Planning before planting
Half of the dead plants we replace failed because of where somebody put them. A sun lover tucked against a north wall, a shade plant baking on a south facing driveway, a shrub that reaches eight feet crammed under a three foot window. We walk the spot with you, look at sun hours, drainage and mature size, then pick material that fits.
Central New Jersey sits in USDA zone 6b to 7a, so the plant list is wide. Soil is the bigger constraint. Much of Manville and the river towns carries heavy clay and floodplain silt that holds water, which drowns anything wanting sharp drainage. We amend the backfill or raise the bed instead of pretending the problem is not there.
How we plant
- Hole dug two to three times the width of the root ball, never deeper than it
- Root ball set with the flare at or slightly above grade, since planting deep kills slowly
- Circling roots on container stock cut and teased outward
- Backfill with native soil amended as the site requires, watered in to close air pockets
- Mulch pulled back from the trunk, never mounded against it
What we plant
Foundation shrubs and privacy screening, perennial borders that come back stronger each year, and annual color for entries, walkways and containers. Deer pressure is real across Somerset County, so if your street loses tulips and hostas every spring we will steer you toward material deer usually pass over.
Timing
Spring and fall both work for woody plants, and fall has the edge. Soil stays warm after the air cools, so roots keep growing while the top of the plant rests, and the plant faces less heat stress in its first weeks.
Annuals go in after the last frost, generally mid May in this area. Fall mums and pansies go in from September.
The first year
New plantings die from watering mistakes more than anything else. A deep soak two or three times a week beats a daily sprinkle, which trains roots to stay at the surface. We leave you a plain watering schedule for what we installed and you can call us with questions after we are gone.
Free estimates across Manville, Hillsborough, Bridgewater, Somerville, Raritan, Bound Brook, South Bound Brook, Franklin Township, Millstone and Whitehouse Station. Call or text (848) 702-6937.
Common questions
- Is spring or fall better for planting shrubs in New Jersey?
- Fall, in most cases. Warm soil and cool air let roots establish without heat stress. Spring works too, as long as you commit to watering through the first summer.
- Do you supply the plants?
- Yes, we can source the material, or we will install plants you bought yourself. Either way we tell you first whether the choice suits the spot.
- What about deer?
- Deer browse hard through Somerset County. We recommend material they tend to avoid and place the tempting plants closer to the house where traffic discourages them.