Planting Instructions for Barberry
Barberry shrubs (Berberis spp.) Grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8, and if specified shade in hot summer afternoons, can develop in zone 9. There are more than 400 different types of deciduous and evergreen barberries, reaching 3 to 10 feet tall, depending on the variety. These dense shrubs produce thorny branches, spring flowers and autumn berries. Many species develop 12 to 24 inches every year. Plant barberry as privacy screens, showcase bushes or shrubs to hold soil in place on slopes.
Period
Bare root barberries direct in the nursery are generally planted in the autumn while in a dormant condition. The roots are kept moist until the plant is set in the ground. Container grown barberries survive planting whenever the ground in not frozen. The opportunity to dig the barberry up and transfer to another location is immediately after the blooms fade.
Location
These decorative shrubs appreciate full to partial sunlight exposure. Complete sunlight brings out their best leaf color. Nearly any well-draining soil is acceptable for growing barberries; this plant also grows well in poor soils. Barberries prefer a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5, which can be moderately acidic to neutral.
Space
These shrubs need a lot of space to grow. When planting as one shrub, find the mature width and split it in half. The result is the total amount of spacing to use. As an instance, if the barberry tree reaches 6 feet wide, then plant it 3 feet away from anything else. For hedges or mass plantings, plant the bushes 2 1/2 to 3 feet apart so the edges of the plants rush into each other.
Preparation
Barberries like loose soil, so dig the soil as deep as the root ball. Spread a few inches of organic material like peat moss or compost over the planting area and blend it in the soil. This provides the slow-to-establish shrub additional nutrients during the initial year. It also increases the water-holding property of the soil, which shields the soil from drying out.
Planting
The hole to the barberry tree has to be twice as wide as the root ball and only as deep. The plant roots need room to spread out in the planting hole. Make sure that the cap of the root ball is even with the surface of the soil. Once the hole is filled in, mulch with organic material to maintain the moisture in the ground and reduce weed growth. Water the area well and supply water each week if there’s no rainfall for the first summer.