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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.

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Use a garden fork to scarify the sides and bottom of the hole. This allows the roots to penetrate the surrounding soil.

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Next, remove the shrub from its container and gently massage or tease out the roots so they are no longer tightly wound.

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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.

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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.

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Spread 2" of mulch around the shrub. Avoid applying mulch around the crown of the shrub. Prune any broken branches if necessary.