| About Shrubs |
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Shrubs serve many functions within the landscape by acting as compositional accents, backgrounds and enclosures. Available in many shapes and sizes, shrubs can be native, exotic, evergreen,or deciduous.
Planting a Shrub
Container-grown shrubs can be planted throughout the growing season, but early spring and fall are best. To plant a container grown shrub involves (1) Dig a hole as deep as the container in which the plant is growing and twice as wide. Remove the plant from the container and use a pair of hand pruners to scrap and loosen the bottom of the rootball. If the shrub is balled and burlapped, place it in the hole, then cut away any twine that is holding the burlap in place. Remove as much of the burlup material as possible from the rootball.(2) Place the rootball in the planting hole and fill it with soil. The top of the rootball should be covered slightly with soil. If the soil has a high percentage of heavy clay, plant the shrub on a small mound so that the roots won't stand in water. Pile around the rootball. (3) Water shrubs as soon as
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they are planted. Apply 1 to 2 gallons per foot of plant height. Water 2-3 times per week for the first six months, unless there is a good rain. Afterwards, water during extended periods of drought.
Transplanting Advice
The best time to transplant a shrub is when the demand for water is the least, preferably fall or spring. Because many roots will be lost, shrubs need weeks to regenerate new ones before the summer heat arrives. To transplant (1) Dig around the plant, approximately 12 inches from the trunk on all sides, forming a rootball. (3) Thrust underneath the plant and remove the plant with rootball. (4) Plant in new location and water thoroughly.
Pruning
Shrubs require regular pruning to remove dead or diseased wood, as well as to keep their vigor. Pruning may also be done to serve one or more of three functions to keep a shrub at the proper size or shape, and to help it produce more flowers.
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