Bringing Plants Home

Transport Tips: Keep shrubs upright in your vehicle. Avoid exposing them to windburn or freezing temps if it's chilly. Protect from sun or wind on long trips.

 

If Planting is Delayed: Store in a shady, sheltered location, water regularly, and avoid letting them dry out or sit in soggy conditions.

Choosing the Right Location

Light Requirements:

Full Sun (6+ hrs/day): Lilac, potentilla, spirea.

Part Shade (3–6 hrs): Hydrangea, viburnum, ninebark.

Full Shade (<3 hrs): Yew, boxwood, some dogwood species.

 

Space Considerations:

Know the mature height and width of the shrub.

Ensure airflow around the plant for disease prevention.

Consider proximity to buildings, walkways, or other plants to avoid overcrowding later.

Soil Preparation

Soil Type: Most shrubs prefer well-drained loamy soil.

 

Amending Tips: Add compost or organic matter to enrich poor soils. Use peat moss for acid-loving shrubs (like rhododendrons). Use lime to raise pH for alkaline-preferring varieties.

 

Drainage: Avoid planting in low spots with standing water. Build a mound or use raised beds in heavy clay areas.

Digging the Hole

Depth & Width: Dig a hole twice as wide and the same depth as the root ball.

 

Special Notes: The top of the root ball should sit level with or just above the surrounding soil. Don’t bury the trunk/crown.

Planting the Shrub

Handling Tips: If roots are tightly packed (rootbound), gently loosen or score them.

 

Backfilling: Use original soil unless major amendments are needed. Water while filling to eliminate air pockets.

 

Mulching: Apply 2–3 inches of mulch, keeping it a few inches away from the main stem to prevent rot.

Watering

Initial Watering: Give a deep soak immediately after planting.

 

Ongoing Care: First year = critical for establishment. Water deeply 1–2 times per week (adjust for rainfall and soil type). Once established, many shrubs are drought-tolerant.

 

Tools: Soaker hoses or watering wands are ideal for deep, even watering.

Feeding & Fertilizing

When to Start: Begin feeding the second season, unless using a slow-release product at planting.

 

Fertilizer Type: Use a balanced (10-10-10) or shrub-specific fertilizer.

 

Frequency: Once in spring and again in midsummer, if desired. Avoid late summer fertilizing, which can encourage soft growth that won’t harden off before winter.

Pest & Disease Monitoring

Common Issues:

Insects: Aphids, scale, spider mites.

Diseases: Powdery mildew, leaf spot, rust.

 

Prevention Tips:

Ensure proper spacing and airflow.

Water at the base, not on the leaves.

Use neem oil, insecticidal soap, or dormant oil as needed.

Deadheading & Pruning

When & How:

Spring-flowering shrubs (lilac, forsythia): Prune right after blooming.

 

Summer-flowering shrubs (hydrangea paniculata, butterfly bush): Prune in late winter/early spring.

Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches at any time.

 

Purpose: Encourage better shape, air flow, and reblooming where applicable.

Seasonal Care

Summer: Water during dry spells. Watch for pests and powdery mildew.

 

Fall: Apply a fresh layer of mulch for winter protection. Avoid heavy pruning; let plants go dormant naturally.

 

Winter Protection (Zone 5): Add mulch at the base for root insulation. For tender varieties or wind-prone sites, use burlap wraps or shrub covers. Avoid heavy snow load on branches—gently brush off if needed.

Overwintering

Broadleaf evergreens (e.g., boxwood, rhododendron): May benefit from anti-desiccant spray and burlap screening to reduce winter burn.

 

Container-grown shrubs: Move to a protected location or insulate the pot with straw, leaves, or bubble wrap.

 

Avoid fertilizing after August—let plants harden off.

Container Care

Soil Choice: Use high-quality potting mix with added compost.

 

Drainage: Ensure pots have drainage holes and aren’t sitting in water.

 

Fertilizing: Feed a little more often than in-ground shrubs.

 

Wintering: Either move containers to a garage/shed or insulate and mulch heavily outside.

Helpful Extras

Companion Planting: Underplant with groundcovers or low perennials to suppress weeds and improve soil moisture.

 

Pollinator Friendly Shrubs: Spirea, viburnum, butterfly bush, elderberry.

 

Lifespan: Many shrubs live 10–30+ years, depending on species.

 

Growth Rate: Varies by type — fast growers (dogwood, ninebark); slow growers (boxwood, dwarf conifers).

BONUS: Shrub - Specific Tips

Flowering Shrubs: Deadhead spent blooms where needed. Prune according to bloom time.

 

Evergreen Shrubs: Avoid pruning in late summer. Watch for winter burn.

 

Dwarf & Compact Types: Great for small spaces and foundation planting.

 

Deer-Resistant Shrubs: Boxwood, barberry, potentilla, juniper.

 

Fragrant Varieties: Lilac, mock orange, viburnum carlesii.