Feed the shrubs?

[Aquagility]

My newly planted (late November) shrubs are starting to show signs of life - the Chaenomales is in full flower!
Is it too early to start feeding them?

[Thunderbird+]

Hi Aquagility,
If spring has arrived in your part of the world, then yes you can start feeding now.
As they are newly planted they will not yet have developed a wide spreading root system, so I would recomend a slow release fertilizer (granular form) and follow the feeding intervals, your shrubs will also bennefit from a mulch in the spring of well rotted compost or manure.
Hope you will be picking some quince fruits in the autumn. Good Luck Tbird+

[Aquagility]

Thank you once again, Thunderbird+. It was you who answered my post (http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Home-and-Garden /Gardening/Question361119.html) about ground cover.
In addition to the small-leaved variagated ivy, I have put in some Vinca Minor and Bergina. They don't come cheap,do they, so I hope they get a move on! I also splashed out on a prostrate Canadian Hemlock, Tsuga Canadensis).
My soil is heavy, very alkaline and full of flint nodules and chalk!
Thanks again. Aquagility.

[Thunderbird+]

O' Hi again Aquagility, just saw your response, thanks.
Yes, those ground-cover plants a dont come cheap but once you have them they are so easy to split up and devided to make extra plants from the clumps, now that springs on the march and it's warming up a bit, they should soon start to get a move on.
The Hemlock is one conifer that should do well in your chalky soil too. Best of Luck Tbird+