A garden without any shrubs is hardly imaginable, and the selection is simply unmanageable. Once you have found a few shrubs that suit you and your garden, it is important to choose the right time for planting.

Shrubs can be planted in fall or spring

Which shrubs can I plant in autumn?

In the fall, you can plant most types of shrubs. It is often recommended for bare-root shrubs. Planted in the ground in October or November, they should take root well by next spring. These shrubs sprout more vigorously than spring plantings. September is ideal for frost hardy and evergreen shrubs.

Can I also plant in summer?

Planting shrubs is not recommended in summer and should only be done in an emergency. If the root ball dries out, the shrub may die. In summer, the water requirement is already quite high, so a freshly planted shrub must be watered regularly in dry weather.

You should also cut it back and shorten the young shoots a little. This reduces the need for water and increases the chances of the shrub surviving. It is best to wait for a period of slightly wetter weather.

What are the benefits of spring planting?

If you plant your shrubs in the spring, they will have plenty of time to take root and grow vigorously by next winter. This is particularly important for frost-sensitive shrubs. Wait until no more late frosts are to be expected before planting. It is also important that the soil is not too wet. Shrubs planted in spring should be watered carefully during dry periods.

What should I consider when planting?

Before planting your shrubs in the ground, you should always water the root ball thoroughly, this will make it easier for the shrub to grow. Leave it in the water until no more air bubbles rise. Dig the planting hole about twice as big as the container in which you bought your shrub.

Loosen the soil in the planting hole a little so that the roots can spread more easily and add some mature compost as fertilizer, possibly coarse gravel or stones as a drainage layer.

Planting shrubs step by step:

  • Thoroughly water the root ball
  • Dig a planting hole about twice the size of the ball
  • loosen soil
  • possibly create a drainage layer
  • put some compost in the planting hole
  • Lightly cut into heavily rooted bales
  • Plant the shrub approx. 3 to 5 cm deeper than before
  • press down the earth
  • Water the shrub well

tips

Regardless of whether you decide to plant in spring or autumn, it is important that you do not let your shrubs die of thirst afterwards, but rather water them well and not too plentifully.

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Care tips