When you plant a shrub has as much to do with its long-term survival as the type of soil and amount of sunlight it will get. The best time to plant a shrub depends on whether you want it to grow fast or slow. You can increase the growth rate of your shrubs by planting them in the fall and mulching them, but this also means that they’ll be smaller than if you planted them in the spring. You can also choose to plant your shrubs in a hole that’s been made ready for them, instead of trying to dig a hole for each one. Even if you don’t have advanced preparation you can still plant outside during any season just keep in mind that the smaller plants will take longer to grow than larger ones planted at the same time.
Spring Shrubs
If you want to grow a shrub quickly, you should plant it in the spring. Shrubs planted in the spring have a head start on the growing season and can get well-established before the hot summer months arrive. Shrubs that do best when planted in the spring are those that prefer a moist soil and cooler temperatures. These include hydrangea, flowering maple, fothergillia and red osier dogwood.
Fall Shrubs
If you want to grow a shrub more slowly, plant it in the fall. A fall planting will allow the shrub to establish itself more deeply in the soil and get a good root system going before the winter arrives. You can plant most shrubs in the fall, even those that prefer a dry soil like azalea and rhododendron.
Winter Shrubs
Plant shrubs in the winter if you want them to grow slowly and be small, but you don’t want to wait until the fall. Winter is a good time to plant shrubs that prefer dry soil like Magnolia and Crape Myrtle. Shrubs that prefer moist soil can also be planted in the winter, but you’ll want to water them more often. Plants that thrive when planted in the winter include hydrangea, forsythia, and forsythia.
Summer Shrubs
If you want your shrubs to be large and full, plant them in the summer. Summer-planted shrubs have more time to grow and will be much larger when the growing season is done. You can plant most shrubs in the summer, but some prefer to be planted in the spring, like rhododendron, spirea, and viburnum.
Summary
If you want your shrubs to grow quickly, plant them in the spring, and if you want them to grow slowly, plant them in the fall. If you want your shrubs to grow quickly but be small, you can plant them in the winter. If you want them to be large, plant them in the summer. If you want your shrubs to be healthy you should plant them when the soil is warm. If you have to plant them in the fall, you should wait until the soil has cooled down and is no longer warm. \ If you plant your shrubs in the fall, you should wait until the soil has warmed up and is no longer cold. If you plant your shrubs in the spring, you should wait until the soil has cooled down and is no longer warm.
