Click picture to enlarge
 |
What you need:
- Container grown shrub
- Shovel
- Hose
- Mulch
- 3' length of wood dowel
Planting a container-grown shrub is easy. Start by digging a hole at least twice the width of the shrub container. Make the hole as deep as the container is tall. |
Click picture to enlarge
 |
Use a garden fork to scarify the sides and bottom of the hole. This allows the roots to penetrate the surrounding soil. |
Click picture to enlarge
 |
Next, remove the shrub from its container and gently massage or tease out the roots so they are no longer tightly wound. |
Click picture to enlarge
 |
Place the shrub in the hole. Lay a dowel across the hole to ensure the proper planting depth. Be sure that the crown of the shrub is at the same level as the surrounding soil. |
Click picture to enlarge
 |
Backfill the hole, and gently tamp down the soil. Create a moat around the crown of the shrub to catch water. Fill the moat with water and let it drain. Repeat and you're ready to mulch. |
Click picture to enlarge
 |
Spread 2" of mulch around the shrub. Avoid applying mulch around the crown of the shrub. Prune any broken branches if necessary. |