Put this garden soil in a bucket and set aside. 

Step 4. Add Fertilizer

In the bottom of the add a sprinkle of the powder, dry fertilizer. Then scratch it into the soil. This will be a second snack for the plant as it continues growing a big root system. 

Step 5. Replace the Soil

Now you dump all the dug soil back in the hole. Since it will be looser now, it might mound out of the top. That’s OK at this point. You might be wondering why go to this trouble? One reason is it helps create a transition for the plant from it’s container home into the ground of your garden. 

Step 6. Press in the Hole

Using a mason jar or your fist, press a hole into the center of the replaced soil. This will probably be a bit bigger than your plant.

Step 7. Add Potting Soil

Potting soil is likely what your plant was grown in, and the only home it’s ever known. This is usually looser and more fertile than garden soil. A little zone of this around your new plant will help ease it into the garden making it easy for new roots to grow. 

Step 8. Place the Plant

Finally, the moment we’ve all been waiting for! Gently remove the plant from the bowl, loosening any roots if needed. The plant should be about even with the surrounding soil.

Step 9. Fill in the Hole

If need, fill in gaps around the plant or above with extra potting soil. Then press down, ensuring contact between the roots and soil. Plants don’t like air around their roots; if you set up the planting “zones” as described above, there should be plenty of give in the soil structure for root development. 

Step 10. Mulch

Mulch is loose, fibrous layer of material that you place on top of the soil around the plant. We are currently using straw. But you can use hay, shredded cardboard, leaves, bark, or anything you choose. Mulch helps regulate soil temperature and moisture, both of which are helpful for newly established plants. 

Step 11. Water In

It’s important to give your plant and it’s new home a big drink of water at the beginning. I use a diluted fish and kelp emulsion for this first watering but it’s also just fine to use plain water. Either way the water helps reduce transplant shock. 

Step 12. Monitor 

Even if you’ve just sort-of followed the steps here, you’ve done a great job of setting your plant up for a successful life. Now you’ll want to keep a regular eye on it to make sure things continue to go well. Regular visits to your garden plants are good for everyone. I know it makes me happy and reduces stress, as well as helping make sure the plants stay evenly watered and any pest issues are spotted early. 

Bonus tip

Sourcing your plants is a whole topic for another post, but it’s important enough to mention here. We prefer to buy our starts (young plants) from trusted sources like friends and local farms. If we can’t get what we need here, then we go looking at local nurseries and small hardware stores. Another great resource is farmer’s markets. In our experience the plants from these sources tend to grow better. Perhaps it’s the varieties they choose or the attention they give each plant as it grows. 

In any case, wherever you purchase your plants, try to avoid those that are “pot bound” with roots coming out of the bottom holes or circling inside the container. Plants like this have been in tiny containers too long. It can be difficult to get the roots loosened and growing outwards again once planted in the ground, which affects the plant’s ability to grow strong and healthy. 

That’s a wrap

Hopefully these steps will easily become part of your routine as you create an abundant garden. What are your favorite perennial herb or vegetable plants?