If staking is necessary, take care to allow a few inches of free movement. Do not strangle the tree or shrub with guide wires. Use pieces of hose around the wire where it rubs the plant. Plants naturally sway as they grow. If this swaying is confined by staking, plant growth is slowed.
Water is most important for growth in a new planting.
The plants were grown in potting mixes or very well drained soil, and were, therefore, watered frequently in the nursery. For the first few months, water plants frequently in the area over and beyond the root ball. This will provide the water to areas where it is taken up by plants until the roots begin to establish in the surrounding soil. Be conscious of plants that have been in the ground for less than one year, and water them thoroughly during extended dry periods. In Prepared Beds Shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and flowering annual plants are typically planted in beds.