How to Grow Snowball Plants

Planting

• 1

  Select a suitable planting site for the snowball plant. This plant is known for producing hoards of litter when it is blooming, so choose a location that provides at least six hours of light daily and is 15 to 20 feet from ponds, sidewalks or lawns.

• 2

  Dig a planting hole three times the diameter of the pot the snowball is growing in and about one and a half times its depth. If planting from ball and burlapped stock, dig a hole about four times the width of the root ball and about twice its depth.

• 3

  Mix into the soil you removed from the planting hole between 1/4 and 1/2 cubic feet of peat moss or compost if the soil is sandy or light. If the soil feels heavy and sticky like clay, mix about 1/2 cubic feet of gravelly sand or perlite into the soil.

• 4

  Tap along the rim of the pot in a downwards direction so you can free the pot from the roots. If planting a ball and burlapped specimen, cut the top of the string that is holding the burlap around the root ball.

• 5

  Plant the snowball into the planting hole. For ball and burlapped plants, pull back the burlap to expose the top half of the root ball.

• 6

  Fill the planting hole with the soil and amendment mixture until it is about two-thirds full. Pour water into the hole, letting it settle back fully before you fill the hole full with soil.

Care

• 7

  Spread a 3- or 4-inch layer of mulch to a diameter of about 24 inches around the snowball plant during winter until the plant becomes established, in about two or three years. This helps conserve water and protect the roots,

• 8

  Water the snowball plant approximately twice a week for the first 30 to 45 days after planting.

• 9

  Remove dead growth at any time it appears throughout the growing season. A good time to do this is in spring after the plant first leaves out. Dead growth is typically light gray and will have absolutely no foliage.

• 10

  Inspect the foliage periodically -- about once a month -- for aphids. Aphids are known to favor snowball plants. You can use a strong spray of water to temporarily dislodge the insects. You can also use a soap-based spray. Contact your local plant nursery for information on the soap-based pesticides that area available in your area.