Learn how and when to plant container-grown shrubs in your garden with our easy to follow guide.
How to plant container-grown shrubs
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Shrubs bring so much to a garden. Plant hardy shrubs in autumn or spring. Wait until spring for less hardy plants, such as cordylines, phormiums, some fuchsias and hebes, and French lavender.
Prepare the ground and water the shrub. If the soil needs improving, work well-rotted manure, compost or composted bark into the area around the planting site. This is especially useful in very light soil or heavy clay. Stand the nursery pot in a bucket of water for about 20 minutes so the root ball is thoroughly moist.
Dig a wide hole. Make it several inches wider than the root ball and about the same depth. Loosen compacted soil with a fork. Set the shrub in the hole and check that the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil.
Backfill and water well. Fill with the soil you took out and firm it gently around the roots as you go. If using a fertiliser, follow its directions. Give the shrub a thorough soak to settle the soil around the roots.
Finish with mulch. Spread a 5–7.5 cm layer of organic mulch around the shrub, keeping it clear of the stems. It helps hold moisture in and keep weeds down.
