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Planting red Robins

newmslandscapesnewmslandscapes Posts: 29
in Plants
Hi all,

i have a customer who hs purchased 14 large red robins as shown below. They are in 150ltr pots.

any advice when planting? Do I keep them in the pots? Should I plant them with compost or top soil?

the soil there is not the best as it’s a new build 

all your advices as always are much appreciated 

thanks
Craig

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    edited November 2018
    If you keep them in pots they will need regular watering and feeding forever. They're probably already pot bound and only keep going with the above treatment. If the soil is bad, mix in some organic material if it's very dry and grit if it's heavy clay
    If they are potbound, loosen up the roots a bit


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Agree.  You need to shift the pots and work in barrow loads of well rotted manure and/or garden compost to improve the soil before you even start to think about digging planting holes which, according to research by the RHS, are better square than round.

    When you do plant them, water thoroughly before hand and then plant them at the same depth they were in the pots and, as Nut says, tease out the roots so they head out into the soil for anchorage and nutrients.  Water again thoroughly and, if possible, mulch the entire bed with more compost.

    I'm assuming that, since they can afford all those mature plants, they can also afford a trailer load of muck.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    And make sure that your client knows to keep them well watered for at least the first few growing seasons  while they get established (particularly if we get another summer like the last one).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    JennyJ said:
    And make sure that your client knows to keep them well watered for at least the first few growing seasons  while they get established (particularly if we get another summer like the last one).
    And make sure that your client knows what is meant by 'well watered' .... it does not mean a sprinkling from a watering can shared between them all twice a week :/

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Indeed.  It means 5 litres per plant every week or even more if it's very hot again next summer.  Plants that size will need a year or two to settle in and get their roots out to fend for themselves and especially if they're planning to add other plants below and thus give competition for resources.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • newmslandscapesnewmslandscapes Posts: 29
    Cheers peeps much appreciated as always 

    wish me luck 
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    Cripes, that looks like a massive density of trees and shrubs lined up there, are they all going in that space, as set out in your photo or just the red robins?

    I’m wondering whether it might be easier to hire a mini-digger to make a long, deep trench and a rotavator to work the bottom of the trench before mixing into the soil a good number of the aforementioned barrowloads of manure/compost?
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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