Procedures for Preparing Plants for Sale:
1. POTS
2. SOIL
3. DIG AND DIVIDE
4. LABEL
5. PLANTING TEAMS
6. SUGGESTIONS
1. POTS
- collect over the year, a variety of sizes of pots
- wash to clean out dirt, pests, diseases; clean pots enhance plants, visually appealing
- use a large garbage can (collect rain water) to soak pots overnight and wipe and rinse clean
- line bottom of pots with paper (to prevent soil from falling out)
2. SOIL
- use quality composted soil
- good soil enhances root growth
3. DIG AND DIVIDE
- dig deep and wide to get lots of roots
- divide plant roots to fit the width and depth of chosen pot size
- trim roots before transplanting to encourage root growth
- push soil down around pot to eliminate air and encourage plant to grow
- water in, to remove air bubbles, then fertilize with transplanter fertilizer, e.g. Scott’s or Miracle Grower
- plant in pot as it is to be planted by customer: i.e., do not cover rhizomes with dirt!
- plant trees and shrubs upright: Not leaning
4. LABEL
- with name, colour of flower, sun, or shade
- know the growing habits, for example width, height, bloom time, how does it spread, can it be invasive, etc. (printed out labels with plant descriptions are available on request)
5. PLANTING TEAMS
- 4 to 5 people per team:
- 1 digs and divides, or
- 1 divides
- 2 pot up
- 1 labels and waters/fertilizes
6. SUGGESTIONS
- have a knowledgeable member supervise overall planting
- limit potting time to 1 to 2 hours per session
- best time to divide plants is in the Fall and store in protective space, beside house or under trees
- this gives plants a lot of time to grow and be really ready for the May sale
- gives us all time to prepare other activities related to the sale