There are different opinions among many garden owners and hobby gardeners about the best time to plant shrubs. However, professionals recommend and practice planting in autumn. This practice actually has some advantages over spring planting.
When is the best time to plant shrubs?
The best time to plant shrubs is in autumn. This allows them to be well rooted in the spring so that they can use their strength for growth and sprouting. Bare-root shrubs in particular benefit from autumn planting.
The benefits of autumn planting
Shrubs that are planted in autumn are already well rooted in spring, because the fine roots that are so important for nourishing the bushes also grow in winter as long as the ground is not frozen.
If it gradually gets warm in spring, then the shrubs planted in autumn can put all their strength into growing and sprouting. They draw the moisture they need from the ground themselves, while shrubs planted in spring now need to be watered abundantly.
Which shrubs should I plant in fall?
Planting in autumn is particularly recommended for bare-rooted bushes. These usually cause less work for gardeners than container plants and hardly take up any space. That's why they are often offered particularly cheaply.
Make sure that the roots are still fresh when you buy them and have not dried out and put the bushes back in the ground as quickly as possible. If storage is unavoidable, then at least keep the roots moist with a moistened cloth.
Does planting in spring even make sense?
Many garden plants, including shrubs, are offered in nurseries, garden centers and hardware stores as so-called container plants in pots and/or tubs. This means the root ball is well protected and the plants are adequately supplied with nutrients during transport and transplanting.
Rootballed shrubs can be planted virtually any time of year as long as the ground is not frozen. Planting in spring is recommended, for example when redesigning the garden, if you don't want to wait until next autumn.
The most important things in brief:
- bare root plants are cheaper, but also more sensitive
- Shrubs in containers can be planted almost all year round
- Fine roots also grow in winter
- low evaporation after leaf shedding
Tip
You should especially plant bare-root shrubs in autumn. You will definitely enjoy it a lot more next year and also less work.
