The best time to plant your shrub or tree is when you buy it, isn't it? Mmmm...perhaps. Or, maybe it doesn't matter and has no bearing on the plant at all.

I like to compare it to eating ice-cream. You can eat ice-cream whenever you want but it's best enjoyed, and certainly more refreshing, when you eat it in the the hotter months. If you try eating it in winter you're sure to suffer brain-freeze with almost every lick but it is possible to down and ice-cream even if the temperature outside is sub-zero.

"What does this have to do with planting shrubs?", you ask. Well...like eating ice-cream, planting shrubs and trees can happen almost any time. Even in the coldest winter or hottest summer shrubs can be successfully transplanted and still achieve their optimum growing size.

However (and here's the big "BUT"), you will have more success with your plants if you transplant them at more appropriate times in the season.

While most gardeners assume that spring is the best time to plant out your shrubs and trees it needs to be stated that this depends on what type of shrubs are being transplanted. Planting in spring is certainly a good general "rule-of-thumb" but if you only adhere to this rule your garden could be deprived of some better advice.

Here are some thoughts to ponder with your different plants and shrubs;

• Native Shrubs and Trees - these will be the hardiest of all shrubs and trees that you plant provided they are truly indigenous to your area. If they are then you can assume that they are already acclimitised and won't require any special attention. For these shrubs, planting them out at the end of autumn can assist their growth but also ensure they get watered in well over the winter months.


• Fruit trees - Bare-rooted fruit trees (apples, pears, stone fruit etc) can be planted in the later months of winter while potted fruit trees (including citrus) really need to wait until the start of spring at least before they go in the ground.


• Exotic Ornamentals - this type of shrub or tree requires your local knowledge for the best time to transplant. The general rule of planting in spring is probably best but understand that exotic ornamentals will require more care than the first two.

Apart from timing, your newly transplanted tree or shrub will require some special attention for the first few weeks since being dug in. Fertilising, extra watering and mulching will all be required to help establish your plants.