The Right Place
Plant seedlings in the spring. Mid-May or later is safer in the Northeast or Midwest. They love full sun, but half-day or sun that is dappled in the afternoon is better where summers are quite hot. Although they will tolerate dry, thin soil and even seashore conditions, shasta daisies prefer rich, moist but well-drained soil. They dislike soggy beds. If you have clay soil improve its drainage by building flower beds higher than the surrounding soil and adding organic material such as chopped leaves or peat moss or plant daisies in containers in soilless potting mix that is light and drains well. Since their roots are shallow, plant them just below the soil surface. Careful attention to cultural requirements will assure that your plants are happy. Stress free plants are less likely to experience problems.
Planting Nursery Stock
Clear the planting area of weeds and debris. Prepare the soil by loosening it with a trowel or shovel, digging down about 6 or 8 inches and turning it over. Break up large clumps of soil and remove any stones, then smooth and level the planting area. Dig a hole for each plant that is roughly the depth of its nursery container and somewhat wider.
Remove each daisy seedling or plant from its container by gently tapping its bottom as you tip it into your hand. Loosen any roots that are tangled or matted, then set each plant in its hole. Be sure that it is at the same level in the soil that it was in its pot, then fill the space in the hole with soil. Firm the soil around the plant stem and over the rootball with your hand to remove air pockets in the soil and water well. Space young plants about 18 inches apart to allow for widening bushiness as they mature over the summer. Plant mature plants as close as their size permits, since they are already full-sized.
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
