Planting:

1. Gopher baskets and "Plantskydd" deer repellant recommended at first planting on all plants.
   
   a. Gopher baskets can be hardware cloth or chicken wire with holes less than 1 inch in diameter. Use on all sides for plants 5 gallon and smaller (See Figure A).
   
   
2. Use one part redwood compost to three parts native soil (1:3) with all plants, unless test holes do not drain within 10 minutes - then add more compost to mixture to improve drainage.
   
   a. Japanese Maples, shade plants and Crape Myrtles use one part compost - one part potting soil - one part native soil (1:1:1).
   
   b. Plant all plants twice as deep and wide as existing root ball.
   
   c. Make sure not to plant trees too deep, keeping no extra top soil gathered around trunk to avoid crown rot (See Figure B).
   
   
3. Install drip irrigation on one station, to all plants that have same water needs; Except Japanese Maples, shade plants and Crape Myrtles - triple the emitters on each plant.

Maintenance:

1. Cut back sages / germanders / grasses annually. Prune most trees in winter dormancy period. Reference "Sunset" or call Mountain Sage regarding evergreen tree pruning.
   
   
2. Fertilize Japanese Maples, shade plants, evergreens and Crape Myrtles, quarterly, with Maxicrop (seaweed 2% iron fertilizer). Fertilize other plants with a slow release product annually, the year after they are planted.
   
   
3. Recommendation: Use Mycrohizzeal fungus inoculants to help promote faster growing, drought tolerant and overall healthier root systems.