Shrubs up well
branches sprinkled with lots of sunshine-yellow blossom in spring.
They make for great hedging or focal points and give your garden a punch of colour when in flower.
If you are on the lookout for a well-behaved evergreen, Photinia ‘Red Robin’ is festooned with flowers to attract insects in spring.
It is the same with Pyracantha cultivars, with the added benefit of berries, which are a welcome meal for birds during autumn too. to play with? Inspect the bottom of the p lant pot before you part with your money to identify if it is old stock – you need to be checking underneath for any exposed roots growing through.
Feel the potted soil to see if it is dry and double check that it is weed free – you don’t want to buy stock that has not been cared for.
You will be eager to plant your new purchases but, before you go for it, fully submerge shop-bought stock in a bucket of water to soak.
You do not know when it has been watered last so you should look out for it any way you can.
When you are ready to plant, use a garden fork to aerate the soil and help hard-working microorganisms. The mud may get compacted in wet weather so this fluffs it up and makes it easier for plants to extract nutrients.
Wait for a dry day when the ground is not frozen and dig the hole to a depth just bigger than the height of the rootball – ideally over a wide area to improve drainage.
Refill the hole carefully, placing soil around all the roots to remove any air pockets. At this point, compost can be added to conserve moisture and keep weeds down. But don’t let mulch touch the stems or it could cause rotting.
The plant’s potted soil should be well situated in the ground to prevent root exposure to the elements. And you will find staking is an excellent way to prevent windrock.
All this extra effort now will see you reap rewards, with statement spring shrubs or all-year-round beauties.