Repotting Evergreens
As an impassioned gardener, I have many ornamental urns filled with lush, green plants around my home. Some of them needed a little extra maintenance care and attention.
A selection of these plants are small evergreen specimens such as Hinoki Cypress, white spruce, balsam fir, and creeping juniper. This week, my head gardener Ryan McCallister, pruned and groomed them, separated those that had gotten too big, and repotted all in fresh, nutrient-rich potting mix.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- I always instruct my crew to gather all the necessary tools and supplies before starting any project. This area is located just outside my main greenhouse and head house. It is set up for repotting several evergreens.
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- The planter housing this balsam fir and juniper is timeworn and in need of replacing. Some of the other evergreens have also grown too big for their containers.
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- Ryan removes all of the plants to assess what pots they would go into next.
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- To prepare the pot for planting, Ryan first covers the drainage hole with a shard. I save all clay shards from broken pots so they can be repurposed in this way.
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- The shard keeps soil from falling through the hole and also allows for better drainage.
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- I use Scotts Organic Potting Mix, which can be used for potting or repotting foliage, tropical and flowering houseplants as well as potted vegetables and herbs.
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- A quality potting soil must have good water retention capacity and good porosity. It should also feel light, airy, and not show any signs of mold.
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- Ryan also sprinkles a generous amount of fertilizer and mixes it in with the potting soil.
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- This is Scotts Evergreen, Flowering Tree & Shrub Continuous Release Plant Food, which is great for evergreens, dogwoods, hydrangeas, magnolias and many other acid-loving trees and shrubs.
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- Ryan removes these plants from the container and separates them. The two had been planted together but are now big enough to be planted separately.
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- Before putting it in its new pot, Ryan grooms it and removes and dead, diseased, damaged or deranged branches. This specimen is in excellent shape and just needs a bit of trimming.
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- Here it is in its new pot. Ryan positions it firmly before backfilling.
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- Ryan does the same with this cypress. Proper trimming rejuvenates mature plants and encourages new growth.
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- This one is cut in two. It is crucial that any cutting be done with a sharp knife to reduce any risk of crushing or tearing the plant’s tissues.
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- When selecting a pot, consider plant size and growth habit as well as root size. The pot should be at least one inch wider than the plant’s root mass.
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- This dwarf Hinoki cypress is a charming evergreen shrub prized for its rounded and compact habit and soft fernlike foliage.
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- There are different types of Japanese cypress. Most are slow growing and great in full sun. It is most loved for providing year round bold green color.
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- Ryan places the plants in pots to see if they are the right size and shape for the specimens before planting. I use clay pots which are very sturdy and durable.
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- Ryan sprinkles a little more Scotts fertilizer on top of the soil. Be sure the food used does not burn the foliage. This food will encourages vigorous root growth and lush foliage and feed for up to two months.
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- The right pot for the right plant provides the right amount of space and stability for proper watering and feeding. These evergreens will continue to thrive here at my farm.
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