There are different opinions about the perfect time to plant garden shrubs, which are also justified. In general, however, the rather cool months from around October to March are considered a good time, while summer is rather unsuitable.
Shrubs can be planted in fall or spring
Is planting time really that important?
Both fall and spring planting have their pros and cons. The decisive factor is rather the subsequent care that you give your shrub. With this you can also compensate for a planting at perhaps an unfavorable time. What you should absolutely avoid, however, is planting in frost and when the sun is scorching. Both do not allow the shrubs to grow well.
In frosty temperatures, digging the planting hole becomes a problem, and the irrigation water freezes before your shrub can absorb it. Full sunshine can dry up 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, then your shrubs can recover overnight.
Plant in the fall
If you plant in the fall, you usually need to water your shrubs less. On the one hand, the plants need less water because evaporation decreases due to lower temperatures, on the other hand, the amounts of precipitation in autumn are usually higher than in summer.
Plant in spring
Planted in spring, your shrubs will have plenty of time to 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 essentials in brief:
- Ideal planting time: October to March
- Advantages of autumn planting: water less because less evaporation, starting advantage in spring
- Advantages of spring planting: well rooted and strengthened by winter
- Always dig a generous planting hole
- Fertilize depending on the shrub
- always water well
- possibly loosen heavy soils
- possibly improve water permeability with a drainage layer
- keep the recommended planting distance
tips
You can almost always plant container plants if the ground is not frozen. Choose a rather cloudy day and always water the freshly planted shrubs well.