A really common question we get at the nursery is “When should I plant?”. Unfortunately there is not one simple, cover-all answer. Because landscape plants are so diverse, they all have different requirements. 

The key to remember about planting in your landscape is that you want to make the transition into the ground as easy as possible. Anytime you transplant something in a pot to the ground, you are causing the plant stress. You can’t avoid all stress, but you want to cause as little stress to the plant as possible.

Ideally, all planting should be done when the plant is dormant to cause the least amount of stress. However, in our climate, when plants are dormant, the ground is also frozen. So this is often not an option for us here in Omaha.  The next best option is to plant when temperatures are on the cooler side. As temperatures rise, plants use more water and can quickly dry out. So avoid planting in the heat of summer and provide adequate water to the new plant to help it recover.

You also want to avoid transplanting anything while it is in bloom. Plants divert energy to the flowers and do not have as much reserve energy to send to the roots to recover. It is also likely you will lose the majority of blooms that came on your plant when you bought it.

 A good rule of thumb is to plant in spring when temperatures are cool. You are generally good to plant once the ground thaws. Be careful of any late freezing temperatures though. Planting in spring gives the plant plenty of time to establish their roots throughout the season. Plus, Mother Nature will often help you water your plants with rain. After all “April showers bring May flowers”, right?

For those who get a later start to the planting season fall can also be a good time to plant. But of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Certain plants, like grasses and roses may take longer to establish and will not have enough time before temperatures freeze. Aside from a few exceptions, many plants will do very well the next season if they are planted in the fall.

Planting in your yard for the first time can be intimidating. But remember that plants are resilient and can handle some stress. The more you educate yourself, the more you can help out your plants and give them the best shot of growing big and strong. Feel free to call or stop into the garden shop with any questions about planting specific plants in your yard.