| Trees and shrubs need to get off to the best | | | | recently prepared, fork it over, removing any |
| possible start if they are to establish quickly. The | | | | stones, weeds and other debris. |
| secrets of success are preparing the ground well, | | | | Add a slow release fertilizer and fork it into the |
| preventing competition from other plants and | | | | soil well. If you use bone meal, apply the fertilizer |
| keeping the new specimen well watered. | | | | wearing rubber or vinyl gloves. Dig a hole twice as |
| Generally, the larger the specimen, the more | | | | wide as the root ball. Place the plant, still in its pot, |
| work it will be to plant successfully. Container | | | | in the hole and check the hole is deep enough by |
| grown deciduous plants can be planted during any | | | | placing a stick or cane across the hole, the top of |
| time of the year, but they will establish more | | | | the pot and should align with the top of the soil. |
| quickly and be easier to look after if they are | | | | Adjust the depth of the hole accordingly. Remove |
| planted in spring or autumn when the soil is moist | | | | the plant from its pot, being careful not to disturb |
| and warm, which encourages rapid root growth | | | | the root ball. |
| and so establishment. | | | | If it is in a plastic bag, cut the bag away rather |
| Bare root specimens, however, have to be | | | | than trying to pull it off. Place the shrub in the hole |
| planted during the dormant season, which is | | | | and pull the earth back around it. Firm the soil |
| between autumn and spring. Evergreens, | | | | down around the plant and water well. Finally, |
| particularly conifers, are best planted in late spring | | | | mulch round the shrub, covering the soil with a 3 |
| so that they have time to establish before the | | | | inch of chipped bark or similar material. This will |
| onset of winter. Before you start, check that the | | | | not only help to preserve the moisture in the soil |
| plant has been watered. If not, give it a thorough | | | | but will also help to prevent weed seeds from |
| soaking, preferably at least an hour before | | | | germinating. Trees often look best planted in |
| planting. This ensures that the root ball is moist | | | | isolation on the lawn. Here, the pale pebbles at the |
| and has the ability to absorb water after it has | | | | tree's base draw the eye to the feature, and |
| been planted. If the soil in the bed has not been | | | | enhance the decorative red leaves. |