The right tree or shrub in the right place can give a garden shape, privacy, colour and shelter for years. Casey Jones helps you choose plants that suit your soil, light and space, then plants them properly so they settle in and grow well.
Planting is often part of a bigger job, such as finishing a new border, adding a screening hedge after a clearance or bringing structure to a redesigned garden.
Choosing the right plant
Before choosing a tree or shrub, it helps to know how big it will grow, how much sun the spot gets and what the soil is like. A tree that ends up too large for its space causes problems later, so plants are picked with their full size in mind.
Planting properly
A planting hole should be wider than the root ball but not deeper, so the plant sits at the same level it grew at. Trees in exposed spots are staked low down so the trunk can still move and strengthen. Every plant is watered in well after planting.
When to plant
Bare-root trees and hedging are planted while dormant, roughly November to March. Container-grown plants can go in for most of the year, as long as they are kept watered through dry spells.