CHECK NEWLY PLANTED SHRUBS

It’s always good gardening practice to check any newly-planted shrubs during their first summer to make sure they're establishing and making new growth. Until the roots grow down into the soil they can struggle in periods of dry weather, so test the soil around the rootball to make sure it’s moist as it can soon dry out in warm, sunny weather. If the soil or old compost in the original pot feels dry, give the ground a soak with water and a half-strength liquid fertiliser to encourage the roots to grow out from the rootball into the surrounding soil.