Guide to Planting Shrubs

By Susan M. Keenan

Shrubs can be a nice addition to any yard, lending a bit of character and color to their surroundings. Moreover, once planted, they are very easy to care for as long as you remember to water them well.

Step by Step Instructions:

Purchase the shrubs and compost or rich dirt before you begin digging the holes.
Dig a hole that allows the roots to spread out. You want to avoid crowding the roots to prevent them from bending or becoming tangled to the point of strangulation.
Blend the soil that you have removed with compost to add nutrients that will help your shrubs grow.
If the shrubs that you are planting are dormant and have bare roots, then you will need to prepare the shrub before planting it. Take a bucket of water and soak the shrub for at least eight hours before planting it. This will allow the shrub to rehydrate. Do not allow the shrub to soak for longer than a full day since this may damage the shrub's root system.
Before replacing the soil mix, it is essential that you check the root system. Remove any dead, damaged or dying roots from the shrub.
Next, check to ensure that all of the roots will fit into the hole without bending them. If necessary, prune the roots to a length that fits easily into the provided space.
Put the shrub into the hole, ensuring that all of the roots will be underground once the hole is filled back in with the soil mix.
Fill the hole by gently placing the soil mix around the shrub. Tap the dirt down firmly on the top of the hole.
Water the shrub well. This will help the soil to settle around the roots of the shrub. This is a very important step since it should remove any air pockets that were created when refilling the hole.
The branches of the shrub should be pruned back until a space of about 9 inches exists between the base of the shrub and the first bottom branch. This is essential to allowing the root system to develop fully and sufficiently so that it can support the entire shrub. Supporting the branches and leaves is a difficult task in the early weeks after transplanting your shrub.
Water the shrub at least once a week. Water slowly and deeply so that the water reaches all of the way down to the roots of the shrub.
If desired, you can take the precautionary step of placing approximately 6 inches of compost at the base of the shrub to prevent it from drying out. This shouldn't be needed after approximately two weeks, and you can remove it then. Be sure that you use a hose to wash away all of the compost.
Now, place mulch around the base of the plant to assist in its growth. The mulch will help to maintain the temperature of the soil. Additionally, it will help to keep the soil moist and prevent the growth of weeds that can usurp the nutrients from the soil.
After the first year of planting and growth, you may want to add fertilizer to your shrubs. Follow the instructions according to the product that you are using.
Water your shrubs during dry or unusually hot spells of weather.
Avoid any major pruning for the first few years. Minor pruning is advantageous to the shrub, however, during this time.