- 1). Purchase a bush from a reputable garden center or nursery.Before buying, inspect it for signs of insect infestation or mold growth. Plant only healthy plants in your garden.
- 2). Choose an area of your garden to plant the bush. Barberry bushes thrive in direct sunlight. Allow enough room for the bush to reach its full size; barberry bushes can grow 4 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide.
- 3). Mix organic material such as peat or compost into your soil to improve drainage. Red barberry bushes are easily damaged by over-watering, and therefore need soil that drains very well.
- 4). Dig a hole that is three times wider than the bush's root ball, but no deeper than the soil in the bush's current container. Place the bush in the hole.
- 5). Fill the hole halfway with soil, then compact the soil with your shovel to remove any air bubbles. Finish filling the hole and compact again.
- 6). Water the plant until the soil is thoroughly moist. Water twice per week in the same way to keep the plant from drying out.
- 7). Fertilize the bush a month after planting, once the roots have had a chance to spread out. Use a general purpose fertilizer, as the bush will benefit from most types of fertilizer. If you are unsure about a product, consult with an expert at a garden center or nursery.
- 8). Fertilize with the same fertilizer in early spring and later summer each year.
- 9). Prune dead branches or extraneous branches as necessary throughout the year to keep the plant healthy.
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