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Shrubs are vital ingredients in a garden. They provide height, structure and year-round interest - as well as creating a backdrop for many of the showier plants. When it comes to planting a shrub, there are a couple of important points to remember. You will need to make sure it is set at the right depth and that the roots are teased out a little from the rootball. It also needs to be firmed in properly. After planting, it will need to be kept well watered for the first year (possibly two) and I would also recommend covering the surface of the soil with a mulch to prevent competition from weeds. This will also help retain moisture around the roots of the plant.
Container-grown shrubs can be planted at any time of the year, except when the soil is frozen or waterlogged. Autumn however, is the ideal time for deciduous shrubs because the soil is still warm enough to encourage some root growth before the onset of winter. This helps the shrub establish quickly so that it is more able to withstand any hot, dry spells the following summer. In exposed gardens, or if you are planting evergreens, I would recommend spring planting, which gives the plants a full summer to become established before the onset of their first winter. In these exposed areas, it's also worth putting up a protective barrier of windbreak netting after planting until the plants are established.