Autumn is the best time to plant shrubs and trees. If planted then, the soil will remain moist all winter and there is no danger of the plants drying out. Soil will be in contact with the roots by the time growth starts in spring. All is good. When I worked at Nags Hall in the 1980s we sold lots of plants in autumn and not many in summer. But times have changed and we all want to buy plants in flower or in leaf in summer. I know – I just came back from the garden centre with several shrubs to plant.
But we need to plant carefully at this time of year to keep our plants healthy and to give them the best chance of success. It is not difficult- just take a bit more care. With warm, dry weather forecast for the week ahead, plant carefully and keep new plantings watered. Here is what I did.
Prepare the soil.
Dig over the soil well and mix in some planting compost (tree and shrub compost) or some garden compost or multipurpose compost. Mix it in well with the soil so your new plant has some ‘softer’ soil around it that is easy for it to extend its roots into. Never plant in a pocket of only ‘compost’.
Take out a nice planting hole, large enough to take the rootball easily with room to spare and then water the empty hole well. This is so there is water deep down in the soil.
Plunge your plant
The biggest problem when planting in summer is that the plant can dry out. If your plant was still in the pot it would need to be watered every few days or it would wilt. When you plant it, the roots will not be able to extract water from the surrounding soil, just from the roots in the pot-shaped compost, so it will need watering almost as often until the roots extend into the soil. If the plant dries out the rootball will shrink and when you water it, the water will run around the compost ball and won’t help the plant at all. So you must keep it moist. Start as you mean to go on and plunge the plant in a bucket of water for five minutes so the roots are saturated before you start.
Plant
Then you can plant. Make sure the plant is at the correct level and back fill with the soil/compost mix. Firm gently – that does not mean stamp on it!
Water
And as soon as you have done that, give it a really good soak.
You then need to watch the weather and if it is dry for several days give a good soak every few days. Avoid sprinkling a little water ever day which will just dampen the surface and not do any good.
If the worst happens and your plant wilts it is usually best to lift the plant, plunge it in water and replant – it is the only way to wet the compost.
Planting in summer is not difficult but, unfortunately, many plants die because they are not kept moist. This need not be the case. Just keep watering. This first season is crucial to their survival and once they are established and settled in you can enjoy many more years of pleasure.