Planting shrubs is one of those gardening jobs that we absolutely love. Picking out the perfect shrub, choosing your spot, getting your hands dirty, digging, watering and then sitting back and reaping the rewards. It's what gardening is all about.
It's important to get the timing right, though - this isn't one of those jobs you can rush, as if you get it wrong it could mean your shrubs establish poorly, or not at all. So in this blog we will go through when is the best time to plant shrubs - before then covering a few helpful hints and tips in our planting trees and shrubs FAQ.
Best time to plant shrubs
As ever with gardening, there is a good general rule that you can use, but all the different trees and shrubs will have different needs, so it's always best to double-check the individual instructions for each species.
The general rule is this: The best time for planting shrubs is between autumn and spring.
The main reason for this is that at this time of year you can be pretty sure that the root system gets all the moisture that it needs from the soil in order to really establish itself in its new home. There are a few things to be wary of though:
- Make sure the ground isn't frozen - shrubs planted in winter can be fine, but you will need to be confident that you aren't expecting a frost in the coming days. The plant roots will need a bit of warmth, as well as moisture, when they are establishing.
- You can have too much water - while we have stressed that your new shrubs will need plenty of water in the soil, you do need to be careful that it isn't waterlogged. Too much water can cause root rot in the root system, which will severely damage the health of your shrub.
- A dry soil surface will make digging more difficult - don't make things difficult for yourself. If you try to plant trees and shrubs after a long dry spell, not only will the soil not be moist enough, but it will also make your job much more difficult.
For all of these reasons, early autumn is probably the best time of year for shrub planting. The soil is nice and warm following the summer, there is usually plenty of moisture around and there is no risk of frost. Early spring is probably the next best option.
Why shouldn't you plant trees and shrubs in summer?
It can be tempting, when the garden is in full bloom and the sun is shining, to want to get out there with your spade and start planting shrubs. But the summer is the worst time to plant trees and shrubs. We've already spoken about the dry soil surface, but you could theoretically rectify that with plenty of watering. That's not the only reason though.
Summer is growing season for most native plants, trees and shrubs - there is more focus on growing up, rather than down. It's when you tend to get the blooms, and the most growth. This puts a great deal of stress on the plant, and it's the worst time for it to have to establish its roots - it's likely that it will suffer stunted growth, or may not establish at all.
There are plenty of other gardening jobs to do in the summer - or you could just relax in the garden with a good book!
Planting shrubs - FAQs
How do you plant trees and shrubs?
We have an entire blog on how to plant shrubs, but to try to give you a quick summary:
- Dig a hole, the depth of the root ball, but twice as wide
- Loosen the root system, and place the shrub in the hole
- Refill the hole (pat down to eliminate air pockets)
- Add plenty of water and mulch with organic matter
How much watering do newly planted trees and shrubs require?
When you first plant trees and shrubs from bare root plants, they're going to need plenty of water. For the first two weeks after planting, they will need to be watered daily (some fruit trees need this much for even longer). After that, you can reduce it down to two or three times a week until they are fully established - which will be after three months for most trees and shrubs.
When can container grown plants be planted?
Container grown plants are the exception to the rule. As their roots will already be established, you don't need to wait until you have the perfect weather conditions in order to plant them, they can be planted all year round.
When to plant evergreen shrubs
Despite being vibrant all year round, evergreen shrubs, like Azalea and Cordyline Festival Raspberry, still need to be planted in that autumn - spring period.
Conclusion
The best time to plant shrubs is when the soil conditions are perfect - usually in the early autumn. It's this period which is when you want to get out there and plant your stunning bursts of colour, like the butterfly bush, ready to emerge the following year. You have to wait, but trust us, it will be worth it!
