How to Naturally Plant Goldenseal Rootlets

Rake the leaf litter away from the goldenseal planting area. Do not dispose of it. If there are no leaves on the site, move on to Step 2.

Remove all plants from the goldenseal bed. Dig up the plants to remove their roots, or spray the area with a non-selective herbicide. Once the plants are dead, dig them up. Read the herbicide label carefully and abide by any waiting period it recommends before planting the area.

Till the soil to a depth of 6 inches with a hand tiller. Pull up or prune any small tree roots you encounter. Dig around any large tree roots.

Plant each goldenseal rootlet in holes that 3/4-inch deep and 8 inches apart and away from any large tree roots.

Spread the leaf litter back over the planting area. According to North Carolina State University, goldenseal grows best under 3 to 4 inches of light organic mulch. If there are no leaves or insufficient leaves, mulch the area with a light mulch (leaves, straw or sawdust) to reach the appropriate height.

Water the goldenseal rootlets with 1 inch of water. Place a rain gauge on the soil near the planting area to measure how much water you give the goldenseal. They will need no more supplemental water unless there is less than 1 inch of rain in one week.

Reduce the mulch cover to 1 to 2 inches in early spring. Once the goldenseal sprouts and produces seedlings with two leaves, replace the mulch layer over the bed without covering the plants themselves.