How to Plant a Shrub
You will find shrubs
to buy for your garden come either container-grown, bare-rooted,
or root balled. Container-grown shrubs are the most common and they
can be planted all year round. Before container grown trees and
shrubs became widely available, most planting took place in the
autumn. This is still a good time for major planting. The root system
of your shrubs can get established while the ground is still warm.
They can then settle during the dormant winter period. By next spring,
your shrubs should be flourishing before the dry summer weather
arrives.
What You Need:
Space in a border or lawn to plant; a container-grown shrub; a spade,
a fork; organic matter; a cane; a pair of secateurs; a watering
can. Optional: mulch.
.
Step 1
Place the shrub where you want to plant it. Mark a circle on the
ground around it with your spade. Make the hole about twice the
size of the top of the plant. If planting in grass, remove the top
few inches of turf. Dig out the hole to a bit more than the height
of the pot and put the soil to one side and mix some organic matter
with the soil. Use your fork to loosen the soil in the sides and
bottom of the hole.
Step 2
Make sure that the compost around the plant is moist, give it a
good soak if it is dry. Place one hand on top of the compost around
the base of the shrub. Ease the plant out of the container with
your other hand. Put the plant in the middle of the hole.
Step 3
Lay a cane across the top of the hole to check the planting level
is the same as before. The cane should rest on top of the compost
around the plant. If you need to adjust the depth of the hole, add
or remove soil to get the right planting height.
Step 4
If the plant roots have formed a tight looking ball, loosen them
lightly with your fingers. Place the shrub in the hole. Then fill
in with soil from the pile you dug out. Do this in stages. Firm
the soil around the plant roots as you go to prevent air pockets
from forming.
Step 5
When you have filled to the top, carefully firm the soil around
the shrub. You can use your hands or feet for this. Finally, lightly
fork over the area around the new shrub. If planting in grass, keep
the space around the shrub grass-free, so that the plant can get
established without competing with the grass.
Step 6
Prune any damaged, long and straggly stems or dead wood using your
secateurs. Give your new shrub a good watering (gently to avoid
splashing soil or compost away from the roots). Then apply a layer
of mulch around it. Make this about 7cm thick and at least as wide
as the planting hole. Clear the mulch away from the stem of the
plant when you have finished.
Source: Greenfingers
