Late fall is generally the best time to plant, after the first rains and the air is cooler. Riparian plants can be planted any time, because they need regular water all year. Plant in the early morning or when it is cloudy.
Planting your native garden
When to plant
Finalize plant location
Place your plants (while still in their pots) in the places you'd like to plant them. Adjust for the mature size of your plants to avoid overcrowding or excessive pruning. Consider filling empty spaces with wildflowers or small perennials.
For firewise landscaping:
- Keep plants away from the first five feet around your home.
- Group plants together into “planting islands” surrounded by non-flammable surfaces, such as paving, gravel, or soil.
- Space young trees so crowns will be at least ten feet apart when mature.
Get digging
- Dig a square hole twice as wide as the pot, with the root ball half to one inch above grade. (Square holes encourage straight roots rather than twisted.)
- On slopes or dry banks, create a flat area around the hole to hold water
- Rough up sides and bottom so roots can spread.
- Amend lightly with compost. Exception: Chaparral species do best in unamended soil.
Check your soil
Water the plant in its pot and moisten the hole to reduce transplant shock. In clay soil, allow water to drain fully before planting.
If the soil where you dug your hole is very dry, fill the hole with water and let it soak through.
Put the plant in the ground!
- Place enough loose soil under the root ball to keep the plant slightly above grade (about half an inch).
- Remove the pot gently; loosen roots if rootbound. (Soaking briefly can help.)
- Backfill with native soil.
Water plants in well
Build a small berm around the plant and soak thoroughly—this is the one time even drought-adapted plants need plenty of water. Then remove the berm so the soil doesn’t stay soggy.
Mulching new plants
Mulch is any material you use to cover the soil surrounding your plants. Mulch retains moisture, reduce weeds, and builds soil health. Avoid piling mulch against stems.
- Chaparral/desert plants: one inch of light-colored rock, gravel, or decomposed granite (DG)
- Forest/woodland plants: wood chips or bark
Over time, your plants will create their own mulch. Refresh in spring and fall if needed.
Start small
Plants planted at four inch or one gallon sizes establish more easily than those in larger containers.
