All About Shrubs
Flowering shrubs are a type of long-lived perennial. They provide great backbone and structure to the softer, herbaceous plants in the flower garden. They are generally stronger, and considered "woodies" vs. "herbaceous". An example: Ivory Halo dogwood touts its bright red stems all winter long, after the leaves are gone, and pushes new growth in the spring. Lilacs, roses, viburnums and the dogwood shrub are all flowering shrubs. Peonies, some of which can be shrub sized, die all the way back every year, and as such are considered "herbaceous" perennials.
Flowering shrubs and evergreen shrubs benefit from careful planting. Well sited and maintained flowering shrubs are one of the best investments you can make in your garden. Generally, a careful pruning once a year will keep the plant healthy, shapely, and looking fresh.
- Dig the hole to a depth that matches the depth of the pot the shrub arrives in...and two times as wide in every direction.
- Thoroughly water the plant before removing it from the container.
- If the roots ball is dense and thick, carefully rough it up on the outside with a fork or your hand. This will cause the plant to send out new feeder roots.
- You may want to apply a small amount of slow release coated fertilizer in the bottom of the planting hole before positioning the plant. Do not use granular fertilizer.
- Amend the soil you removed from the hole with organic compost. Mix using 1/4 compost to 3/4 soil. Backfill the planting hole with this mixture. Tamp down firmly. Create a shallow berm, or moat, around the plant to hold water for 4-6 weeks after planting. This will direct the water to the root system. After that, rake the soil smoothly away from the planting hole.
- Mulch with 2-3 inches of organic mulch, keeping it away from the stem or trunk of the plant.