The Right Place
Hypericums grow throughout the South and as far north as the Ohio Valley, into southern Pennsylvania and along the Atlantic coast up to Cape Cod (zone 6). They can handle winter temperatures down to -5° F, so if they are in protected sites, they will grow even farther north, dying back to the ground over the winter months.
Planting Nursery Stock
Hypericums are quite adaptable, tolerating full sun or medium shade, even though they prefer a lightly shaded location. Plant them in either spring or fall in well-drained, reasonably fertile soil. While they prefer soil that is moderately acid (pH 6.0 to 6.5), they also accept somewhat alkaline soils as well. Plant shrubs that come from the nursery either bare-rooted or in containers that are from 1 to 2 feet tall.
Keep the roots moist until it is time to plant.
Remove all wrappings from the hypericum plant, or lift it from its container. Gently loosen and spread any matted, tangled roots. Dig a hole wide enough to accommodate the spread roots and as deep as the root system is long. Set the plant in the hole and fill in the dirt, firming it around the plant stem. Take care to set the plant at the same level in the soil as it was previously. Water generously for several weeks until the plant is well established. If planting for a hedge, space a single line of hypericums 2 1/2 feet apart.
Amendments In Planting or Transplanting
There are a number of products at the garden center that will help your newly planted or transplanted plants deal better with the stress inherent in the planting process. All healthy plants have beneficial fungi, called mycorrhizal fungi, living on their roots. You can buy these valuable additions to your plant’s ecosystem. See the file describing Using Micorrhizae When Planting.
In addition, there are a number of products such as seaweed, compost tea, and beneficial soil microbes that when added to the planting process will help your newly established plants get going faster. See the file New Technology In Plant Growth Activators
For more information see the file on Planting Shrubs. For planting tools see Hand Tools For Digging and Planting in Yardener’s Tool Shed.
