Planting Shrubs - Start Them Off Right

Shrubs are my new fixation, especially those with 3 to 4 seasons of interest. But shrubs can be expensive and you want to make sure you give them every chance to succeed in your garden. Like trees, you generally have the choice of potted or balled & burlapped shrubs. Either way, there’s still the argument over how to prepare the planting hole. Do you make a $10 hole for a $5 plant or do you give it some tough love and let it get acclimated to its new surroundings?

Most experts now favor the tough love approach. Amending the soil immediately around the root ball just discourages the roots from branching out into the unamended soil. Charlie Siegchrist, one of those nurserymen who make you feel you can do anything, demonstrates how he successfully plants shrubs in this quick video. And once you see how easy it is, here are some of my favorite shrubs for the garden.

• Hydrangeas 'Lady in Red' and 'Limelight'
• Sambucus Black Beauty & Black Lace
• Winterberry Holly
• Viburnums