Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress'

Planting Advice:

• Grow Mahonia 'Soft Caress' in a sunny, sheltered site in well-drained soil.
• Dig a planting hole 3 x wider than the roots of the shrub you're planting and mix some well-rotted compost or manure with the soil from the hole and use this to re-fill once the shrub is in place.
• We've found that a square hole is better than a round one as the new roots, once they reach the edges tend to grow in a circle round the circumference of the hole whereas when they reach the corners of a square hole, they find it easier to grow through.
• Before planting soak container-grown shrubs thoroughly and allow to drain.
• Remove the plant from its pot and tease out a few of the roots then add Mycorrhizal fungi to the roots when planting to help plants establish quicker.
• Place your shrub in the hole at the same level at the pot and refill the hole with the earth removed (backfilling).
• Firm in the soil with your heel, avoiding the root ball and water well.
• Mulch around the base of the plant with a collar, compost, gravel, bark etc.
• If you're planting into pots, place some old rocks, stones or gravel in the bottom of the pot for drainage and ballast. Use the best compost you can buy and some sand or grit for drainage. 

Aftercare Advice:

• Keep plants well-watered while they establish, especially if planted up in a pot.
• Protect from frost and winds when young.
• Mahonia needs no special pruning; only occasional maintenance is needed to remove any growth that has been damaged over winter
• Every second year after flowering you can prune to size as required and to encourage bushier growth