Shrubs are expensive to purchase. To protect your investment and get them off to a healthy start, it is important to water them correctly after planting. It's easy if you follow these few steps.

1. Water the shrub thoroughly prior to planting. This step is the most important for reducing transplanting stress.
2. Place the shrub at the proper depth in the planting hole. Some plants, such as azaleas, should be planted high in the soil with an inch of the root ball showing above the surface. Always keep the base of the trunk or stem above ground.
3. Build a soil berm around the shrub. A berm is a shallow basin formed by mounding soil from the planting hole around the drip line. The berm should be 2 to 4 inches high.
4. Fill the berm with water, let it drain and then fill it again. The double watering will ensure that water reaches the bottom of the planting hole.
5. Keep the berm in place for the first growing season, then knock it down when seasonal rains begin.

TIPS:

Add a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch inside the basin to prevent moisture loss and to keep weeds from growing.