PLANTING CONTAINER-GROWN SHRUBS, ROSES, TREES, PERENNIALS, ANNUALS AND BULBS IN YOUR GARDEN BORDER

Before you buy anything to plant in your border, stop and think: will the plant fit in where you picture planting it in terms of size, shape, season of interest, and color? Does the site have suitable pH, soil texture, and exposure? Will the fully-grown plant swamp its neighbors?

When you are satisfied that you have the right plant, prepare its new home well and plant as soon as possible after buying. Your new addition may look tiny in the border, but don’t be tempted to overplant – keep to the correct spacing, and fill gaps with annuals that will provide you with a colorful display in the short term without jeopardizing the long-term success of the border.

Water regularly until the plant is established and continue to care for it as needed, and it will look good for years to come. Woody plants and non-woody plants (including bulbs) are covered in this article.

Planting A Container-Grown Shrub

Container-grown shrubs can be planted during most of the year, provided that the ground is not frozen, waterlogged, or extremely dry, but they are more likely to establish well if they are planted in autumn or spring. Prepare a planting hole about twice the diameter of the root ball, larger if you are planting in clay soil. The hole must also be deep enough so that the top of the soil mix in the container is level with the soil surface once planted. Incorporate plenty of organic matter or soil mix into the hole, and add a complete fertilizer at a rate of 2 oz/sq yd (170 g/sq m).

Before planting, water the root ball well – this ensures that the soil mix is thoroughly moist, even in the center. Tease out the roots or loosen the root ball a little when planting. A slightly potbound plant – one that has grown too large for its container – will still grow reasonably well if you tease out its roots and prune out any that are large and coiling around the outside of the root ball. Give the whole area a thorough watering after planting and apply a 2-3 in (5-7 cm) layer of mulch to an area wider than the spread of the roots, keeping it well clear of the stem. Continue to water the shrub regularly, especially in its first year.

Preparing The Planting Hole Loosen the soil at the base and sides of the hole. Mix in organic matter to avoid a major change in texture between the soil around the plant and the planting hole, thus helping roots to spread. Loosening the sides of the hole: Dig the hole deep and wide enough to suite the size of the root ball. Use a fork to roughen the sides of the hole.

Planting Your Border- Step 1 Support the plant in one hand, carefully holding the stems between your fingers, and remove the pot with the other hand using a firm, twisting movement if it does not come away readily. Tease out a few roots from the root ball.

Planting Your Border- Step 2 Prepare the planting hole and mix the soil with organic matter. Insert the plant and lay a stake across the top to check that the soil level is the same as the level of the root ball. Adjust by adding or removing soil at the base of the hole.

Planting Your Border- Step 3 Backfill the hole with the remaining soil and organic matter mixture, firming it gently as you go until the soil is in contact with the roots and there are no large air spaces. Fill the hole level with the top of the plant’s soil mix, then cover with a thin layer of soil mixture to reduce moisture loss.

Planting Your Border- Step 4 Firm the plant into the hole, using your heel for larger shrubs or your hands for small ones, so that the soil is firmly in place but not compacted. Cut out any unhealthy or crossing stems to an outward-growing bud, being careful to maintain a well-balanced shape. Water, and apply a mulch.

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