Bare necessities
But you won’t need to buy a rake just yet garden soil and half general-purpose compost. You can mix in a fertiliser such as Growmore if you like too – but mix it in very well as it can cause damage to the roots if they come into direct contact with it. Add some of the mix to the bottom of your hole.
Be careful not to bury the plant too deep as this will smother it and you risk rotting the stem.
There will usually be a soil mark already on the stem where the plant was buried up to before – so aim to have this level with the soil surface when you finish.
If you’re struggling, lie a bamboo cane or something similar across the hole to line it up against. With the plant sitting at the right height – and making sure the roots are spread out – begin filling the hole in layers, using your soil mix.
This will help ensure the roots are fully covered and that there are no air pockets. Firm in each layer before adding more soil mix.
When you’re finished, water the plant in really well. If the level dips as it settles, top it up with more soil until you are happy.
To help your plant get established you’ll need to continue to water it regularly – this will make the roots grow nice and deep. Deep roots will give it the advantage in dry weather too, making your plant hardier.
Even if it’s dry and windy outside, make sure you water – plants can still dry out when it is cold and miserable outside.
Another thing that will help your tree or shrub is to add a layer of mulch to the bare soil.
Leaf mould and wood chippings are great for adding nutrients to the soil as well as conserving moisture and keeping weeds down.
Watch you don’t let the mulch touch the stem or it could cause rotting. Aim to spread a layer at least 5cm thick across the soil all around the plant. For trees, it’s a good idea to help it with a strong timber stake and ties until it’s sturdy enough to go it alone.
If you live in a more rural location and have a problem with rabbits gnawing on young stems, install rabbit guards around single stems or chicken wire around multi-stemmed plants and rows of hedging.
I’m always buzzing with excitement to see one of these larger feature plants go into place.
Trees and shrubs are so important to structure and design in borders – and when spring hits and they come to life, you’ll be blown away by the transformation a single plant can bring. This incredible bird feeder from ashortwalk makes use of recycled plant pots to create something utterly new and brilliant.
Rather than throwing away halfeaten food, you can re-use it to feed your garden visitors in an easy and stylish way (and it includes advice on which foods best suit which birds).
This unique eco bird feeder makes a great gift for the garden lover in your life and can be picked up from woodlandtrustshop.com.