When planting trees and shrubs, consider the health of the soil, the spacing and placement of plants and the proper watering and transplanting methods for success.
When transplanting trees and shrubs into the garden, many factors must be considered, to ensure their success after being planted. The soil must be fertile, the spacing and placement should be tailored to the plant, water must be provided immediately and the transplanting itself must be done in a way that does not harm the plant. Ensure that the soil has proper drainage. Till the area where you are transplanting and amend the soil with compost if it has a high clay content. This will allow the roots to penetrate the soil easily, making the transition smoother and less shocking.
When gardening, we should always begin with the health of the soil. For most trees and shrubs, offer well-aerated, fertile soil. Some require more acidic soil than others (for example, hydrangeas) but, generally speaking, a well-tilled patch with lots of organic matter mixed in (compost and/or manure) will give a newly transplanted tree or shrub a good start. Our area tends to naturally have soil that is heavy with clay so adding organic matter to lighten that up is especially important. You can also apply a soil conditioner, to loosen clay soil, such as Black Forest.
Some careful planning is well-advised, before transplanting. This is especially true for trees or any plant that may reach a great height or take up lots of space. Keep in mind the light requirements of the plant as well as the root growth. If the roots of a plant will grow quite wide, you must plant it well away from the foundation of any building and leave enough space between it and other deep-rooted plants. This is true for most trees. For smaller shrubs, make sure there is adequate space between them (plant tags and folks at the nursery can help with this) to ensure that they have room to grow!
When transplanting, make sure to water the plant in its container, before removing. This will help the soil to stay around the roots as you move it. Water the hole it will go into, as well, and, after transplanting is complete, give it another drink. Transplanting can be quite stressful for plants and a deep watering can ease that transition. You can also apply a transplant fertilizer, like Root N Grow, which are specially designed to ease the transition process.
Dig deep holes for plants to go in. Make sure there is space for their roots to spread and enough soil to cover them well. Ease a plant out of a container and place it into the hole. If the roots are tightly wound, loosen them gently and work them into their new soil. However, try to minimize their exposure to light and air, as this will stress the plant. Cover roots and the base of the plant with soil and press very firmly around the bottom, to help the roots make contact with the new soil. Water well directly afterward and frequently, in the coming weeks.
With planning and care, you can have a lovely garden full of the trees and shrubs that will thrive and grow for years to come.
