New shrubs, can it be too wet to plant out?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by rovingricey, Apr 5, 2011.

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Should I leave shrubs in pots for a week or two?

Poll closed May 5, 2011.
  1. Yes, it won't harm them to stay in the pots for a while

    3 vote(s)
    100.0%
  2. No, get them in the ground asap!

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. rovingricey

    rovingricey Gardener

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    I've just bought some plants off Ebay for the first time. They haven't arrived yet but hopefully in a few days I should have the following:
    - acer
    - chocolate cosmos
    - star jasmine
    -pieris (valentine)
    - rowan tree

    My question is this: I'm in the west of Scotland and it is rather wet this week. The space I cleared in the borders to plant some of the above in has already filled with water. I know we have a problem with drainage that I'm trying to improve over time (by unblocking some previously bunged up drains and improving the heavy clay soil with lots of compost etc) but should I wait until a dry spell to plant the new plants when they arrive?

    As far as I know they will all arrive in pots so would it be OK to leave them against a wall in their pots for a week or two? Or should I get them in the ground straightaway?

    I know this might sound daft but our soil is so wet I'm worried it'll rot the roots away!
     
  2. Alice

    Alice Gardener

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    Hi Rovingricey. Those plants will be just fine in their pots for some time to come. Just don't forget to water them if need be.
    I definitely wouldn't plant them out into water logged ground. That's certain death.
     
  3. rovingricey

    rovingricey Gardener

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    Ok, so the Rowan has arrived and is actually bareroot (my fault, should have read the details more carefully). I presume it still makes sense not to plant in waterlogged ground but should I plant it up in a container while I wait for the water to drain away?

    The spot I had earmarked for the Rowan looks like a bog! It's full of cold rain water although the rain has finally stopped.
     
  4. Alice

    Alice Gardener

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    Hi Rovingricey. No don't plant your Rowan into that bog. Plant it up in a decent sized pot as soon as you can. It's getting late in the year now to be planting bare root trees so once it's in that pot I would leave it there to root up into a pot grown plant and plant it at the back end of the year once it has gone dormant. That will give you plenty of time to get your ground into good condition. Same for your other plants. If the grounds not ready leave them in pots til it is.
    Good luck but I think they will be fine.
     
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