Which Bush?

Davesnave

Dan-Dan wrote: »

cheers Dave
would you bother with this
http://www.crocus.co.uk/product/_/rootgrow-licensed-by-the-royal-horticultural-society/classid.2000012046/

Nah!

We used it in 2011 when we put in a beech hedge 85' long, and a bag of Rootgrow came with the plants. Half way through, we ran out. It wasn't possible to see any difference that it made.

In the immortal words of Eric Morecombe, "You can't see the join!"

Dan-Dan

Thanks Dave , i did actually do a forum search after i posted , and i found a post from you back in March where you told someone else it did nothing for you!

If of interest , i went for 3 x Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire` and a Berberis darwinii , cant wait to get planting!

Davesnave

Dan-Dan wrote: »

Thanks Dave , i did actually do a forum search after i posted , and i found a post from you back in March where you told someone else it did nothing for you!

If of interest , i went for 3 x Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire` and a Berberis darwinii , cant wait to get planting!

The whole thing about Rootgrow is a bit confusing, as for a while it was endorsed by the RHS, then they did some trials and seemed to retract that, and then they sort of half endorsed it.

I've lost track now, plus I'm not bovvered....I must've planted 500+ shrubs & trees in the past few years, and apart from the ones I've strimmed flat, or my idiot neighbour has pulled-up, they've all done fine.

Midwinter Fire is nice.

Dan-Dan

I am planting my shrubs later , and for some reason , it excites me , a new phase of my life perhaps

Anyway , any top tips , i know to dig the hole twice as wide as the plant base , and to dig as deep as the plant base itself

Should i be mixing fertilizer with the displaced mud before patting back in ? its poor soil with stones etc (the ones i cant pick out!)

Then pat some compost around the areas once planted without it going all over the plant?

advice welcome!

ta

Davesnave

Sorry, off-line yesterday, due to moving my Openreach socket (don't tell BT ) but I see I've already covered this.

Davesnave wrote: »

If you think the soil is hard to work, mix some multi-purpose compost with it by all means, but don't plant the shrubs in a hole filled with neat compost, as it lacks the body to anchor them.

In their natural environment, shrubs wouldn't live in compost; just ordinary soil, which is all they need. You can add some bonemeal or chicken poo pellets to the soil to improve nutrient levels over a year or so, but the main thing is to water in dry periods until the roots get well established.

Hope it went well.

Dan-Dan

Thanks Dave , i am resisting the temptation to water my babies daily!

I mixed some compost with the displaced soil and bedded them in nicely , now i`m moving onto hanging baskets , i`ll be back!