Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh shared his essential spring shrub planting advice, revealing the one critical thing amateur gardeners most often overlook
Alan says now’s the time to be planting new shrubs(Image: Gardening With Alan Titchmarsh/YouTube)
With spring now in full swing, keen gardeners across the country are flocking to garden centres to purchase fresh plants for their flower beds and borders. However, alongside the numerous guidelines to remember when planting shrubs, there’s an additional factor that’s frequently neglected, according to expert Alan Titchmarsh.
“Shrubs form the backbone of any garden,” he explains on his Gardening With Alan Titchmarsh YouTube channel. Yet because they contribute such vital structure to your outdoor space, careful consideration must be given to their positioning.
“There are several things to bear in mind,” Alan notes. First and foremost, he advises against planting your shrub too near to an existing tree. A generous “apron” should be maintained around every tree, particularly since certain shrubs will gradually merge together into one substantial mass over time.
“It’s often easier to buy several smaller plants to make one large one over the space of time,” Alan suggests. “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 emphasises the importance of planning ahead with your planting scheme, keeping an overall design in mind: “I always plant taller things either to the back of a border so it slopes down to the front,” Alan explains. “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 implies, retain their leaves throughout the winter months, while their deciduous counterparts are more inclined to provide a burst of colour in your garden through vibrant blooms. The secret, Alan suggests, is to combine both varieties to achieve the optimal result.
He elaborates: “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.”
After you’ve chosen your shrub and found the ideal location for it, it’s time to begin planting: “It’s so important to always plant at the right depth at the depth that the plant was growing in its pot,” he adds.
Check the dimensions of the root ball against your spade’s blade, then excavate a hole of approximately the same depth. Following this, it’s simply a matter of carefully removing the shrub from its container. “Tap the pot off, having watered it really well,” Alan recommends.
It’s important to pick the right site, Alan says(Image: LianeM via Getty Images)
It’s advisable to nourish your newly planted shrub immediately, Alan notes, recommending blood, fish and bone fertiliser.
He clarifies: “So, blood, fish and bone is a good general purpose organic fertiliser. It feeds soil bacteria as well as the plants.” Alan recommends scattering the fertiliser into the earth you extracted when digging your hole, before incorporating the blend back in during planting.
He continues: “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.”
After establishing your shrubs to provide garden framework, it becomes simply a case of filling in the gaps. “The gaps in between will be filled with perennials, border plants and annuals, summer bedding,” Alan explains. “I think it’s going to look absolutely gorgeous.”
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