<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n9. Inspection Tips <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Taking an active interest in your shrubs is the best way to maintain their growth and health during the year. While shrubs are generally hardy plants, they do require some level of maintenance to ensure they remain free of pests and diseases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can ensure the health of your shrubs by regularly checking on their foliage, stems, roots, and flowers. While it’s essential to monitor the health of your shrubs throughout the year, you’ll need to pay special attention to the plants during the start of the fall season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the shrubs start to change color and shed their foliage before the onset of winter, it’s critical that you give them a close examination. Check for uneven or early pigmentation in the leaves of the shrub, and look for signs of other potential issues, such as defoliation and nutrient deficiencies in the soil. Check the base of the tree for mushrooms \u2013 if there is a large cluster, it may be a sign of root decay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n10. Spraying Leaves <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Waking up to find deer chewing on your new shrub garden is a frustrating experience to deal with for any gardener. If you live in an area of the United States where deer roam freely, then you may need to take protective measures against the destruction of your shrubs by local deer populations. Deer don’t care if you spend months cultivating your garden if the plant tastes good, then they will eat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The use of anti-desiccant sprays is popular among gardeners for increasing the visual qualities of the shrub. Antidesiccant use foliage feeding to enhance the levels of hydration in the leaves, allowing them to absorb more nutrients. Fortunately, the chemicals used in many anti-desiccant spray formulations help in providing our shrubs with resistance to deer damage as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anti-desiccant sprays add gloss to the leaves of your shrub, improving hydration levels while protecting the plants from wildlife in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n11. Transplanting Tips <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Shrubs are hardy plants, and they have high resistance against stress and damage. Even if a deer removes all of the foliage from the bush, the chances are that it will still manage to survive for many seasons after the attack. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Due to their hardy nature, shrubs are one of the easiest and best plants for transplanting. Transplanting involves moving the bush from one area of the garden to another. If you are revamping your garden and want to change the position of your shrubs, you can transplant them without any fear of the bush dying due to the stress of the situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fall is the best time of year for transplanting. During the fall, the foliage does not grow due to the constraints on sunlight during the season. However, the roots grow a bit in the cold weather, allowing the shrub to make a smooth transition from one location to another, with minimal damage to the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n12. Protection <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Where you plant your shrubs in your garden makes a significant difference in the growth and health of your plants. If your shrubs have exposure to high-winds, salt from ocean air, or the southwest sun, then these elements may affect growth, resulting in stunted plants. Recent transplants are also at risk of developing frost-crack if left exposed to extreme cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Protect your shrubs from the elements using polypropylenes, paper, or burlap wrap around the trunk \u2013 burlap is our favorite. Burlap also makes an excellent insulating agent for foliage, and it’s a cheap material available in most hardware stores. Make a wind protector using stakes \u2013 stake four poles around the plant, and encase it in burlap. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attach the burlap to the stakes using twine and your DIY protector will keep your shrub safe during windstorms while allowing for airflow around the bush. Remember to remove the coverings in early spring before the shrub enters its growth stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n13. Staking <\/h3>\n\n\n\n When planting new or transplanted shrubs into the garden, they require support to remain upright. Staking the bush is a great idea to safeguard it against collapse. Planting shrubs bare-root will also result in the plant falling over. Stakes are a cheap and effective way of supporting your shrub while it establishes its root system in the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drive a stake around 18-inches into the flowerbeds, at a distance of 6-inches away from the base of the plant. Use garden twine to fasten the shrub to the stake. However, make sure you leave a sizable gap that allows for the growth of the bush, without constricting the trunk. For younger trees, consider wrapping stiff wire inside a garden hose to prevent the tether from wearing on the bark of the plant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remove the stake after a year of growth, and you should notice that your shrub has no issues with falling over or leaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n14. Handling Fungal Disease <\/h3>\n\n\n\n Fungal disease is one of the most significant threats to the health of your shrub. These plants do not have a high mold-resistance, and the chances are that they will develop a fungal infection if the weather remains humid and cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are a variety of different fungi responsible for deadly infection s in shrubs. The most common pathogen responsible for the development of fungal infection in bushes is “sooty mold.” In the case of this fungus, it attacks the honeydew sap deposits on the bark of the tree left by other pests, such as aphids and thrip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Powdery mildew is also another concern for shrub gardens. This disease attacks many different shrubs, resulting in the development of a white or greyish powder forming on the tops of the foliage. Rusts are also a concern for shrubs, characterized by the development of powdery fungal growths on areas of the plant, presenting a rust-colored infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n15. Selecting Your Planting Site <\/h3>\n\n\n\n The most crucial part of shrub gardening \u2013 is planting in the correct area of your garden. Most shrubs prefer regions of the yard where they get full sun throughout the day. The ground should drain well, and the plants should have protection from windstorms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Always plant your shrub in soil that’s fertile – if your garden does not have a flowerbed, then it’s best to prepare the ground for a few weeks before you start planting. Plant shrubs in the early spring to give them enough time to settle in their new environment before the start of winter. Avoid planting shrubs in shady areas, as the plant will lose its foliage and die, in most cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plan for the growth of your shrub, and don’t plant too near to a wall or fence. Ensure that the bush has enough room to grow to its optimal height, without getting in the way of fixtures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n