Cottage Farms M89458 Tahiti Rose of Sharon Live Plant User Guide
- June 9, 2024
- Cottage Farms
Table of Contents
User Guide
*Image on cover is representative of the type of plant(s) in this offer and not necessarily indicative of actual size or color for the included variety.
OUT OF THE BOX
ROSE OF SHARON SHRUB
SKU# M89454 / M89458
Your plant has been shipped to you in a pot. Please remove the plant from the packaging right away and plant it as soon as possible following the planting instructions below. If it is not possible to plant right away, follow these important steps:
- Roll the plastic down around the plant and place it in a sunny location.
- Keep the plant well watered.
Note: Some leaves may appear wilted or yellow upon arrival. This is due to the stress of shipping and is nothing to worry about. Water the plant and let it recover in a shady location for a few days, then gently remove any foliage that does not recover to allow for new growth.
SHIPPED IN A 6-INCH POT.
PLANT SIZE MAY VARY BASED ON GROWING CONDITIONS.
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
Important: Thoroughly hydrate the plant by watering well before planting.
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Remove and discard the clear plastic bag from around the pot.
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After watering, remove the pot by holding the plant upside down in one hand and squeezing the sides of the pot with the other.
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Prepare the root ball for planting by gently disturbing the surface roots with your fingers, fork or gardening tool and pruning any damaged roots. This will encourage the roots to begin growing outward into the new soil.
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Dig a hole twice as deep and twice as wide as the plant’s root ball. Partially backfill the hole with soil and place the plant into the hole. The top of the root ball should be level with the ground surrounding the hole. Refill the hole with soil, firming the soil around the plant with your fingers.
Check to be sure the plant is not planted too deeply. If it is, raise the plant carefully and re-firm the soil. -
Water thoroughly.
CONTINUING CARE
WATERING| Adequate and consistent watering is essential during your plant’s
first year in the garden. Infrequent, long soakings of water that thoroughly
saturate the soil are more effective than frequent, light applications of
water.
Due to variable geographical and environmental conditions, a specific watering
schedule is difficult to define. However, as a rule of thumb, you should not
allow the soil or the original root ball to completely dry out. During the
first summer, you may need to water as often as every few days in periods of
drought and extreme summer heat. To determine if your plant needs water, dig
a few inches into the soil next to the plant. If the soil is dry 2-3 inches
below the surface, it is time to water.
Over-watering can be as damaging as under-watering.
Be sure that the area surrounding your plant has adequate drainage to move
water away from the plant. If you choose to plant in a container, always
select one with drainage holes to prevent your plant’s roots from sitting in
water.
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MULCHING| Apply a 2-4 inch layer of shredded bark, compost, leaves, straw or
other organic matter around your plants to promote moisture retention,
maintain even soil temperatures and discourage weed growth. Replenish the
mulch as needed.
FEEDING| Feed your plants once every 2-3 weeks during the growing season with
a water-soluble fertilizer such as Cottage Farms’ Carefree Bud-N-Flower
Booster (SKU #M7582). Discontinue feeding after September 1st so your plants
can harden off for winter dormancy. Resume fertilizing when new growth
appears in spring.
PRUNING| Remove dead, damaged or unsightly growth as needed to maintain an
attractive appearance. Keep the center of the shrub open by thinning inner
branches if they become overlapped. Rose of Sharon naturally sheds its spent
flowers and needs no deadheading.
WEEDING| Keep the area around your plants free of weeds.
Weeds compete with surrounding plants for food, water and light. Walk around
the garden periodically and pull weeds, including the roots, as soon as you
see them.
WINTERIZING| Watering thoroughly in late fall will greatly enhance your
plant’s cold tolerance once the ground has frozen.
While Rose of Sharon shrubs are winter hardy, they will benefit from mulching
in cold areas. The time to winterize your plants is in late fall. When
winterizing perennials, keep in mind that the root system is the most
vulnerable to cold damage. Mulch heavily by mounding a 6-8 inch layer of
shredded bark, compost, leaves, straw or other organic material around the
base of each plant.
In cold areas, containerized plants can be brought into an unheated, protected
area such as a garage or cellar before temperatures drop below freezing. Check
soil moisture every 2-3 weeks and water as needed during winter.
In spring, remove mulch from in-ground plantings.
Containerized plants should be moved back out into the garden sunlight where
they will begin to repeat their yearly garden performance.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are some good uses for Rose of Sharon shrubs?
Rose of Sharon shrubs make excellent flowering hedges.
They also look great in the back of the border, mixed beds and even large
containers.
It’s spring and my other plants are growing, but my Rose of Sharon shrub
has no leaves. Is it dead?
Rose of Sharon is one of the last plants to break dormancy each spring. To
determine if your plant is alive, gently scratch the bark toward the base of
the plant. If the wood is green beneath the first layer of bark, the plant is
alive and will break dormancy as spring temperatures rise.
QUICK REFERENCE PLANTING GUIDE
| LIGHT/SUN EXPOSURE | Full to part sun. |
|---|---|
| USDA HARDINESS ZONES | 5 to 9. |
| PLANT TYPE | Perennial. |
PLANTING DISTANCE
IN- GROUND| At least 4 feet apart.
CONTAINER SIZE| One plant per 16-inch or larger container.
MATURE HEIGHT/SPREAD| 6 to 8 feet tall with a 4 to 6 foot spread.
BLOOM TIME| Early summer to fall.
TIME TO REACH MATURITY| 24 months.
FACTS OF NOTE| Heat tolerant.
Attracts pollinators.
Low maintenance and easy to grow.
SOIL PREPARATION
We recommend having your soil tested periodically by your local County
Extension Office
(www.nifa.usda.gov/extension or by
calling 1-800-333- 4636). A soil test can determine if your soil needs any
amendments to enhance the growth and performance of your plants.
Ideal garden soil is easy to dig in and drains well while still holding the
nutrients and water vital to plant growth. To prepare a bed for in-ground
planting, spade or till the soil to a depth of roughly 12-18 inches. Next,
spread a 2-4 inch layer of organic matter such as compost, shredded leaves or
peat moss over the soil and mix well.
Thank you for your order.
Your satisfaction is of primary concern to us. Please use the following
resources for questions regarding your order:
| cottagefarmsdirect.com| |
pinterest.com/cottagefarms
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| help@cottagefarmsdirect.com| |
@cottagefarmsdirect
| facebook.com/cottagefarmsdirect|
| 888-593-3644
| @cottagefarms| | 9960 Padgett Switch Rd.
Irvington, Alabama 36544
Cottage Farms Guarantee
We aren’t happy if you aren’t happy. Cottage Farms warrants its perennials for
one year and annuals for 90 days from the time of the shipment. If for any
reason you are dissatisfied, Cottage Farms will replace your plant with a
similar or comparable one at no charge. If your replacement is not available
or it is too late in the season to ship, it will ship the following shipping
season.
Caution: Do not assume any plant is safe to eat. Only parts of plants
expressly grown to be eaten should be considered edible. As with any product
that is not food, care should be taken to make sure that small children and
pets do not ingest any part of a plant that is not expressly grown to be
eaten.
Unless specifically stated, this product is intended for ornamental
horticultural use only and is not intended for consumption or ingestion by
humans or pets. Most plants are harmless but some contain toxic substances
which can cause adverse heath effects. Furthermore, some individuals and some
animals are sensitive or allergic to certain plants and precautions should be
taken to limit or avoid physical contact with particular plants. Some plants
have thorns or spines that can be painful if handled.
In case of ingestion, contact a poison control center immediately.
1-800-222-1222
© 2023 Cottage Farms – Printed in USA
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>