General Growing Tips

  • Do not ask us to ship in winter if you are in zone 3-7. Plants can easily get damaged from winter frost. Watch out for late frost too. Late frost is very dangerous for plants that broke dormancy. Cover the plants very nicely. To protect roots you can use high quality straw. The roots will not develop if soil is cold so it is better to get plants when air and soil are warm. This prevents possible plant damage.
  • Do not disturb the root bulb when replanting. 
  • Do not over-fertilize.
  • Keep Raspberries and Strawberries in containers until you see new growth.
  • Do not use drip irrigation systems on new plants, water by hand until plants are established.
  • Do not plant on standing water or high-water tables.
  • Do not let the soil dry out too much. Water your plants as needed.
  • Weed everything around (at least 5 feet circle) to not let the fungus weeds may carry damaged plants.
  • Do not use acidic or dyed mulch. Read about mulch requirements on the website. Do not put any mulch around the plant base (at least 2-3 feet should stay mulch-free) until the plant gets established very well and starts growing vigorously then add mulch very carefully. First, do not put more than 1 inch. Please, watch how the plant reacts. Mulch should be Pine! No Cedar or Cypress, please. You can use the highest quality straw (to prevent weeds) for mulching in hot summers but it should not be pressed around. The straw should be fluffy so as not to prevent aeration.
  • Do not keep outside plants inside! It damages their root system very fast.
  • Do not place the plants you have received on the wooden, concrete, tile floors, porches, or patios. Also avoid wooden, metal tables, benches, or tables with metal netting. Plants must feel the ground. If you have weeds/grass on the ground, put some tarp or landscaping material to protect plants from fungus that weeds can develop.
  • Do not plant  along stone, brick or concrete walls: it may decrease soil aeration, keep too much moisture after rains. It also can give too much shade to increase those problems.
  • Protect plants from wild and domestic animals. Use metal netting, fencing, etc.
  • Keeping outdoor growing plants indoors will harm and potentially kill them. Keep Your plants outdoors on a tarp until you are ready to plant to keep them safe.
  • If you grow plants in planters in cold climates, you should protect them from winter damage. Mulch around planters and cover the plants with special white plant protective material.
  • Plant spacing, Soil requirements, pruning, pollination, watering, planting, protection, etc., can be found on our website in special chapters and below plant descriptions.