Planting Instructions for a Soft Touch Japanese Holly

Water the holly until water drips out of the drainage holes in its container.

Dig a hole that is twice the circumference and slightly deeper than the container your holly is currently growing in.

Fill the hole with water and allow it to drain. The water should drain in just a few hours. If the water stands for much longer than that, it has poor drainage. Choose another spot for your Japanese holly or you run a real risk of drowning it before it has a chance to establish itself.

Cut away the Soft Touch's temporary container.

Gently pull its roots away from the root ball with your fingers to spread them. The idea is just to loosen the compact roots to give them room to breathe. Do not pull hard or attempt to straighten any roots.

Plant the Japanese holly in the hole so that the top of its root ball is roughly 1 inch higher than the surrounding soil.

Pat the soil down with your hands to firm it.

Place a slow-running hose at the base of the Soft Touch holly. Allow it to run until the planting area is moist but not soaking. Continue to water in this fashion whenever the top inch or so of the soil begins to dry out. Once the Japanese holly establishes itself and produces new growth, it will only need supplemental water in hot, dry weather or if there is less than 1 inch of rainfall per week.

Spread a 3-inch-thick layer of organic mulch around the base of the Soft Touch holly. Extend the mulch ring a few inches beyond the holly's foliage, but keep it at least 6 inches away from the trunk of the holly on all sides.