Bare Roots:
Soak the roots in a bucket of cold water for around an hour before planting to help hydrate the plant.
Dig a hole that is deep and wide enough to take the entire root mass. Place the plant in the hole and spread the roots out; the main stem should sit just above the surface of the soil. Fill the hole with soil and firm around the stem of the plant with your hand, or you can use your foot for larger perennials. Give them a good watering.
Seedlings:
If you aren't able to pot your seedlings up straight away then ensure they stay moist. You can place your plugs on a saucer or tray of shallow water so they are able to stay hydrated. Aim to have your seedlings potted on within 3 days.
Potting seedlings on: On arrival place your trays in shallow water to allow them to soak ensuring the roots are moist. Use the end of a pencil or a narrow dibber to gently tease your plugs out of their trays. Choose potting on pots approximately 3 inches in diameter to plant your plugs on. Fill the pots with quality potting on compost and tap down until level. Use your pencil to make a hole in the top of the compost and place your seedling plant in, gently pushing around the base of the plant. Repeat this process for all of your plants and then place them in a tray and thoroughly water with a watering can using a fine rose to prevent the compost from being displaced. Grow your plants in a cold-frame, large sunny windowsill, or greenhouse. Water every 2-3 days and more frequently if sunny to prevent drying out.
Hardening off: Once your potted on plants reach a good size and are ready to plant out in their final location, the first step is to harden them off before moving them outdoors permanently. This involves simply placing them outdoors during the day and back undercover at night to allow them to get accustomed to the lower temperatures. Once they have been hardened off for a week your plants should be ready to plant out in their final location.
Garden Ready Plugs:
If you aren't able to pot your plugs up straight away then ensure they stay moist. You can place your plugs on a saucer or tray of shallow water so they are able to stay hydrated. Aim to have your plugs potted on within 3 days. This size is suitable to be planted straight out in the garden as soon as you are ready.