Planting Shrubs
Use shrubs in the landscape for extra color, a bit of privacy and year round beauty.
Select a shrub suited to the growing conditions and your landscape design. Then insure its health, beauty and longevity with proper planting.
Start with a call to 811 a free utility locating service, three business days before you start digging. Then dig the hole the same depth as the rootball and 2 to 3 times wider. Roughen up the side to avoid a glazed surface the roots can’t penetrate.
Roll the pot on its side to loosen the roots. Either slide the plant out of the container or cut away the pot. Remove the bottom and set the pot into the hole. Slice through the side of the pot and peel away the container.
Loosen or remove any circling roots before planting. Make sure the crown of the plant, that’s the area where the roots meet the stem, is even with the soil surface. Fill in the hole with the existing soil and water thoroughly to remove any air pockets and mulch.
A bit more information: Keep your newly planted shrubs looking their best with proper post-transplanting care. Mulch the soil surrounding the shrub with a 2-inch layer of shredded bark, woodchips or other organic matter to conserve moisture and discourage weeds. Keep the mulch away from the base of the plant. Then water thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil are crumbly and moist. Continue to water properly throughout the season.
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