When I get my plants I will normally pot them up and give them special care through
the summer. By fall they are very nicely rooted in those pots. I have made the mistake
of planting the whole mass right out of the pot, leaving the potting soil around the roots.
Don't do that! Remove as much of the potting soil as you can in northern areas, because
leaving it around the roots will allow them to heave. With potting soil they are also more
prone to freezing out. It is also wise to plant new ones earlier in the fall to help keep them
from heaving. A brick or rock will also help keep them secured.
Bill Maryott is a wonderful guy and had some terrific sales, but his plants are often very
evergreen and not as hardy in northern areas. I haven't ever lost a plant from freezing out,
but his came very close and I replaced all of them.
