My wife pointed out I was planting everything too deep

Ive been gardening in our backyard in Toledo for about 3 years now. Every spring Id dig holes and set my plants in so the top of the root ball was an inch or two below the soil line. Last April my wife came out and asked why I was burying them like treasure. She showed me a video from a local nursery that said the root flare should be visible above ground. Turns out half my perennials from last year were suffering because I had them too deep. Has anyone else made this mistake with their flower beds or vegetable plants?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathan1931mo ago

Man I did the exact same thing my first two years. I was convinced deeper was better because it meant the roots were protected. But after I lost a whole row of lavender and most of my echinacea I finally looked it up. Turns out planting too deep can suffocate the roots and cause rot right at the stem. Now I always dig the hole extra wide but only as deep as the pot. I leave that root flare sitting right at soil level and water it in really well. My plants have been way healthier ever since.

rosed321mo ago

Has anyone else tried the trick where you water the hole before you put the plant in? I started doing that after hearing @nathan193 talk about root rot, it really helps settle the soil and keeps the flare visible. Sucks learning the hard way but that wide but shallow hole is the only way to go.