In this video, we have a root ball that is 20 inches wide, so we ended up with a 50-inch wide hole, and the root ball is 15 inches deep. We set the hole at 12 inches so that root ball would be 2 to 3 inches above the existing grade, so that it will acclimate better once planted.
How Much Space Should Be Between Shrubs?
The distance between a shrub and any boundary should be at least half the width of the shrub at maturity (some shrubs grow as wide or wider than they are tall). For example, space a shrub that grows to 4 feet wide at least 2 feet from a walkway. Fill in open ground between young shrubs with fast-growing annuals and perennials, space holders that provide temporary color and cover ground until the shrubs fill out. The low-maintenance option is to spread organic mulch, such as shredded bark. It requires little upkeep while helping to smother weeds and keep soil moist.
