Planting a new shrub is a great feeling; it’s exciting to add more colour and texture to your yard and fun to add more beauty to your collection. The overall aesthetic and value of your home is increased, along with environmental benefits too. In order to get the most out of your plants, the first and best thing to do is plant them in the proper location and give them the proper maintenance throughout their life. That being said, our team at Five Star Tree Services want to go over the proper steps you need to do to make sure your shrubs will thrive. There’s some additional maintenance/attention required to allow them to grow healthy roots.
Choosing The Right Shrub
There are many different types of shrubs to choose from. There are a few things you should consider in order to help you determine what ones will be best for you and your home. It’s also going to help you with your shrub maintenance, depending on the type of shrub you get.
There are two main categories of shrubs, deciduous and evergreen.
Deciduous
These are the ones that shed their leaves in the fall and become dormant for the winter months. You can also pick ones that flower.
Evergreen
These shrubs do not lose their leaves and stay green all year round. Making them perfect for a privacy hedge. You can also choose between ones that have needles and ones that have broad leaves.
Newly Planted Shrub Care
One of the first steps after planting a shrub is to add mulch. This is going to help retain moisture in the soil, help moderate the temperature of the roots, and keep weeds away. Around the entire base of the shrub, put 2-3 inches of mulch down but keep it away from direct contact with the shrub. It also involves proper watering, pruning, and fertilizing. Each of these things is different for each shrub, so you need to be sure what your specific shrub needs.
Shrub Pruning
Different pruning practices are necessary for different shrubs, this includes what times of the year you can prune.
For spring flowering shrubs, you should trim them after they have finished blooming. This allows you to enjoy the beautiful flowers and it gives them time to prepare buds for next year.
For non-flowering shrubs, the best time to prune is during the winter. You don’t want to prune them when they are trying to produce new growth because you will just cut it away. Most shrubs will only need to be pruned once a year to keep their shape. The purpose of pruning is to promote new growth, add shape, and remove dead, dying, diseased, or damaged branches.
Shrub Watering
The time of year, shrub species, and soil type all determine how often you should be watering and how much you should be watering your shrub.
Sandy Soil
If you have sandy soil, this doesn’t retain as much water, meaning you need to be watering more frequently.
First Two Weeks
In the first two weeks after planting your shrub, you should be watering it daily and long enough to completely soak the root ball.
3-12 Weeks
After the initial 2 weeks, you can reduce the frequency of watering to every 3 days.
After 12 Weeks
The roots should be established enough at this time to be able to cut back on watering and only do it once a week. Water roughly 3.8 liters for every square foot under your shrub.
Clay Soil
If your soil has a lot of clay in it, once you plant your shrub, you can immediately water it. After, on a weekly basis, you can slowly soak the root area and only as needed.
Early morning is the best time to water any plants. This is going to make sure they absorb the most water. Later in the day the water can evaporate before the shrub has a chance to get enough.
Always check the soil for moisture before watering your shrubs, it should be moist or damp to touch. It is possible to overwater plants. Keep an eye out for water pooling around your shrub. This can be referred to as ponding and means there is too much water.
Alternatively, if the soil gets dry, water thoroughly. You should aim to soak the roots about 12 inches deep.
Throughout this entire process, always take into account weather conditions and adjust your watering accordingly. If it is a particularly wet time of year, you won’t need to water it yourself and can leave it to mother nature.
Shrub Fertilizing
Fertilizer is a great way to help your shrub kickstart its root growth. Plan to apply fertilizer when there is active root growth and enough moisture in the soil. The best fertilizer to use is a slow-release fertilizer. This will provide your shrub with continuous nutrients throughout the year.
How Five Star Tree Services Can Help
New shrub care involves the right watering, proper pruning, and precise fertilizing. There are many factors that will determine how much of each thing you need to do. You should see growth within 6 weeks of planting it. If you need any help maintaining your shrubbery in Toronto, our team at Five Star Tree Services is here to help! Give us a call at (416) 990-3355 today!