New Trees & Lilacs Planted in "Regular Dirt" — Relax, They'll Be Fine

First-time gardener planted weeping cherry and lilacs in "transplanting seed dirt" (not fertilizer/planting soil), worried they'll die. Good news: regular soil is perfect — if you protect its microbes.

Why Fertilizer Isn't Needed

• Soil microbes = tiny fertilizer factories. They break down organic matter, release nutrients steadily.
• Synthetic fertilizer = salts → kills microbes → creates dependency.
• Nursery "transplant mix" likely has mycorrhizae, organic matter — better than chemicals.

What "Seeds" Means

Clarify: grass seed? flower seed? If grass, different timing. If flower, fine.

Care Plan

• Water deeply, consistently (not daily sprinkles).
• Mulch 2–3" wood chips/leaves — feeds fungi, holds moisture.
• No fertilizer first year. Let roots establish in living soil.
• Protect from mowers, string trimmers, dogs.

You didn't mess up. You started right. Nature does the rest.