How to Plant Shrubs

The following guidelines can also be used for planting trees...

  • Topic: Trees & Shrubs
  • Author: David Salman
  • Keywords: trees, shrub, planting, roots, rootball, ball and burlap,
  • Date: September 2006

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The following guidelines can also be used for planting trees.

Before planting:

Call utility company to mark lines before digging. Look up for overhead utility lines.

Preparing planting area

  • Dig hole twice as wide as container and same depth.

Prepare backfill

  • Mix soil from hole with Soil Mender™ Blend; 1 part Blend and 2 parts soil.
  • Add Super Phosphate; and if needed, soil acidifier like soil sulfur.
  • Add a complete fertilizer such as Yum Yum Mix or Gro-Power and Planters II trace minerals.

Preparations for rootballs

  • Do not break rootball.
  • If in a container, cut around the edges and bottom of the root mass to encourage new growth. Cut any coiled roots and pull away the ends.
  • For B&B (ball and burlap) leave wire basket on until placed in hole.

Planting

  • Center shrub in hole to proper depth; keep top of rootball at ground level.
  • For B&B and wire: Do not remove burlap or wire from sides. This may damage lateral roots. Cut away covering on sides as deep as possible without letting rootball fall apart. Untie burlap and fold back over the edges of hole or cut off.
  • Add amended backfill to hole.
  • Use shovel blade to slice new soil to remove air pockets. Never water backfill soil before refilling the hole!

Watering

  • Create water basin around shrub.
  • Add water slowly to saturate root ball.
  • Add Root Stimulator Combo (mix Superthrive and Seaweed Concentrates).
  • Repeat application of root stimulator in 2 weeks, then monthly if needed.

Maintenance

  • Water regularly for first two growing seasons; every 3 to 4 weeks in winter.
  • Use 2 to 4” of Soil Mender™ Mulch year round on top of soil.
  • Fertilize in the fall after hard frost. You can also fertilize during the growing season after plants have leafed out in spring through mid-July (about an 8 week period in Zone 5 climates).