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Common Questions Answered Wilting Q: I'm having difficulty with the leaves on my new shrubs – They’re looking wilted. I just planted them 4 days ago but can't seem to make look alive. Any advice on how I should nurture these plants? A: This is a simple watering issue. Potting soils are mostly organic and if allowed to dry out, they are difficult to rewet again. When watering newly planted shrubs, lay the garden hose directly above the roots and let the water trickle slowly into the potting soil. Sometimes a few drops of liquid dish soap per gallon of water can assist in rewetting the potting soil if it has dried out. The soap breaks down the water tension and allows for better wetting. Check your plants regularly the first year to make certain that the soil remains evenly moist. Use your finger to probe the potting soil. If you feel moisture, all is fine, if not, drench the roots as described above. Once your plant is established, it should require little attention unless you experience a prolonged drought. If so water accordingly. When to Plant Shrubs Q: What’s the time to plant shrubs? A: Fall is a great time to plant shrubs. They may not put on a lot of growth before winter but that’s ok because the roots will continue to grow as long as the ground is not frozen. Late season’s root growth will result in a strong flush of growth for the following spring. I would also recommend that you mulch the root area with two to three inches of organic mulch such as wood chips, bark or composted leaves. Wait until spring to fertilize. If you want to plant now, don't fret. Shrubs can be planted at any time of the year. The only bad time to plant shrubs is in mid summer right before you go on vacation. Newly planted shrubs need to watered regularly, especially in the heat of the summer. How and When to Prune Q: I just bought and planted some flowering shrubs. Can you tell me how to prune them? A: Most healthy shrubs require very little pruning, unless you would like to shape them. The best time to begin shaping a shrub is when it’s young and impressionable. Early pruning leads to full, shapely, dense plants. It encourages more branches, which means more flowers. If the plant is leggy or spindly when you purchased it, cut it back hard by 1/3 to 1/2 its original size. After the shrub puts on an inch or two of growth, pinch off its branch tips to the first set of leaves. The tips control branching. Once they’re removed, the buds below them will form into more stems or branches. As these branches grow, they can also be pinched when they reach an inch or two long. You can repeat this process throughout the first growing season. Although you will sacrifice the first year’s flowers, this technique results in a well-branched, full-bodied plant that will have more flowers in subsequent years. During the second season in the ground, repeat the pinching practice until mid-August. Then cease pruning and pinching to allow the flower buds to set. If your shrub starts out with a robust, healthy habit and you would prefer to enjoy its natural form, regular pruning is not necessary. The only time you need to get out the pruners is to remove any dead, diseased, or broken branches. Old, non-productive stems can also be occasionally pruned to rejuvenate growth and boost blooms. Q: What is the best time of the year to prune? A: The best rule of thumb is to prune shrubs just after they’re done blooming. This allows your plants time to form new flower buds for the next bloom season. If you are can forgo flowers for a year, you can prune at any time of the year. Fertilizing shrubs Q: I purchased and planted some shrubs earlier this spring. When should I fertilize them? A: There is no need to fertilize your shrubs right away. The container soil mix your plants are sold in typically has enough fertilizer to get shrubs through the first year. Wait until the following spring to provide fertilizer. When it comes time, it’s always a good idea to have your soil nutrients tested by your state Cooperative Extension office before applying fertilizers. This simple test will tell you what nutrients your soil is lacking. In general, a balanced, slow-release, granular fertilizer is a good choice for an annual feeding in early spring before the leaves emerge. No matter what you use, be sure to follow the application instructions on the label. There is no need to fertilize a plant once it reaches the desired size, unless it shows signs of malnutrition: yellow leaves, or thin, open branching.
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