Planting a shrub Shrubs add a sense of scale to a garden and provide structure throughout the year. They also provide handsome foliage and flowers, as well as exotic fragrances and ornamental fruit.
Autumn is a perfect time for establishing shrubs.
By taking advantage of the moist, warm autumn soil, shrubs will settle in before the chill of winter for a head start in spring. 1 Dig out a large planting hole using a spade. Break up the base with a fork to relieve compaction and to encourage easy establishment of the roots. 2 Add a bucketful of organic matter, such as compost, into the base of the hole and sprinkle in a handful of bonemeal. This will encourage healthy root growth.