How to Plant Shrubs

What is a shrub?

Shrubs are woody plants with multiple stems (a.k.a they have lots of branches, not just one trunk like a tree has), and people love them for a variety of reasons. Some bear fruit, provide shade or remain evergreen all year round, while others serve as stunning ornamentals or attractive foliage. No matter what kind you've purchased, the basics to planting your shrub are the same.

Shrub planting tools and materials

Before you plant

Check the calendar

Fall is the best time to plant most shrubs, with spring coming in a close second. If you purchased your shrub from Sunday, you won't have to worry about this—we'll send it at the right time. All you have to do is plant ASAP after receiving and unboxing it.

Call before you dig

Protect yourself and your utilities by calling 811 a few days before you dig to have someone come map your buried utility lines.

Location, location, location

You might have the perfect spot in mind, but aesthetics are just one part of choosing the right planting site. Consider the following before you get your hands dirty:

• How much sun does it need?
• Does it have enough space to mature?
• Will it get the right water here?
• Can it thrive in a container, or is it best in a garden bed?
• Will it negatively impact nearby plants as it grows?
• If it has roses, does your shrub need trellising?

Sunday Tip:

Species-specific information on location, spacing, sun requirements, mature size, and more is usually available on a plant tag. If you bought your plant from Sunday, this info is available from our online plant product pages.

How to plant your shrub in the ground

1

Prep

1. Dig a saucer-shaped hole 2-3x wider than the root mass and just deep enough for the topmost roots to sit level with the surface
2. Remove any rocks or debris
3. Prevent your shrub from shrinking by loosening soil along sides, but not bottom of hole (this would cause the shrub to sink down)

2

Plant

1. Make sure shrub is straight, not leaning, and place in hole
2. Gently spread roots horizontally—don’t bend or break—and make sure topmost roots are level with soil surface
3. Fill back in with soil—no need to press down, the soil will settle on its own

Optional:

1. Create a 3-inch tall “water ring” around the root ball with extra soil
2. Mulch with 2-4 inches of mulch to moderate soil and reduce weeds and water loss

3

Water

1. Water immediately after planting, then keep soil moist (but not saturated) for at least one month after planting
2. Improper watering is one of the main reasons shrubs fail within a few years of planting

How to plant your shrub in a container

First, make sure your shrub is suitable for a container because some types need more space to prosper. Then:

1

Prep

1. Choose a container big enough for your fully grown shrub
2. Make sure it's clean
3. Fill the bottom with potting mix
4. Make sure the top of the root ball will sit about 1-2 inches below the top lip of the container

2

Plant

1. Remove shrub from the pot and gently separate roots
2. Keep the shrub straight—not leaning—as you place it in the container
3. Fill with potting mix, adding about ½ to 1 inch on top of the root ball
4. Don’t fill to the rim or it'll overflow when you water
5. ProTip: Do not add materials such as broken clay pottery, stones, etc. for “drainage”. Adding these bulky materials reduced the height of the soil column in the pot and in fact reduces drainage from the pot.

3

Water

Step 3: Water

1. Water immediately after planting
2. Keep soil moist until plant is established, then water according to specific plant needs

Proud plant grower

Give yourself a high-five! You're now the proud owner of a brand-new ornamental, shade, fruit or rose shrub. And if you still need to buy a shrub—or you'd just like to add more to the mix—you can find your new PFF (plant friend forever) here.

Let’s get social!

We’d love for you to share your planting journey with us! Tag those proud plant parent pics with #plantsofsunday on Instagram.

Need help with your Sunday live plant purchase? We're here to help!

• (415) 903-6932
• [email protected]

Cited sources

Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment at UMass Amherst. Landscape: Guidelines for Planting Trees and Shrubs.

Cornell University. The Cornell Guide for Planting and Maintaining Trees and Shrubs.

University of Maryland Extension. Planting a Tree or Shrub.

University of Minnesota Extension. Planting and transplanting trees and shrubs | UMN Extension.