Shrubs are the backbone of so many of our gardens. They offer protection, shade, colour and habitats. The perfect combination of beauty and practicality that are perfect for British gardens. We love these woody plants.
We love them so much that we want to provide you with everything you need to know about planting shrubs, so that they can thrive in your garden. Shrubs can be planted from containers or as bare root plants - all of our advice below can apply to either, we've got you covered! We'll also point you in the direction of our huge selection of shrubs so you can find the perfect one for your garden. Let's go!
How to plant shrubs - a step-by-step guide
As a general rule, planting shrubs is a lot like planting trees, and newly planted shrubs need similar care to newly planted trees, so if you know how to plant trees you are probably good to go. It's always good to be sure, though, so let's run through the key steps and things to think about:
Best time to plant shrubs
The best time of year for planting shrubs is between autumn and spring - you need the soil moisture to be at the right level (careful that it isn't too wet) and you need to make sure the ground isn't frozen. If you have container grown shrubs, you can plant them at other times, but you'll need to keep an eye on it. Make sure the weather isn't too hot or dry.
What equipment do you need to plant a shrub?
There's nothing that should come as a surprise here - you'll need:
- A decent spade
- A gardening fork
- Watering can
- Bucket of water (optional but advised)
- Compost and organic matter mulch
The sort of stuff you'll find in garden sheds up and down the country. Once you have assembled the equipment, the fun can start.
Soak the root ball
It's always a good idea to thoroughly water a root ball before you plant them - this helps to soften the root system, and makes them less likely to snap when you plant it. If you have the time, you can leave it there for half an hour or so.
Dig a planting hole
Now it's time to dig a hole! Dig below the soil surface to about the depth of the root ball, but at least twice as wide (aim for three times if possible). This is a good opportunity to check on the type of soil you are dealing with. If you have dense soil, use your fork to loosen it up a bit, to give all the roots a chance to grow. Most shrubs will grow in any soil, as long as it is well drained, but you can give it a helping hand here.
It's also a good idea to mix in some organic matter, like compost, into the soil at this point - this will ensure you have good soil.
Loosen the roots
Before you place the root ball inside the hole, check to see how the roots are spread. If they are all tightly wrapped up in a ball, ease them away from each other, so that when they are in position, they can grow out easily.
Place the shrub in the hole
As you lower the shrub into place, make sure the top part of the root zone is just below the soil surface. You'll also want to make sure that the shrub is facing the right way - this is purely subjective and for aesthetic reasons, but shrubs are just like us - they have a 'good' side! Is your shrub showing off a nice side, full of foliage?
Hole refill
You can now fill the hole in with all that soil you dug up, maybe with a bit more compost mixed into the native soil to make sure the roots will get all the nutrients they need in those early days. Firm down the amended soil to eliminate air pockets when that's done, being careful not to tread on the root ball itself.
Watering
As soon as that is done, give it plenty of water, making sure to get the surrounding soil as well. Keep watering until small puddles begin to form.
Mulch
Mulching is an underappreciated gardening process - it really helps to retain the soil moisture around your new shrub, as well as preventing weeds from growing. Use a thick layer of shredded bark mulch if possible, but any organic matter will do.
How to care for your shrubs in the early days
One of the beauties of having shrubs, ones that like shade for example, is that they are pretty low maintenance, but in those early days you'll need to put in a little effort to ensure they establish with healthy root growth. The main two jobs are: water regularly when you have dry spells, and mulch at least every year.
Where to buy shrubs
Planting shrubs is a really straightforward process, as you can see, so what's stopping you from filling your garden with these fantastic garden bushes? If you need any inspiration, have a look at our huge selection of shrubs.
We have evergreen hardy shrubs, for year round interest, as well as show-stopping perennial shrubs like this Cordyline festival raspberry, deciduous shrubs like our beautiful Butterfly bush, and even this wonderful barberry shrub - a dwarf shrub that brings borders to life.
We sell container planting shrubs as well as root balls (mainly from Autumn to early spring) - whatever look you're going for, we'll be able to help.
