Everyone can definitely agree when we say agriculture or gardening is not for everyone, but what if we say that we got all the tips and tricks that can save your life at Bayton Horticulture Centre. Now let us move from simple to complex, before growing a whole bouquet of roses in the garden you can start with some easy to plant shrubs.
Shrubs can be classified into two deciduous and evergreen, meaning some are temporary and some are there throughout the entire season. As we get to dive deeper into some shrub lessons we’ll get to know how to tell them apart, how to plant them etc.
Defining and differentiating shrubs
Shrubs are defined as plants that are long lasting or recurring woody plants. A huge debate usually spirals when defining a shrub or bush and technically there isn’t much of a difference really, but logically a bush is just the nature of how the shrub grows if it’s not trimmed and a shrub is just a scientific classification.
Someone may ask what’s the difference between a shrub and a tree, well the answer is a tree is relatively bigger than a shrub.
Classification and selection of shrubs
When we are talking about classification of shrubs we’re basically talking about their sizes, growth habits, structural features and their requirements depending on their type.
1. Size- As mentioned before, shrubs are smaller than trees, and they usually grow up to 15 feet.
2. Growth Habit- Shrubs are not different from bushes at all; they grow on ground level, which results in an even or short trunk. They also have seasonal growth, which divides them into two groups: deciduous and evergreen.
3. Requirements- Some shrubs need sunlight to thrive, and a good example is hydrangea.
Planting and caring tips
The question is when and how to plant the shrubs, worry no more. Here are the following tips on how and when to plant plus a few extra tips on how to care for them.
1. Let’s call a spade a spade, to make your gardening or horticulture journey as easy as a walk in the park you have to grow your shrubs during early spring season. In as much as shrubs grow throughout the year this will help the roots to have enough time to adjust.
2. Dig a hole twice the size of the container in which you’ll transplant the shrub into, applying a release controlled fertiliser in the hole .This fertiliser minimises water loss.
3. Prepare the shrub and make sure that you gently remove it.
4. Transplant it into the hole and make sure that the root ball is only half covered by the soil.
5. Fill in the hole with soil and gently press it down to make sure that the shrub maintains good balance.
6. Water thoroughly, but do not flood the shrub.
Caring for shrubs includes watering regularly during the first year, pruning when the shrubs have bloomed, and adding fertiliser to avoid pests and diseases.
In conclusion, growing shrubs is like a gateway to learning and enhancing your skills about anything crop or plant related, it only takes your dedication and time. By doing so you acquire enough knowledge to DIY (do it yourself). Since rose bushes are also a type of shrubs, who knows maybe you could gift your loved one with a bouquet of roses, if you start practising now.
