A garden without shrubs is hardly conceivable, the selection is almost unmanageable. Once you have found a few shrubs that suit you and your garden, then you need to choose the right time to plant them.
When and how should shrubs be planted?
Shrubs can be planted in autumn (October, November) and spring, although autumn plantings usually root better. When planting, it is important to water the root ball, dig a planting hole, loosen the soil, optionally create a drainage layer, add compost and water the shrub.
Which shrubs can I plant in autumn?
In the fall you can plant most types of shrubs. It is often recommended for bare-root shrubs. Placed in the ground in October or November, they should root well until next spring. These shrubs sprout more vigorously than spring plantings. September is ideal for frost-hardy and evergreen shrubs.
Can I also plant in summer?
Planting shrubs is not recommended in summer and should only be done in an emergency. If the root ball dries out, the shrub may die. In summer, the water requirement is already quite high, so a freshly planted shrub must be watered regularly in dry weather.
You should also cut it back and shorten the young shoots a little. This reduces the need for water and increases the shrub's chances of survival. It's best to wait until the weather is a little wetter.
What are the advantages of planting in spring?
If you plant your bushes in spring, they will have plenty of time to root well and grow vigorously until next winter. This is particularly important for frost-sensitive shrubs. Wait until late frosts are no longer expected before planting. It is also important that the floor is not too wet. Shrubs planted in spring should be watered carefully during dry periods.
What should I consider when planting?
Before you plant your shrubs in the ground, you should always water the root ball thoroughly, this makes it easier for the shrub to grow. Let it stand in the water until no more air bubbles appear. Dig the planting hole about twice the size of the container in which you bought your shrub.
Loose the soil in the planting hole a little so that the roots can spread more easily and add some ripe compost as fertilizer, possibly also coarse gravel or stones as a drainage layer.
Planting shrubs step by step:
- Water the root ball thoroughly
- Dig a planting hole about twice the size of the bale
- Loose the soil
- possibly create a drainage layer
- put some compost in the planting hole
- Easily cut heavily rooted bales
- Plant the bush approx. 3 to 5 cm deeper than before
- Press the earth firmly
- Water the shrub well
Tip
No matter whether you decide to plant in spring or autumn, it is important that you don't let your bushes die of thirst but that you provide them with good water and not too much.
