Victory Garden 2.0 – Fall is for Planting Shrubs

This post is provided as an educational/inspirational service of the National Garden Bureau and our members. Thank you to National Garden Bureau for this article.

Shrubs are some of the most reliable and hardworking plants in the garden.

They are long-lived, big enough to make an impact while still fitting into gardens of any size (even container gardens!), and some offer the same flowers, fragrance, leaf color, or pollinator appeal as your favorite annuals and perennials. 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 “under-story” that fills the gap between larger trees and shorter plants and ground-covers. 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.

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!

Some shrubs have fall leaf colors just like trees. Try a dwarf crape myrtle which can work well in planting and containers.

Evergreens bring year-round color and aren’t always just green. Fire Chief arborvitae has a dusting of red that plays well with autumn arrangements.

Many shrubs fit well into containers for dressing up the patio. Encore reblooming azaleas are perfect for bringing that fall touch.

Gardenias have colorful seed pods of orange, yellow, and red that highlight the lustrous evergreen foliage.

Behnke’s Planting Instructions

1. Dig a hole with sloped, roughened sides three times as wide as the rootball, and no deeper than the rootball. Do not disturb the soil that the rootball will rest upon.

2. Save the soil removed from the hole. Discard rocks. Add equal parts fine pine bark & Leafgro®. Mix in the appropriate amount of Espoma® Bio-tone Starter Plus starter fertilizer to encourage new root growth.

3. Always water a potted plant thoroughly before planting it. If the rootball is rather dry and the water won’t soak in easily, you can carefully remove the plant from its pot and soak the rootball in a bucket of water for several minutes.

4. Untangle any matted roots around the outside of the rootball with a three-pronged cultivator.

5. Place the plant in the hole so that the top of the rootball is level with, or slightly higher than, the ground.

6. Fill in around the rootball with the amended soil, packing the soil firmly.

7. Construct a shallow basin around the plant to hold water.

8. Apply 1 to 2 inches of hardwood shredded mulch around the plant but not directly against the stem of the plant.

9. Water thoroughly.

10. Use the appropriate Espoma® Tone fertilizer for periodic care. Regular watering is essential for the first few growing seasons. As plants gradually become established, waterings should become less frequent. All plants require deep watering during extended periods without rain.