Chris Young. Garden Design

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How to plant shrubs

How to plant perennials

MAKING A GARDEN

260

Shrubs form the backbone of a garden plan, providing structure

as well as ﬂowers and foliage. Plants grown in containers can

be planted year-round if you avoid days when the ground is

frozen, or excessively wet or dry. Before planting, always check

the label for the shrub’s preferred site and soil.

Unlike annuals and tender patio plants, herbaceous perennials

come up year after year. Many modern varieties need little

maintenance other than deadheading and cutting back in spring.

Give them a good start by improving the soil at planting time and

minimize competition for water and nutrients by controlling weeds.

Dig over the soil thoroughly, removing

any weeds and working in plenty of

well-rotted manure or compost. Make the

planting hole twice the diameter of the

container and a little deeper.

Prepare the planting area, removing

perennial weeds and large stones. On

dry ground or heavy clay, work in organic

matter (as Step 1, above). On sandy soil,

also apply a general fertilizer.

Dig a hole a bit deeper and wider than

the pot. After soaking the plant, remove

the pot. Add soil to the hole so that the top

of the root ball is level with the soil surface.

Backﬁll and ﬁrm soil lightly with your hands.

Stand the plant in its container in a

bucket of water and leave it to soak.

Remove the plant from its pot and tease out

any thick, encircling roots. Plant at the same

depth it was in its pot. Backﬁll with soil.

Firm soil gently, ensuring the shrub is

upright and that it is sitting in a shallow

depression. Water generously, then spread

a mulch of organic matter (see right),

keeping it away from the stems.

Water thoroughly. Apply a thick mulch

to conserve moisture, suppress

weeds, and protect roots from penetrating

frosts. Take precautions against slugs and

snails, and watch for aphids on shoot tips.

YOU WILL NEED

Spade and fork

Organic matter

Bucket

Mulching material

1 hour

YOU WILL NEED

Spade and fork

Organic matter

General fertilizer

Bucket

Mulching material

up to 1 hour

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261

SEASONAL COLOR AND INTEREST

A mixture of shrubs and perennials provides a rich

tapestry of color, form, and texture that changes in

mood as the seasons progress. If space allows, plant

the perennials in drifts for greater impact.

MULCH OPTIONS

Mulches conserve water, which is why they

are always applied after planting when the

ground is moist. Some improve soil structure

and most discourage weeds, which compete

with plants for water and nutrients. Gravel

mulches look attractive while others, such as

leafmold, offer a habitat for beneﬁcial

creatures such as ground beetles.

COMPOST

Mature compost and

manure lock moisture and

nutrients into the soil.

As the mulch breaks down

it releases plant food and

improves the soil structure.

Apply a layer 4 in (10 cm)

deep in late winter to

minimize weed growth.

BARK MULCH

A popular mulch, bark

comes in various sizes, the

smallest being the most

ornamental. It breaks down

slowly and is a good weed

suppressor and moisture

conserver, but doesn’t add

many nutrients. Top up

worn areas annually.

LEAFMOLD

Although low in nutrients,

leaves are excellent for

improving soil and retaining

moisture, and look good

around woodland-style

plantings. To make it, ﬁll

perforated trash bags with

fall leaves, seal up and

leave for about 18 months.

GRAVEL MULCH

Gravel laid over landscape

fabric creates a decorative

weed-suppressant foil for

alpines and Mediterranean-

style plantings. Plant through

the fabric by cutting a cross

and folding back the ﬂaps

before replacing the gravel

(see also pp.248–249 ).

HOW TO PLANT SHRUBS AND PERENNIALS

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How to plant climbers

MAKING A GARDEN

262

Walls, fences, and trellis offer planting space for a wide range

of climbers and wall shrubs. Using plants vertically is especially

important in courtyard gardens, where space is at a premium.

Flowers and foliage soften bare walls and privacy screens,

as well as creating potential nesting sites for birds. Avoid

over-vigorous climbers that could overwhelm their situation.

PREPARATION FOR PLANTING

Before soil preparation, attach eye

screws and horizontal wires, or a trellis,

to the wall or fence. Set the lowest wire

about 20 in (50 cm) above soil level, and

space the wires 12–18 in (30–45 cm) apart.

Arrange a fan of bamboo canes behind

the planting hole, leaning them back

toward the fence. The canes will lead the

climber’s stems up to the horizontal wires

and spread them over a larger area.

Plant the climber, backﬁlling the hole

with enriched soil. Untie the stems

from their original support and untangle

them carefully. Cut off any weak shoots

and spread them out ready to attach.

Dig over a large area around the

planting site with a hand fork. Work in

plenty of bulky organic matter, such as

well-rotted manure or compost, to combat

dryness at the base of the fence.

Using soft garden twine and a loose

ﬁgure of eight knot, tie the stems to

the canes. Train the outer stems on to the

lower wires and the stems at the center of

the plant up to cover the higher wires.

Firm the climber in using your ﬁsts and

then take a trowel or hand fork to ﬂuff

up the soil where it has been compacted.

Next, create a shallow water reservoir (with

a raised rim) around the base of the plant.

PLANTING AND AFTERCARE

SUPPORT FOR CLIMBERS

Climbers and wall shrubs scale

vertical surfaces in a variety

of ways, and the support you

provide depends on their vigor

and method of climbing. Some,

such as jasmine, honeysuckle, and

wisteria, are twiners; clematis

have coiling leaf stalks; and

sweet peas, passionﬂowers, and

vines cling with tendrils.

TREES AND OTHER HOST PLANTS

To encourage a rambler rose to clamber up

into a fruit tree, plant it 3 ft (1 m) away from

trunk and give it a rope to climb (peg to the

ground and run it to the lowest branch).

TRELLIS

Wooden trellis can be used against a wall

or as a screen. Climbing roses, honeysuckle,

clematis, and passionﬂower may secure

themselves, but tying them in also helps.

HORIZONTAL WIRES

These offer the most adaptable support

for climbers, wall-trained shrubs, and

fruit trees. Training stems horizontally

increases ﬂower and fruit production.

YOU WILL NEED

Eye screws

Galvanized wire

or trellis

Border fork and spade

Bulky organic matter

Granular fertilizer

Bamboo canes

Garden twine

Trowel or hand fork

Bark mulch

1 to 2 hours

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HOW TO PLANT CLIMBERS

263

Apply all-purpose granular fertilizer to

poor soils (follow manufacturer’s

instructions). Water the climber

generously a few hours before planting,

or plunge the pot into a bucket of water.

Dig a planting hole 18 in (45 cm) from

the fence, and twice the diameter of

the root ball. Check the depth is the same

as the original compost level. Clematis

should be planted 4 in (10 cm) deeper.

FRAGRANT COVER

The honeysuckle shown

in this photograph will

eventually produce a

mass of evening-scented

ﬂowers, loved by bees and

moths. Good ground

preparation will ensure

that the plant won’t run

short of water, which can

lead to powdery mildew.

Water thoroughly, then apply a mulch

of bark chips to help combat weeds,

conserve moisture, and keep the roots of

plants such as clematis cool. Ensure the

mulch doesn’t touch the stems.

NO SUPPORT NEEDED

Plants such as Boston ivy have tendrils that

adhere to walls without support. Ivy and

climbing hydrangea have self-clinging roots

on their stems. Some initial support is useful.

OBELISKS

These provide ideal support for large-

ﬂowered clematis, jasmine, and climbing

roses, and annual climbers, such as sweet

peas, morning glory, and runner beans.

PLANTING IN POTS

Large containers, especially glazed

ceramic pots or oak half barrels,

create the opportunity for covering

walls, fences, and screens, even

without a bed or border. Some pots

and troughs come with integral,

freestanding trellis support, but you

can also add a trellis fan as shown

here. Try small- to medium-sized

species and cultivars, such as

Clematis alpina and C. macropetala,

as well as annual climbers like

Eccremocarpus scaber (Chilean

glory vine) and morning glory.

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Planting a lawn

MAKING A GARDEN

264

The best time to plant, or seed, a new lawn is early fall or

spring. Dig the area, adding a margin of 6 in (15 cm), and

improve the drainage of heavy clay and wet soils by working

grit into the topsoil. For free-draining soils, dig in a 3–4 in

(8–10 cm) layer of bulky organic matter to conserve moisture

and fertility.

PREPARING THE GROUND

Dig over the lawn area, removing big

stones and perennial weeds, and break

up the surface into a ﬁne crumb structure.

Rake level, then, keeping your weight on

your heels, walk over the length of your

plot, and then across the width.

Rake the ground level to remove any

depressions left after walking. Leave

for ﬁve weeks to allow weed seeds to

germinate, then hoe lightly to remove

them. Rake level and apply a dressing of

all-purpose granular fertilizer.

Arrange sod delivery a few days after

applying fertilizer. Carefully unroll the

sod, laying whole pieces and working out

from an edge. Stand on a plank to distribute

your weight. Tamp down sod with a rake.

To ensure that the grass knits together,

butt the edges of the sod, lifting them

so that they are almost overlapping when

pushed down. This helps to combat any

shrinkage. Firm again with a rake.

Continue to lay the next row of sod,

ensuring that the joins are staggered like

wall bricks. This produces a much stronger

structure. Use an old knife for cutting, and

avoid using small pieces at the edges.

Water thoroughly during dry spells to

prevent shrinkage. Shape lawn edges

when the sod has rooted (try gently lifting

an edge). Lay out curves with a garden

hose and cut using a sharp spade.

To help adjacent pieces of sod to grow

together and root ﬁrmly, brush in a

blend of topsoil and horticultural sand.

Use a stiff broom to work in the top

dressing and raise ﬂattened grass.

LAYING THE SOD

FINISHING AND SHAPING

YOU WILL NEED

Spade or fork

Rake and hoe

All-purpose granular

fertilizer

Topsoil mixed with

horticultural sand

Wooden plank

Broom

Garden hose

Sharp spade

1 day

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For large areas of lawn, seeding is the cheapest option

and, although it will be about a year before the grass can

take heavy use, it should start to green up and look good

in under a month. Worn patches in existing lawns can also

be repaired by re-seeding with an appropriate grass mix.

SEEDING A LAWN

PLANTING A LAWN

265

Select a seed mix that

suits your conditions and

lawn use, eg, hard-wearing

family or ﬁne, ornamental

lawn. Weigh out seed for

1 sq yd (1 sq m) following

pack directions. Pour into a

paper cup; mark where the

seed reaches.

Scatter half the seed in

one direction, and then

go over at right angles with

the remainder, keeping

within the template. Move

the template along and

repeat the process. As a

guide, one handful of seed

weighs roughly 1 oz (30 g).

Work over the seeded

lawn lightly with a

rake until the seed is just

covered with soil. Protect

from birds using netting.

Seedlings should appear

within 14 days. Once the

grass has reached 2 in (5

cm), cut with the mower

blades set high.

You should have dug,

ﬁrmed, leveled, and

raked the lawn bed at

least ﬁve weeks previously

(see opposite). A few days

before sowing, remove

any weeds and add a top

dressing of fertilizer. Rake

level, removing any stones.

Sow in early fall when

the soil is warm and

moist, or in spring when

plants start to grow

actively. Mark out 1 sq yd

(1 sq m) sections using

canes, and measure out

the grass seed using the

marked paper cup.

A GREEN CARPET

The velvet green of a well-maintained lawn

is the perfect foil for border ﬂowers. Lawns

create a sense of space in the garden and

provide color, even in the depths of winter.

SPOT WEEDING

During lawn establishment, perennial

weeds often take root, especially

rosette-forming dandelions and

thistles, which can smother the sod.

Use an old kitchen knife, forked daisy

grubber, or long-handled, lawn-weeding

tool to extract them. Try to remove

all the taproot. Do not use lawn weed

killers for at least six months.

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BENEFITS OF DEADHEADING

The aim of the plant is to set seed and

reproduce: to achieve this it makes ﬂowers and

diverts most of its resources to develop a

seedhead. To encourage more ﬂowers you

need to remove faded blooms before they have

a chance to form seed. This is especially

important for annuals which can stop ﬂowering

altogether and even die if you don’t deadhead

regularly. But perennials, including so-called

patio plants, can also be encouraged to ﬂower

for much longer if they are deadheaded.

Removing old, blemished heads also improves

the appearance of plants and reduces the risk

of disease.

Environmentally conscious gardeners and people living in drought-

prone areas are increasingly aware of the need to save water.

Containers, together with some types of vegetable crops and bedding

plants, may need regular summer irrigation. Shrubs, trees, and

perennials need watering only at planting time and during dry spells

in the ﬁrst year or two, or until they are well established. No matter

how brown the grass may turn, established lawns never actually

need watering and will eventually recover from drought.

If you need to water, do so in the cool of the morning or evening

to minimize evaporation, and water close to the soil rather than

overhead, targeting speciﬁc plants. Mulches, such as bark and spent

mushroom compost, help seal in moisture and reduce competition

from weeds. It is better to water heavily, with extended intervals

between (allowing moisture to penetrate well into the soil and

encourage deep rooting) than to water lightly but more frequently.

WHEN AND HOW TO WATER

Aftercare and maintenance

MAKING A GARDEN

266

Making a garden is a process that doesn’t end when the

construction and planting stages are complete. Even in

low-maintenance plots, gardens only thrive when the plants

are tended and the soil replenished. Some jobs are regular

weekly tasks, but many others are only annual or twice yearly.

PREVENTING EROSION

With shallow-rooting plants like this box, frequent watering can wear

away the protective coating of compost. Reduce the problem by directing

water on to a large crock or tile so that ﬂow is gently dissipated.

Although watering can be an enjoyable task,

if you are pressed for time or have a large

plot, some shortcuts are welcome. Automatic

irrigation can be very efﬁcient and, if

properly managed, help to save water. It also

MAKING WATERING EASY

LEAKY HOSE

A perforated garden hose (leaky

hose) connected to an outdoor

faucet or water barrel will channel

water directly to where it is

needed; through a newly planted

border, for example.

TIMED WATERING

If you are often away from the

garden for more than a couple of

days or are too busy to water all

your patio containers regularly,

consider installing an automatic

irrigation system with a timer.

WATER BARRELS

Raised up high enough so you can

ﬁt a watering can under the tap,

water barrels are a convenient

way to reduce dependence on the

main water supply. Consider ﬁtting

extension kits to increase capacity.

makes sense to collect rainwater at sites

around the garden and to make use of

recycled or “gray” water, eg, from the bath or

dish water (but only if no strong or heavily

perfumed products have been used).

Deadheading promotes new flower growth

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Clay loams are naturally fertile, while sandy soils tend to

be nutrient poor. Adding bulky organic matter, such as

well-rotted manure, improves the quality and structure of

both types of soil as well as providing nutrients. During

growing season, wherever you garden intensively, you’ll

need to add extra fertilizer. Control weeds by digging

them out or hoeing, or with a glyphosate weedkiller,

except on sod which will require a lawn weedkiller.

It is not essential to prune any plant, but thinning and cutting back to

varying degrees or selectively removing whole branches can produce

many useful effects. It can rejuvenate an old, congested specimen,

giving it a new lease of life; help short-lived shrubs to live longer;

increase the supply of ﬂowering or fruiting wood; improve the shape

and appearance of a plant; and reduce the incidence of disease.

As a tree matures, it may become too

large for its site, or send out branches in

inconvenient directions, and require pruning.

Damaged or diseased branches and crossing

limbs also need to be taken out to maintain

the health of the tree. Hire a qualiﬁed tree

surgeon to tackle very large branches,

or those higher than head height. When

pruning, take off a branch in sections – if

you remove it with one cut close to the

trunk, it will be pulled down by its own

weight and may tear the bark on the trunk,

leaving the tree vulnerable to infection.

FEEDING AND WEEDINGTHE BENEFITS OF PRUNING

REMOVING BRANCHES

AFTERCARE AND MAINTENANCE

267

CONTAINERS

Flowering container plants,

in particular, require extra

fertilizer. Try a convenient,

slow-release formula if you

can’t manage weekly feeds.

SOLUBLE FOOD

Liquid feeds are fast acting

and ideal for bedding and

patio plants in containers,

as well as greenhouse

crops such as tomatoes.

THE RIGHT CUT

Cut back to just above a strong bud or pair of

buds. Cutting halfway between buds causes

die-back, which can introduce disease.

ALTERNATE BUDS

Where buds form alternately along a stem,

make a slanting cut, as shown, so that rain

water drains away from the bud.

WEEDKILLERS

For convenience and for

treating pernicious weeds,

use a glyphosate-based

weedkiller, which is

absorbed through the

leaves to kill the roots.

WEEDING BY HAND

Among existing plants,

remove weed seedlings by

hand. Use a hoe on dry

days, severing the stems

where they meet the roots

just beneath the soil, or

dig them out with a fork.

Remove the remaining branch stub, starting from

the upper surface of the branch, just beyond the

crease in the bark where the branch meets the trunk.

Angle the cut away from the trunk.

This pruning method produces a

clean cut, leaving the plant’s

healing tissue intact. The tree will soon

produce bark to cover the exposed area.

To cut back branches, make two

incisions: one, half way through,

from beneath the branch; the second

from the top to meet the undercut.

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PLANT AND MATERIALS GUIDE

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