How to Care for and Maintain Shrubs

Shrubs are in varying sizes. These woody plants beautify any landscape. These plants are smaller than a tree. Shrubs look beautiful in your lawn structure. Mostly they are evergreen. Adding a few shrubs to your lawn enhances the look of your lawn.

Choosing shrubs is based on individual choices. Mostly, long-lasting blossoms, hydrangeas, are chosen. You can also go for boxwood and arborvitae, the yews varieties. Adding shrubs near the walkways, fountains, and other hardscapes, make a wonderful addition. They also make lovely lawn beds in the garden.

How to Take Care of Shrubs?

Maintaining shrubs implies choosing desired shrubs and taking good care of them throughout the year. It begins with:

Planting Shrubs at the Right Time

The selected shrubs for the plantation must be ensured that it is suitable for the climatic and soil conditions. Read the shrub packet instructions and labels. However, the best time to consider planting shrubs is in the Fall season. This is because the plants get enough time before the winter season to grow.

While planting new shrubs, ensure to transplant the older shrubs to another area.
Though Fall is the right season for planting shrubs, it is right to check with your specific shrubs that you are planning to plant. This is because it may vary based on the shrub type slightly.
Adding new shrubs means planting new shrubs. Ascertain it thrives in your area and climate. This is because some shrubs require more sunlight.

Organize the Watering Process

Shrubs or plants, water is essential. The watering should be done thoroughly once a week. People using sprinklers may set a 10 minutes timer. Check the lawn is soaked completely in the water. Likewise, during the Fall season, before the first frost, it is best to water your shrubs.

Regularize Feeding Habits

New shrubs do not need fertilizers. Instead, mulch with compost the soil to enrich the soil with micronutrients. If the shrubs are long back planted, add fertilizers considering the need. If you find the plants look fragile, add compost layer to boost the soil nutrients.

Crop at the Right Times

The shrubs that are maintained in proper shape and size look beautiful. it means cropping regularly is required. Use different tools to crop the shrubs or plants. Gas hedge trimmer, a professional grade is useful when you want to prune a couple of shrubs or bushes. It is a lifetime investment yielding significant results in less time.

Prune at an angle of 45-degree. This allows new branches to grow healthily.
Enjoy pruning of shrubs successfully by being consistent in cutting.
First, thin your shrub, remove a few outer branches and then remove the larger branches intruding.
Clean dead or dying branches.

When to Prune

Pruning the shrubs is based on the shrub type you have to consider it as the best time. Maintaining your shrubs successfully is also based on its timing. For a rose bush, the flowering shrubs, it is best to prune them immediately after they bloom. On the other hand, for the shrubs that do not bloom, prune it in late winter, as they are dormant. Thus, during spring, when there is rain, they will grow again.

Tie the Branches

When you find the shrubs appear weak, tie the branches. Supporting the plants is essential until they develop a robust trunk. Use a stalk that is to the tree’s height and tie the stalk to the tree branches using heavy wire. Ensure there is a hose cover on the cable so that it does not grind the tree bark.

Soil Test

As the first step test the soil before planting the shrubs. Find out the deficiencies. If it lacks nutrients fill it using fertilizer as recommended. Also, use slow-release fertilizers, so that the nitrogen deficiency is met in balance.

Check for Lawn Pests

Shrubs face problems due to pests. Consult a professional about lawn care, in case there are pests. They will suggest the appropriate method to eliminate the shrubs or lawn pests.

Retain Moisture

Mulching is a process retaining the warmth and moisture in the soil. The mulch sheets assist shrubs in taking the groundwater, during the winter season. Organic mulching materials such as tree bark, wooden chips, and Pine bark are great for shrubs mulching.

Shrub care in Cold Weather

The best part of owning shrubs is in the way you take care of them in winter. If you take proper care, your yard will look beautiful throughout the year.

Protecting them from the harsh winter is a must. Lay down mulch well before the starting of the cold season so that the roots stay warmer.
People living in extremely cold climates protect their flowering shrubs using burlap covers. This is not necessary for hardier evergreens.
Water your shrubs until the first frost all through the fall.

Conclusion

Following proper shrub maintenance and gardening will keep your lawn shrubs green and healthy. Pick bushes of your choice and ensure to take good care of the shrubs by pruning, watering, adding fertilization, to ensure they grow healthily.