Planting Bushes and Shrubs

Bushes and shrubs are a very versatile group of plants. They are plants that can be used as windbreaks, hedging or even just ornamental to complete your perfect garden. Here are some strategies on how to plant your bushes and shrubs, followed by some key information for planting and maintaining them.

Strategies

Here are some strategies when it comes to planting your bushes and shrubs. Put some thought into where you will be planting your shrub or bush. Keep in mind what kind of plant you have purchased. If you have a plant with strong, invasive roots, you do not want to plant it near your house, as you may damage the foundation. Also, you don’t want to plant something that can grow up to 15 feet high in front of a first floor window, unless you’re looking for privacy. How much sun your plant needs is another factor to consider when choosing a spot for it.

As just mentioned, there are a lot of types of bushes and shrubs. There are some that flower, some with berries and some that remain green throughout the year. There are types that can grow tall or remain short, and ones that are good for shaping. Make sure you choose the plant that is suitable for your skill level and your garden needs.

If you are concerned about weeds, black plastic, landscaping fabric, or newspaper can be laid down around the plants to prohibit weed growth. Black plastic works well because it takes longer to break down, however plastic isn’t great for the environment. If this concerns you, you can use newspaper with soy ink instead. It doesn’t last as long but it is biodegradable.

If you want to save on fertilizer, try making some of your own at home. One recipe for adding nutrients to your plant uses banana peels.  Take a few banana peels and throw them in a blender with a little bit of water (if your plant likes acid, throw in some coffee grinds). Mix this in with your soil when you are aerating your planting area. Composting is another good way of producing your own fertilizer. Just a note, plants don’t like eating meat as much as you do, so try sticking with fruits and vegetables when throwing stuff into the compost you will use in gardens.

Mulch is something else you may want to consider using when you plant your shrubs or bushes. Mulch helps to keep roots cool and helps to maintain moisture. Once you’ve finished planting your bushes and/or shrubs, make sure to prune them fairly regularly, as this helps them to grow well. Different shrubs and bushes require different amounts of pruning. When purchasing your plants keep this in mind.

Key Information

The first step in planting a bush or shrub is to test the soils drainage. You want the soil where you will be planting your bush or shrub to be able to drain. Test soil by digging a hole for your shrub, filling it with water and leaving it for 24 hours. If the water has not drained after that time, find yourself another spot to plant.

Once you’ve found your perfect spot, aerate the soil. First, dig a 2-foot square area, in the center of which you will plant your shrub or bush. Then crush the soil until light and fluffy. You can use either a spade or shovel for this job. Return crushed soil to the planting area and then level with a rake.

Your next step is going to be digging the hole. Dig the hole in the middle of your now aerated planting area. Make sure the hole is three times the diameter of the pot the plant is in. After digging the hole, firm the soil at the bottom and scrape the inside walls of the hole with a pitchfork. Try to smooth it out as much as possible.

Now, it’s time to plant your bush or shrub. Simply place the plant in the hole and fill halfway with soil. Fill the remainder of the hole with water. When the water drains, fill the rest of the hole with the remaining soil. Finally, gently water the plant until water begins to puddle around it.

Essential Tools

Before you plant your bushes and/or shrubs, make sure you have the right tools for the job. You will need a spade or shovel, a pitchfork, a rake and a hose or a bucket. Other items to consider, although not necessary, are mulch, fertilizer, black plastic or newspaper. All of these tools you need for this project can be found at Lee Valley.