Filtered by:. Previous template Next. I have an established 10 years heather bed which I now fancy changing. Will the heathers survive being dug up and planted elsewhere? Any tips on best way to go about it all please? Happy Gardening, Shirley.
Tags: None. I moved 6 heathers earlier this year and to a plant all died, I have read that they dont like being transplanted. Comment Post Cancel. Oh dear. That isn't promising is it? Oh well. I suppose one way would be to take cuttings and then make sure that you get all the root ball when moving.
For boggy soil which may be the right pH but too wet , make a modest berm. Shear newly purchased plants to encourage bushiness, and plant in spring or early autumn. Water twice a week for the first several months so the ground is moist but not soggy. This will encourage rapid, vigorous growth to get plants established. Apply a mulch of your choice, preferably an acidic one such as pine straw, peat moss, or leaf mold. After two or three years, heathers and heaths are generally drought-tolerant and can take care of themselves.
Space the plants about as far apart as the plant's mature width to allow air circulation, which is important for good foliage growth and color but close enough so the plants will eventually mound together. If you are planting in Zones , Lortz recommends whorled heath Erica manipuliflora ; 'Korcula' is a good cultivar. Allow for a minimum of six hours of sun a day for best foliage effect. The foliage will be best on the south side of the plant, especially for red varieties.
Six or more hours of sun are also recommended with afternoon shade in hotter areas. Too much shade makes the plants leggy and dulls the brilliance of those that have colorful foliage. Avoid situating plants in areas that receive harsh winter winds; as evergreens, they suffer severe dehydration.
Or apply a winter mulch such as evergreen boughs. In areas with deep snow cover, plants will be fine. Heaths and heathers actually like poor soil. Giving annual doses of fertilizer is deadlier than not giving any at all. Fertilize once with rhododendron feed upon planting—then leave your plants alone. About the only work you need to do is give them a yearly shearing.
This is best done in the spring before any buds have set or, for winter bloomers, after the flowers have faded. Calluna vulgaris should be cut back below the old flowers; the Erica spp.
Unless otherwise noted, heathers Calluna vulgaris are hardy in Zones and are no more than 2 feet high and slightly more as wide. Heaths tolerate more heat than do heathers and are generally good choices for Southern regions, though they dislike extremely humid areas. Green Space. How to Grow Heathers and Heaths. Save Pin FB More. Credit: Bill Stites. Calluna vulgaris 'Sandy' Scotch heather. Credit: Dean Schoeppner.
Spacing Spacing of heather plants is important to strike the right balance between allowing good air circulation between plants whilst also ensuring they are close enough for the growth of each plant to join up over time to provide complete ground coverage.
A good trick is to multiply the square footage of your planting area by 0. If you work in metres not feet, plan on using 5 plants per square metre 4 per square yard , making allowances for other plants nearby that have not yet reached their mature spread. If planting heathers as part of a rock garden, use no more than 1 conifer or shrub per 5 square metres 50 square feet.
Planting Loosen the soil before planting. Dig holes twice as wide as each plant's root ball to encourage roots to spread. After removing each heather plant from its pot, gently tease out the roots and spread them across the planting hole. Heathers like to be planted deeply with the lower foliage resting on the soil surface. The addition of a little non-burning fertiliser, mixed into the planting soil, will encourage new root growth. Mulch around the base of your heathers after planting using an acidic organic matter such as leaf mould, pine straw or peat moss.
Keeping the compost moist yet allowing for free drainage is key. We recommend installing a 2. Consider mixing some water retaining gel into your compost to improve moisture retention. As for garden plantings, plant your heathers deep in the compost. Initial Pruning and Watering Shear newly planted heathers to foster a bushy growth habit. Water fortnightly for the first 3 months to keep the ground moist but not sodden.
Garden Care Watering Drought tolerance is normally established within years from planting, after which time your heather plants will take care of themselves. Until this time, water as required to keep the soil evenly moist, but never soggy. Weeding and Feeding Make sure the heather border is kept weed-free.
This is best done by hand rather than using a hoe as heathers are shallow rooted. Apply an annual mulch of bark, peat or ericaceous compost to help suppress weeds.
Fertilise once with ericaceous plant food at planting time. Further feeding is not typically required thereafter, although if the bloom production is reduced or foliage turns pale, you can re-apply the ericaceous plant food from late winter to mid-spring.
Once a 'wave' of heather plants have become established and filled the gaps between them, they will act as an effective weed suppressant, so little weeding is typically required once the plants have become established. Annual Shearing In early spring before any buds have set shear off the top third of foliage growth from your heathers, removing any remaining dead flowers from the previous year as you do so.
Removing old stems will encourage your heathers to develop fresh new growth, maintain a bushy habit and prevent them from becoming thin and woody. This way the plant is constantly renewed.
Heathers being sheared in early spring. Pests and Diseases Heathers have few pests but can be susceptible to powdery mildew if they are planted too close together and air flow is impaired. The best way to tackle powdery mildew is with a fungus killer spray.
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