Shrubs - Page 6

Shrubs are a must-have for their beautiful leaves and colourful flowers. Their height and volume give structure to the garden. There's a suitable shrub for every kind of spot in the garden: warm, dry, cool, shady or damp. The best time to plant shrubs is when they are dormant, in the spring or autumn.

First put the shrub in a bucket of water and start digging a large hole. It will be easier for the roots to grow if the soil has been loosened up.
Enrich the soil that you have dug out with compost and plant food.
If the root ball is in a pot, carefully remove it. Do not remove any netting or hessian that may be around the root ball until it is in the hole. Try not to damage the root ball so that the tiny hair roots can absorb moisture and plant food.
The top of the root ball, which is often slightly wider, should be planted just underneath the soil.
Fill the hole half way up and then add plenty of water. Then fill it up completely and water it again.
Caring for shrubsAll new shrubs should be given extra water during the first season to promote good growth. Keep a close eye on this during the summer. Shrubs will also reward you with good growth if you give them a layer of mulch consisting of compost and manure in early spring. Gently mix the manure into the soil, or leave it on top of the soil. Be careful when hoeing close to the stem; manual weeding is better. Shrubs like the rhododendron take root directly underneath the surface. You should never attempt to remove weeds there, always pull them out by hand. After the trees are established, you may also consider filling the ground surface with flower bulbs, annual or perennial plants.Pruning tips for shrubsPrune regularly to ensure (flowering) shrubs remain compact. Shrubs that bloom in spring (before 21 June) should be lightly pruned immediately after flowering. Shrubs that do not flower until after June (like hydrangeas) can be pruned a little bit more in early spring. Sometimes ornamental shrubs sprout unwanted branches (from below the grafting point). It's best to completely cut off these abnormal branches. Green hedges are usually pruned 2 times a year, around April and September. The pruning time for flowering hedges is after flowering, or in winter. The best time to prune is on a day when it is not sunny; this gives the trees and shrubs more time to recover. Obviously we're also be happy to help you find the right pruning tools.