Fall is the perfect time to plant shrubs

Shrubs also play well with others in the garden. They make a great backdrop to show off your shorter-lived flowering plants and cover for them when they’re not in bloom. Shrubs are also wonderful for creating an “understory” that fills the gap between larger trees and shorter plants and groundcovers. Birds and other wildlife also love shrubs as a safe haven between the ground and trees. Many shrubs also provide birds with fruit, nectar, or even a place to build a nest.

Make the most of your planting work by choosing shrubs that look good in more than one season, like evergreens, reblooming shrubs, and plants with pretty fall color.

Fall is the perfect time to plant shrubs in your garden. Here’s why:

• Most plants are still visible, so you know where you have gaps to fill.
• The year’s successes — and problem spots — are still fresh in your mind, so you know what might need replacing.
• As plants drop leaves, you’ll be able to see where you need some evergreen structure.
• Planting in fall gives your shrubs lots of time to recover and put out new roots before the stress of summer.
• You may be able to take advantage of end-of-season sales at your favorite nursery.
• Cooler weather also makes it more comfortable for you!

Here’s how to plant your shrubs in the fall for a beautiful garden next year:

• Start with a healthy plant. It’s okay to pull the plant out of its container at the store to make sure the roots are healthy.
• Dig a hole that’s twice as wide but no deeper than your plant’s container. It’s important to plant your new plant at the same level or even slightly higher than the surrounding soil.
• Take your plant out of the container it was sold in.
• Plants bought at the end of the season may have been in their container a long time and be “rootbound” with roots circling around the rootball. Loosen these roots and pull them outward so they can grow out into the soil. It’s even okay to cut them since you are planting in the fall to give them extra time to recover.
• Place your new plant in the center of the hole, checking that the top of the rootball is not lower than the surrounding area.
• Add the soil back into the hole, making sure there aren’t large air pockets. Water well to help settle the soil. Add more soil if needed, but do not pack down after watering — this will compact the soil. Water instead to settle the soil again.
• Spread mulch around your new shrub, keeping the mulch a few inches away from the trunk or stems. Piling mulch against the bark can lead to rot or pest damage. Mulch will help insulate your new shrub’s roots in the winter and keep them cool next summer.

Use your shovel as a measuring tool! Compare the height of the rootball to your shovel blade to know how deep to dig. Use the handle to get an estimate of how wide to dig – the hole should be twice as wide as the container.

Be sure to water your shrubs well immediately after planting and give them frequent, deep watering through the fall to help them recover and establish. Even if it’s cool outside or the shrub seems dormant, a lot is happening underground! Your plant needs lots of water to grow healthy roots.

How much water is enough? Water just until you see puddles that don’t soak into the ground right away. Do this at least twice a week during the fall and start again the next spring. After the first year, your shrub should be established enough to water on your normal schedule.