I live in the south east and would like to plant some shrubs before the winter sets in. The soil is sandy and free draining. Autumn is a good time for planting, but is it now too late?
No, just right for hardy container-grown shrubs, as long as the soil isn't waterlogged (unlikely on sandy soil) or frozen. Bare-root planting season is just about starting and runs through until spring. Anything on the tender side is probably best left until spring.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
Autumn and early winter are the best times for planting shrubs and trees aslong as the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged. On sandy soil it pays to fork in as much organic matter as you can for a metre square - well rotted manure and/or garden compost and/or leaf mold are ideal but even just chopped up straw will help retain moisture.
Water the plant well by dunking its pot in a big bucket of water till no further air bubbles appear then plant it at the same depth as it was in the pot, fir in gently, water well and mulch with more organic matter (but not right up to the stem as it will rot) or some chipped bark to help retain moisture in days of drying winds and bright sun.
If bare rooted, soak the plants in a bucket of water overnight as soon as your recieve them. Trim off any broken bits then plant as above looking for the tide mark on the stem to show its previous planting depth.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
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Water the plant well by dunking its pot in a big bucket of water till no further air bubbles appear then plant it at the same depth as it was in the pot, fir in gently, water well and mulch with more organic matter (but not right up to the stem as it will rot) or some chipped bark to help retain moisture in days of drying winds and bright sun.
If bare rooted, soak the plants in a bucket of water overnight as soon as your recieve them. Trim off any broken bits then plant as above looking for the tide mark on the stem to show its previous planting depth.