There are different opinions about the perfect time to plant garden shrubs, which are certainly justified. In general, however, the rather cool months from around October to March are considered a good time, while summer is rather unsuitable.
When should shrubs be planted?
The ideal time to plant shrubs is from October to March, with fall plantings requiring less watering and spring plantings giving the shrubs more time to root. Avoid planting in frost or scorching sun.
Is the time of planting really that important?
Both fall and spring planting have their advantages and disadvantages. What is more important is the subsequent care you give your shrub. This means you can also compensate for planting at perhaps an inopportune time. What you should definitely avoid, however, is planting in frost and scorching sun. Neither of these causes the bushes to grow well.
Digging the planting hole becomes a problem in frosty temperatures, and the irrigation water freezes before your shrub can absorb it. Blazing sunshine can dry out the fine roots of a shrub before they are in the ground. However, this risk does not exist with container plants. In summer, it is best to plant in the evening so that your bushes can recover overnight.
Planting in autumn
If you plant in the fall, you will generally have to water your shrubs less. On the one hand, the plants need less water because evaporation decreases due to lower temperatures, and on the other hand, the amount of precipitation in autumn is usually higher than in summer.
Plant in spring
Planted in spring, your shrubs will have plenty of time to take root until next winter. When it gets cold for the first time, the plants are already quite strong and may survive the winter better than those planted in autumn.
The most important things in brief:
- ideal planting time: October to March
- Advantages of autumn planting: water less because of less evaporation, advantage in spring
- Advantages of spring planting: well rooted and strengthened by winter
- Always dig the planting hole generously
- Fertilization depending on the shrub
- always water well
- may loosen heavy soils
- possibly improve water permeability with a drainage layer
- observe recommended planting distance
Tip
You can practically always plant container plants if the ground is not frozen. Choose a cloudy day and always water the freshly planted bushes well.
