Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
GOING BACK TO THEIR ROOTS
PLANNING IS KEY AS WE HEAD INTO WINTER, SO PLANT SHRUBS NOW
IT’S that time of year when the garden turns to mush. The beautiful autumn foliage is getting soggy and slippery underfoot and deciduous trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials retreat for their winter dormancy.
While the garden nods off, this represents an opportunity for the keen gardener to get planting bare-root shrubs and trees.
There are a number of advantages to choosing bare- root plants. They are cheaper to buy so if you are planting a hedge it makes economic sense. It’s also the cheap way to plant roses, fruit bushes and trees. As they don’t require plastic pots or soil, they are much cheaper to transport and that’s also a plus for the environment.
And as it’s such a quiet time of year, it’s the perfect chance for the busy gardener to allocate sufficient time. There’s also the advantage that you don’t have to worry about the plants getting dehydrated as you would in summer and be fretting about watering in your new arrivals every day.
Preparation is key to success. The plants will arrive with soil washed off the roots, and the roots wrapped in something damp like hessian. You don’t want these to dry out so it’s best to have your planting hole ready in advance.
Break up the sides of the hole as well as the bottom to encourage root development.
Add in compost and/or slowrelease fertiliser. Mycorrhizal fungi is also recommended, especially with bare-root roses, as it encourages a mutually beneficial relationship between roots and soil.
If stakes are required, pop them in now as plunging them in after can damage the roots which right now are the most important part of the plant.
Plant at the same depth as the plant was previously planted - just above the flare of the roots. You can often make out a tide mark on the soil where it was washed off. The only exception here is roses which should have the graft union – the knobbly bit between the top of the root system and base of stem – just below the soil.
Gently spread out the roots.
Backfill and gently tread in the soil to avoid leaving air pockets and unstable plants. Finally, water in your new plant.
If you’re not ready when they arrive, you can heel them in. This means creating a small slit in the soil with your spade and popping the plants in so you’re not actually planting them but the surrounding soil will keep them moist. Avoid planting when it’s wet outside as you will only damage the soil and compact it. Heavy frosts can be tricky as well – it’s hard work trying to break frozen ground with a spade. When you’ve finished planting, whether it’s a rose bush, fruit tree or native hedgerow, they might not look much right now, but next spring as the soil warms up and daylight hours increase, the magic will happen and your bare stems and branches will erupt with fresh foliage and flower buds as your plant will be well settled into its new environment.