What to expect after planting

Moving plants to a new environment and transplanting causes a lot of stress on the plants so it is important to understand the basic recovery timeline for most plants.  The recovery period is determined by the species, the conditions in which it is planted, the season, and the amount of stress the plant has received during transportation.  This recovery timeline is for general planting During the growing season.

THE DAY AFTER PLANTING

The plants should have been deeply watered during and immediately after planting.  If there was any wilting or stress they should have had time by now to soak up water and should appear small but fresh.  If any leaves or branches were damaged during the planting process they should be removed.  This ensures the plants use all of its energy towards recovery.

1 MONTH AFTER PLANTING

This is typically when plants look their worst snd show signs of stress from transplanting.  A technique many plants use to recover from transplanting is to reduce the amount of energy needed to stay alive by dropping some of their leaves and flowers.  This is completely normal.  If a plant appears to be completely dead or has lost all of its leaves the plant may need to be replaced.

Cutting back the plants and removing any dead leaves and flowers at this stage can help freshen up the garden and speed up the recovery process.

3 MONTHS AFTER PLANTING

At this point most plants will show signs of recovery and you will start to see new growth. 

6 MONTHS AFTER PLANTING

At this point most plants should be completely recovered and establishing deep root systems.  At this stage the garden should be filling in nicely.

Plant growth cycle

Plants have a finite amount of energy, which they shift to different parts of the plant throughout the year:

Spring: New leaves and branches emerge as above-ground growth ramps up.

Summer: Plants produce flowers and continue leaf production.

Fall: Energy shifts to seed production; flowers die and leaves drop in preparation for dormancy.

Winter: Above-ground growth slows or stops; energy shifts to root development.

Many plants drop leaves or die back in winter as a survival technique in colder temperatures. This is part of their natural cycle and will return in spring. Your garden contains a combination of evergreen, perennial, and deciduous plants, each with its own seasonal behavior.