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What We've Included
When to Plant | Where to Plant | How to Plant | When to Water | Pruning | Propagating | Common Diseases & Pests | When will they flower?
When to Plant
Pieris shrubs can be grown at any time of the year if the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged.
Where to Plant
Pieris shrubs love acidic soil, as long as it’s well-drained. If your garden’s soil isn’t acidic, then choose a compact plant for a container, filling it with ericaceous soil.
How to Plant
Planting Pieris from Pots
Pot-grown plants are incredibly easy to plant and grow. Whether you’re growing them directly outside into the border or into a container, our pot-grown plants are a breeze from the moment they arrive.
- Water the plant well before planting it in place so that the stress on the plant is minimalised.
- Dig a hole in the border that’s twice the width of the root system, and as deep as it was in its pot.
- Wedge in the plant by adding soil to the gaps in the hole, firming down the surface to ensure it’s in place.
- Water in well, and you’re done!
When to Water Pieris
Water Pieris well throughout the growing season while they’re establishing, especially if you’ve planted them in pots as their soil will drain quickly. After they’ve established, you won’t really need to water them except for periods of drought.
Pruning
To prune Pieris, you can trim way untidy shoots after the flowering season, or just before in spring.
Propagating
Pieris shrubs can be sown from seeds in spring. But, for an exact reproduction of the parent plant, take semi-ripe cuttings in the middle of summer, potting them up and keeping them in a heated greenhouse over winter.
Common Diseases and Pests
Although Pieris isn’t bothered by many pests or diseases, they do have one foe – honey fungus. You may notice your shrub has branch dieback, bleeding bark, or even honey-coloured fungus growing in groups. The presence of mycorrhizal fungi can mitigate the contraction of honey fungus. If you’re particularly worried, you can add mycorrhizal fungi to the planting hole of the plant before planting or work it into the topsoil throughout its growing season.
When will they Flower?
Pieris will flower in summer, usually between March to May. They’re gorgeous when in bloom, but this general timeframe may differ from plant to plant, so double-check the information given with your plant to know for sure.