How to Plant Edible Foundation Plantings

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner select foundation plantings that include edible varieties for both people and wildlife. Click here to SUBSCRIBE to the official This Old House YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=thisoldhouse Time: 3 hours Cost: $300 and Up Skill Level: Moderate Tools List for Planting Edibles: Spade shovel Hand cultivator Wheelbarrow Knife Shopping List: Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) Holly (Ilex) Butterfly bush (Buddleja Davidii) Spirea Reblooming Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Stella de Oro') Pear tree (Pyrus) Compost Loam Starter fertilizer Mulch Steps: 1. Choose the right plant for the right location. Check the nursery tags to see the final height and width of each plant and plan accordingly. 2. Consider when plants will be in bloom and when there will be other interest from foliage and plan a garden so that there is always something to command attention. 3. Stage plants before digging holes. 4. Dig holes that are 2-3 times wider than the roots and don’t dig the hole too deep- keep it about 2” shallower than the root ball. 5. For any plants where the roots are growing around the container, use a hand cultivator to tease the roots to grow away from the plant. 6. When backfilling new plants, use a mix of compost and loam and add starter fertilizer. 7. When planting a tree that’s been wrapped in burlap, expose the root flare to set the correct planting depth. 8. Ensure new plantings get a good watering. 9. Add mulch 2-3” deep around the plants, but not in contact with the stems. Resources: All of the tools used in this segment can be found at a home center or landscape supplier. Bulk soil, compost, and mulch can be purchased from a landscape supplier. Plant varieties will vary by garden center or nursery. Ask This Old House TV Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.   This Old House releases new segments every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.   Keywords: This Old House, How-to, home improvement, DIY, ask this old house, roger cook, edible, planting, landscaping, yard Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: https://ift.tt/1psm4fC Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisoldhouse https://twitter.com/asktoh Pinterest: https://ift.tt/1psm4fE G+: https://ift.tt/1CtsNjJ Instagram: https://ift.tt/1psm1QZ Tumblr: https://ift.tt/1CtsLbH