What Kind of Bushes Are Good to Plant in the Winter?

Deciduous Shrubs

• Some of the toughest, most cold-hardy shrubs are deciduous. Leaf loss before winter means that branches don't have to supply moisture to the leaves. It also allows more radical changes in the tissues to make them less susceptible to winter damage. Shrubs such as forsythia, rugosa rose and lilac may be safely planted in winter if they are completely dormant. Be aware, however, that shrubs are sometimes shipped into nurseries from warmer areas and may not be adjusted to your climate.

Evergreen Shrubs

• Evergreen broadleaf shrubs are usually not as hardy as deciduous bushes, but if you choose carefully you can plant them in winter. Some of the hardiest evergreen broadleaf shrubs are Rhododendron catawbiense and Rhododendron "PJM." Some of the boxwoods are also quite hardy. Needle or conifer evergreens such as dwarf pines and hemlocks may also be quite cold-tolerant. Be sure to keep the rootball of a transplanted evergreen moist to avoid browning of the leaves.

Mild Climate Planting

• In areas where the ground is rarely frozen, fall and winter are great times to plant balled-and-burlapped, container-grown or bare-root shrubs. The roots will continue to grow slowly throughout the winter and the cool weather will keep the plants from suffering water stress. Any type of shrub that is completely hardy and has not been shipped from a warmer climate will do well with winter planting. You may find, however, that nurseries have a better stock of shrubs in the spring.

Cold Climate Planting

• Where winters are severe, shrubs may be planted in holes dug before the ground freezes and filled with leaves or straw. Fill around the roots with soil then mulch well. While you do not gain the root growth possible in milder areas, you do get a head start on spring chores. Be sure to wrap the branches with plastic in exceptionally cold spells.