Planting in Champaign and Douglas Counties

What the planting service is

Planting is the job of getting flowers, shrubs and small trees into the ground properly. That means digging a hole of the right size, setting each plant at the right depth, spacing plants so they have room to fill in, backfilling and watering them in. The photo on this page shows one of the business’s jobs: hostas planted around a tree inside a fresh mulch ring.

Russel’s Mowing and Services is based in Villa Grove and works in Douglas County and Champaign County. Planting is its own service, and it often goes along with bed work, mulch and seasonal cleanups.

Where the plants come from

The business does not run a nursery. Where the plants come from is worked out as part of the quote when you call or text (217) 729-1112. You may already have plants picked out, or you may want to talk through what to get and where. Either way, that is settled up front so there are no surprises.

Who planting is for

Planting suits most residential yards in the two counties, from small-town lots to subdivision and city lots. Some common situations:

• A few new perennials or a flat of annuals for a front bed
• Shrubs along the front of a house or a fence line
• A small tree for a lawn or a corner of the yard
• Shade plants, such as hostas, under an existing tree
• Filling gaps in a bed after plants have died back
• Freshening up a rental property’s front beds
• Households where kneeling, digging and lifting is hard to manage

If the job is a bigger redesign of beds or a new layout, the landscaping service is the better starting point. Planting on its own is for getting chosen plants into the ground.

What the work includes

The details depend on the plants and the site. As a rule, planting covers:

1. Plants are set out in their pots first to check spacing and how the bed will look once filled in.
2. Holes are dug wider than the root ball so roots can spread into loosened soil.
3. Each plant goes in at its pot depth, with the root flare of shrubs and trees at or just above soil level.
4. Roots that circle the pot are teased apart so they grow outward.
5. Soil goes back in around the roots and is firmed gently to remove air pockets.
6. Each plant gets a thorough first watering.

Mulch around new plantings is a separate service. The business offers mulch installation if you would like the bed finished that way.

Planting advice for Central Illinois

Here is some general guidance for planting in this part of the state. It applies whether you plant yourself or have it done.

When to plant

For shrubs, perennials and small trees, spring and early fall are generally the easiest planting times in Central Illinois. The weather is milder and rain is more reliable than in midsummer.

Early fall has a particular advantage for woody plants. It gives shrubs and trees several weeks of root growth in warm soil before winter, without the stress of summer heat.

Tender annuals are best held until frost is past. In Central Illinois, the risk of frost usually passes around early to mid May, so annual flowers and other frost-tender plants are safer waiting until then.

Plants can go in during summer too, but heat and dry spells mean they need close attention to watering until they settle in.

Soil and site

Much of Central Illinois has heavy, dark prairie silt-loam soil. It holds nutrients well, but it can stay wet after heavy rain and pack down when worked while soggy. As a rule, avoid digging when the soil is wet enough to smear.

Match each plant to the light it will get. Hostas and other shade plants do well under trees, while most flowering shrubs and many perennials need several hours of sun.

Give plants room to grow by checking the mature width on the plant tag. Plants set too close together look full at first, then crowd each other within a few seasons.

Aftercare

New plants need steady moisture through their first growing season. A deep soak when the top inch or so of soil is dry is generally better than a light sprinkle every day.

A layer of 2 to 3 inches of mulch holds moisture and keeps weeds down. Keep it a few inches away from trunks and stems rather than piled against them.

Hold off on heavy feeding. Newly planted shrubs and trees are generally better off putting down roots before being pushed with fertilizer.

Before the visit

A little planning ahead makes planting day simpler:

• Water potted plants daily until planting day, since they dry out fast, especially in summer.
• Call 811 a few days ahead so buried utility lines can be marked before any digging.
• Note which parts of the bed get morning sun, afternoon sun or shade, so each plant goes where it will thrive.
• Pull weeds and old growth ahead of time, or book a cleanup first, so there is room to plant.

What shapes the quote

Each planting job is quoted on its own. The quote depends on the yard, including:

• The number and size of the plants
• The condition of the soil and how hard it is to dig
• How the plants are sourced
• Whether other bed work goes on the same visit

Related services and areas

Planting often happens at the same visit as other bed work. A spring cleanup clears winter debris out of beds so there is space to plant. Mulch installation finishes new plantings. Landscaping covers bigger bed plans and shrub arrangements.

The crew works across Douglas County and Champaign County. Details on the county are on the Champaign County page. If you are not sure whether your address is on the route, call or text to check.

Getting a quote

For a planting quote, call or text (217) 729-1112. Say what you would like planted, roughly how many plants there are, and whether you already have them or need to work out where they will come from. You can also use the quote form on the contact page. The quote depends on the yard and the plants.