Plant Shrubs

Tools

• Shovel or spade
• Garden gloves
• Watering can or hose

Materials

• Shrub
• Water
• Mulch

Safety

• Wear gloves to protect your hands from soil, roots, and sharp branches.
• Check for underground utility lines before digging.
• Lift the shrub and soil with your legs rather than your back; get help with large or heavy root balls.
• Keep tools pointed down and away from people while carrying or using them.
• Avoid planting during extreme heat, frozen ground, or waterlogged conditions.

Steps

1. Step 1: Choose the location

   • Check the shrub's requirements for sunlight, soil moisture, mature size, and hardiness.
   • Choose a spot with enough room for the shrub to reach its mature width without blocking paths, windows, or utilities.

   Check: Confirm the location receives the required amount of sunlight. · Confirm that underground utilities have been checked before digging.

2. Step 2: Prepare the shrub

   • Water the shrub in its container if the root ball is dry.
   • Gently remove the container without pulling on the branches.
   • Loosen tightly circling roots with your fingers.

   Check: The root ball is moist but not dripping wet. · The roots are not severely circling the outside of the root ball.

3. Step 3: Dig the planting hole

   • Dig a hole about twice as wide as the root ball and no deeper than its height.
   • Set the removed soil nearby so it can be used for backfilling.
   • Loosen the soil at the bottom and sides of the hole without making the bottom loose or overly deep.

   Check: The hole is wide enough for the roots to spread outward. · The bottom of the root ball will sit level with, or slightly above, the surrounding soil.

4. Step 4: Set the shrub

   • Place the shrub in the center of the hole.
   • Rotate it so its best side faces the desired direction.
   • Adjust the soil beneath the root ball if needed rather than burying the trunk or main stems.

   Check: The shrub stands upright. · The top of the root ball is level with or slightly above the surrounding ground. · The trunk flare or main stem base is not buried.

5. Step 5: Backfill the hole

   • Fill around the root ball with the excavated soil.
   • Firm the soil gently by hand to remove large air pockets, but do not compact it heavily.
   • Do not add a thick layer of concentrated fertilizer directly into the planting hole.

   Check: The shrub remains upright and at the correct depth. · The soil surface is level with the surrounding ground and does not cover the trunk or main stems.

6. Step 6: Water and mulch

   • Water slowly and thoroughly so the entire root ball and surrounding soil become moist.
   • Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it several inches away from the trunk or main stems.
   • Continue watering regularly while the shrub establishes, especially during dry weather.

   Check: Water has soaked into the soil rather than running off. · The mulch is not touching the trunk or main stems. · The shrub is stable and shows no signs of drying out.