Christmas Gardening – winter planting

While it seems very late in the year, planting shrubs and trees is probably your best investment in late autumn gardening. Shrubs and trees are almost always discounted at this time of year so in addition to giving you something to do in the winter garden, savings can be substantial.

Trees that have been dug up from a nurseryman’s field in winter and sold with bare roots are usually the best value for money. and can only be planted while they are dormant, between November and late March. When choosing a tree, run through a simple checklist to make sure you have the best specimen – you need a tree with a straight stem or trunk with unblemished bark and strong, unbroken branches that spread out evenly.

Always prepare the ground well and work lots of well-rotted compost or manure into the bottom of the planting hole. A bare-root tree will have a ring of soil around its stem that shows the original planting depth; replant it at the same depth. Always stake a new tree for the first year after planting, until it has formed strong, new roots, and the current thinking is that a stake that holds the bottom of the stem foot or foot and a half firmly is the best idea, because it allows the top to sway, which in turn strengthens the trunk. Water well after planting, then spread at least three inches of mulch to keep the ground moist around the roots. If the weather turns dry, water the tree’s roots thoroughly so they don’t suffer. Because they can take time to establish roots, don’t panic if the tree doesn’t show new leaves in spring, just scrape the bark with your fingernail and if the plant structure underneath looks green and feels flexible when bent, the tree is just resting, so give it time. If the tissue is brown and the twig snaps though, your tree is deceased!

Christmas gardening tree purchase photograph by splaTT , used under a creative commons attribution licence