Now is the right time to plant bushes an shrubs and to bring some more colour into your garden. There are enough to choose from - at least 8,000 are known. Your garden centre is sure to have a great many beautiful examples that will appeal to you. You only need to make your selection – and then you can start with the planting.

Get started with good planning

First take a little time to make sure where the new plant is to go in the garden before you start digging. Then you will enjoy your bush or shrub longer and it will also need less attention. First of all, answer the following questions: Is the location right, and will the plants get sufficient nutrients there, how much sun, shade, wind and rain can they tolerate? Then place your "candidates" on the area you are planning to use and envisage in your mind's eye how they will look there later. Have you thought everything out? Good, now you can start.

Preparing the soil and the plants

First put each plant in a bucket of water so that the roots are adequately supplied and will grow more quickly. In this "waiting time" you can use the spade to dig a hole for the plant. It should be twice as wide as the root ball and of course deep enough for the roots. Use a fork to loosen the side walls up slightly so that later the roots can penetrate the earth more easily, and remove any weeds.



 

WG_Boden_vorbereiten

Planting and filling

It is very important to maintain an adequate distance from other plants. If they are too close together, an individual bush or shrub does not make the right effect, and if they are too far apart it looks as if there are gaps and it also leaves room for weeds to grow. Before you put the plants in the earth, remove the still tangled roots from the ball, and then you can start planting. Fill the hole with enough earth around the plant and ensure that the bush or shrub stands up straight. Once it has settled in, you cannot change its position so easily. Now quickly wet the earth with water so that the earth fills in the spaces the small roots.

Make sure it is firmly in place

If you plant a tall bush or shrub, it may be necessary to support it as well so that it is not blown over in the first period by the first strong wind. Do this by inserting a supporting pole on the side that the wind is coming from and tie the plant to it. Whether large or small plants: In all cases firmly press down the earth all around the planted bush or shrub so that it is firmly in place and yet loose enough for the small roots to grow.

Watering correctly

Small bushes and shrubs are best watered with a watering can. If you have several examples, or bigger ones, it makes sense to use a hose, and the most convenient way is to use a hose trolley. Larger bushes and shrubs need a small wall of earth around them to better retain the water that you apply to them and so prevent it from seeping into the deeper layers of earth. Water your new bush or shrub lavishly in the first week, and after that give somewhat more water than usual for the following two weeks until it has grown. Enjoy your new plants!