The Best Time to Plant a Creosote Bush

Planting Time

• Creosote bush has a long taproot. This makes transplanting large shrubs very difficult. For best results, choose smaller shrubs and prune the foliage before planting. Transplant during late winter or early spring in soil most suited for growth to achieved optimal establishment, cites Jill Nokes in "How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest". Do not trim the roots before planting.

Soil and Site

• Planting in the right soil and site is as important for growth as is the proper planting time. Select an area of full sun for planting the creosote bush. Although the shrub adapts to a range of very well-draining soil types, growth is best in alkaline soil. The creosote bush is highly heat and drought tolerant and is hardy to temperatures as low as minus10 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant has minimal water requirements. Overwatering kills the shrub.

Planting Suggestions

• Removing all weeds and grass in the planting area. The creosote bush does not compete well with other vegetation. Dig the planting hole twice as wide as the root ball. Keeping loose soil around rootball allows the roots to rapidly expand and establish. Dig only deep enough to leave 6 inches of loose soil at bottom of the rootball. Avoid deep planting.

Care

• After planting, water the soil enough to saturate the ground. Water smaller-sized shrubs weekly through the first summer of growth. This is important in areas with very high summer temperatures. Applying organic mulch around the plant keeps weeds under control and conserves soil moisture. Grass reduces creosote plant growth by nearly 50 percent, cites George Oxford Miller in "Landscaping with Native Plants of Southern California."