Shrubs and trees – how to succeed

Shrubs and trees are well-suited for framing, providing privacy, and creating boundaries. Some varieties also do well in large pots. There are many different types, and several of them have beautiful flowers, but the leaves can also be decorative and colorful.

Bushes and trees can be planted throughout the season.

• Use potting soil and mix it with the original soil when planting.
• Fill the hole with water and plant the tree at the same height it was in the pot.
• Place one or more stakes around the tree and tie it with twine to provide support in the first few years while the tree establishes its roots.

• Water generously and regularly during the first season to give the plant good conditions for rooting.
• The following year, watering only during dry spells will generally be sufficient.
• Fertilize with cow manure compost and remove weeds each spring, and complement with garden fertilizer both in spring and summer.

Deciduous bushes and trees are best pruned in February-March, but to avoid missing out on blooming, it’s better to wait to prune spring-flowering shrubs until after blooming is over. Some varieties should be pruned between July and September to prevent the plants from bleeding, such as maple, magnolia, and ornamental cherry. Most bushes only need rejuvenation pruning, which should be done every 2nd or 3rd year. This involves thinning out old branches to make the bush airier and allowing sunlight to reach the ground beneath the bush. This creates good growth conditions for new shoots.

The longest branches can be pruned to different heights, allowing the bush to maintain its natural shape. Typically, two or three new shoots will grow from the cut branches. If all branches are cut to the same height, it will result in a thick "waist" on the bush, which ruins its natural shape.

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