Nature Hills Planting Guide & Support

What to Expect from Your Nature Hills Order

Thank you for your business! From field to home, your new plant has been expertly grown, selected, packed and shipped directly to your door.

Please see below for steps to success to enjoy a beautiful and vigorous plant in your garden. And remember, our customer service team is here to help answer your questions.

Support: customer-support.naturehills.com

Three Day Replacement Policy

The plant you ordered from Nature Hills will arrive in a box. Do you see box damage? Let us know right away. Take clear photos of the box damage.

Once you receive your box, remove plant(s) from the box carefully to avoid damage. Inspect your order. Do you see plant damage? Let us know right away. Take clear photos of the damage and submit a ticket at customer-support.naturehills.com/support/tickets/new.

Full NHN Replacement Policy

Plant Care Library

Plants have different tolerances to soils, shade, heat and cold. Be sure to read the Plant Highlight Facts on every product page. Choose the best place in your landscape for your plant to meet their sun and soil requirements.

Bare Root Planting Video

The Right Way to Water Video

Plants Grown in a Container Planting Video

How and Why to Mulch Your Plants

Bare Root Planting Guide Print Icon

Appearance

  • When you order bare root plants, they arrive without soil in a dormant (sleeping/hibernating) condition. This is a very safe - and time-tested - way to ship plants.
  • Bare root plants will arrive wrapped in a bag with packing materials to keep the roots moist.
  • If you ordered more than one, bare root plants may be bundled together. This helps protect your plants during shipping.
  • It can take up to 5-6 weeks after you plant your new bare root plant for it to break dormancy and produce buds. This is normal!
  • Watch them closely for signs of life and keep them watered.

Storage

  • Try to plant your bare root plants the day you receive them.
  • If you can't plant your bare root plants right away, open the bag and sprinkle the roots with water. Always keep the plant roots moist and covered with plastic or moist mulch.
  • Re-cover the roots with the bag, and keep them in a cool place, such as a garage floor. Keep storage time to a minimum.
  • If you must keep bare root plants stored for over a week, dig a small trench in a shady location. Place the roots in the trench and cover the roots with soil. Keep the roots moist until you can plant.

Planting, Watering and Mulching

  • Fill a bucket with water and soak the roots while you prepare the planting hole. Soak from 1 - 24 hours.
  • Dig a hole just deep enough to fit all the roots, and twice as wide.
  • Sprinkle Nature Hills Root Booster in the bottom of your planting hole.
  • Don't plant too deep! Look for the main stem or trunk, and make sure all of it is above ground.
  • Place the plant roots in the hole and gently spread them apart.
  • Back fill with the loosened dirt and gently press the soil in around the plant.
  • Water thoroughly to settle the soil in around the roots.
  • Add mulch around the plant to a depth of 2 inches, but don't let mulch touch the stem or trunk of your plant.
  • Check the soil around the plants regularly the first season. If it's dry to the touch two inches down, water it well. If it's moist, skip watering that day.
  • Don’t overwater your plants!

Container Grown Planting Guide Print Icon

Appearance

  • Depending on the time of year, your container grown plant may be dormant (sleeping for the winter).
  • Trim any broken or bent branches or leaves.

Preparation

  • When you receive your container grown plant, dunk it in a bucket of water until it stops bubbling, then bring out and let the excess water drain away.
  • Dig a hole twice as wide as the plant, and just deep enough to fit the entire plant in. Don’t plant too deep!
  • Sprinkle Nature Hills Root Booster at the bottom of your planting hole.

Planting, Watering and Mulching

  • Remove the plastic container, or cut off the grow bag and remove gently. Try not to disturb the soil around the roots.
  • Gently set the plant in the hole.
  • Back fill with the loosened dirt and gently press the soil in around the plant.
  • Water thoroughly and completely saturate the soil.
  • Add mulch around the plant to a depth of 2 inches, but don't let mulch touch the stem of your plant.
  • Check the soil around the plants regularly the first season. If it's dry to the touch two inches down, water it well. If it's moist, skip watering that day.
  • Don’t overwater your plants!

Tips and Tricks to Establish Your Plant

Use the “Finger Test” to check the soil

For the first week, check the soil regularly using the Finger Test. If the soil feels dry, give your plant a deep drink of water. If the soil feels moist, check back the next day.

For the first few months, your plants will need regular rain or deep watering each week to optimize survival and healthy growth. Use the Finger Test during extremely hot weather to avoid extremes, such as: over or under watering. Water the soil at the base of your plant, not the leaves if possible.

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