There are lots of things to consider when laying out a new garden – or refreshing an established one – but there’s one detail many people overlook, says Gardeners’ World expert Alan Titchmarsh
Alan says now’s the time to be planting new shrubs(Image: Supplied)
With Spring now in full swing, amateur gardeners everywhere are thronging to garden centres to buy new plants to repopulate their beds and borders. But alongside the myriad of rules you need to remember when it comes to planting shrubs, says expert Alan Titchmarsh, there’s another consideration that’s all too often overlooked.
“Shrubs form the backbone of any garden,” Alan says on his Gardening With Alan Titchmarsh. But because they provide so much important structure to your garden, it’s important to think very carefully about where they’re sited.
“There are several things to bear in mind,” Alan says. Firstly, he says – don’t plant your shrub too close to an established tree. You should leave a good “apron” around every tree. Especially as some shrubs will, over time, tend to merge into one large block.
“It’s often easier to buy several smaller plants to make one large one over the space of time,” Alan says, “and spacing is critical here. You want something which looks quite good the moment you’ve done it, but you’ve also got to think ahead and allow them to grow..”
He adds that you should plan ahead with your planting, and have an overall structure in mind: “I always plant taller things either to the back of a border so it slopes down to the front,” Alan says, “or in a circular bed towards the centre and slope it downwards. It’s pleasing to the eye.”
Shrubs can provide an eye-catching splash of colour in your garden(Image: twomeows via Getty Images)
Evergreen shrubs will, as their name suggests, hang on to their foliage all through winter, but their deciduous cousins are more likely create a splash of colour in your garden with bright flowers. The trick is, Alan says, to blend the two together to get the best of both worlds.
He explains: “We’re looking at plants which will give spots of effect, if you like, right the way through the spring and the summer. And by mixing the two things up, we’ll end up with structure, form, and spectacle.”
Once you’ve selected your shrub, and identified the perfect spot for it, it’s time to start planting: “It’s so important to always plant at the right depth at the depth that the plant was growing in its pot,” Alan says.
It’s important to pick the right site, Alan says(Image: LianeM via Getty Images)
Measure the size of the root ball against the blade of your spade, and then dig a hole of around the same depth. Then it’s just a case of gently pulling the shrub from its pot: “Tap the pot off, having watered it really well,” Alan says.
It’s a good idea to feed your new shrub as soon as it’s planted, Alan says, suggesting blood, fish and bone.
He explains: “So, blood, fish and bone is a good general purpose organic fertiliser. It feeds soil bacteria as well as the plants.” Alan advises sprinkling the fertiliser into the soil you removed when you dug your hole, before adding the mixture back in as you’re planting.
He adds: “How often do you need to water depends entirely on the weather. If it’s showery and the ground’s staying damp, they’ll be fine. But once it starts to dry out, not just on the surface, but a few inches down, test it with a trowel. See if it’s dry, three inches down – if it is, give it a really good soak.”
Once your shrubs are in place, to give you garden structure, it’s just a matter of colouring in between the lines: “The gaps in between will be filled with perennials, border plants and annuals, summer bedding,” Alan says, “I think it’s going to look absolutely gorgeous.”
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