Plant with Confidence

May is when planting season truly opens up in New England.

Soil is warming, days are longer, and overnight temperatures begin to settle. As the month moves along, the risk of frost drops quickly and conditions shift in your favor. This is when planting moves from cautious to confident.

Annuals like geraniums and petunias often get the spotlight in May, but they’re far from the only plants ready to go. Shrubs and trees establish quickly in spring soil and benefit from cooler temperatures before summer heat arrives. Perennials settle in fast and build strength for the season ahead. Herbs and vegetables finally feel at home outdoors, and warm season crops can begin moving into the garden as May progresses. Water gardens wake up too, with ponds refreshed and aquatic plants returning to active growth.

May supports it all.

Planting with a Solid Foundation

If you’re ever unsure where to start, our Planting Guide, available at the registers, walks through the basics step by step. It’s designed to work for trees, shrubs, perennials, herbs, and vegetables, and it follows the same approach we use every day.

The basics matter:

• Dig a hole at least twice as wide as the root ball, but no deeper
• Blend Jolly Gardener Tree, Shrub & Rose Garden Soil with your native soil
• Incorporate Espoma Bio-Tone at planting time
• Set plants at the proper height
• Firm soil gently to remove air pockets
• Water thoroughly
• Finish with mulch, keeping it pulled slightly back from stems and trunks

Wide planting holes encourage roots to spread outward instead of circling. Blending amended soil with native soil helps roots transition naturally into surrounding ground. Bio-Tone supports early root development, leading to stronger establishment and better long term performance. Mulch moderates soil temperature and moisture, reducing stress as plants settle in.

You don’t need to do everything in a weekend. You just need to start.

When Tree Stake Kits Are Especially Helpful

Not every tree needs staking, but there are situations where it makes a real difference.

Tree stake kits are most useful when:

• Planting a new tree with a heavy top
• Planting in windy or exposed locations
• Installing trees in loose or sandy soil
• Planting larger caliper trees that need extra stability early on
• Trees are leaning or shifting after planting

Staking helps a new tree stay steady while it gets established. By limiting excessive rocking in the wind, roots are able to settle into the surrounding soil instead of being loosened or stressed. At the same time, proper staking still allows gentle movement, which encourages the trunk to strengthen naturally as the tree grows.

How to Set Up a Tree Stake Kit Properly

A good stake setup allows movement, not restriction.

Key steps:

• Use three stakes, evenly spaced around the tree
• Position stakes just outside the root ball
• Attach ties about one third to halfway up the trunk
• Leave slack in the ties so the tree can sway naturally

This triple point retention stabilizes the tree from tipping while still allowing gentle movement, which helps the trunk strengthen over time.

Most trees only need staking for one growing season. Once roots are established and the tree stands on its own, the stakes should be removed.

Why Watering Bags Are a Smart Add-On

Watering bags, or if you want to get fancy, Hydration Systems, are especially helpful with newly planted trees and a lot of newly planted shrubs too!

They work because:

• They deliver slow, deep watering directly to the root zone
• Water absorbs evenly instead of running off
• Roots are encouraged to grow deeper rather than staying near the surface
• Consistent moisture reduces transplant stress

They’re especially useful during dry stretches, windy sites, or for trees planted in spring that are heading toward summer heat.

Fill the bag and let gravity do the work.

Trust the Season

Planting with confidence doesn’t mean ignoring the forecast. It means recognizing when conditions are finally working with you instead of against you.

Follow the light. Pay attention to placement. Let the season carry some of the weight.

Garden Geek Tip

If you’re unsure whether to stake or use a watering bag, watch the plant after a windy day. If the root ball shifts or the soil pulls away from the trunk, a little extra support or slow, steady watering now can make all the difference later.