Fatsia japonica 'Camouflage'

Planting Advice:

• Shrub roots tend to spread out rather than down, so dig a planting hole three times 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 one the shrub is in place.
• 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.
• 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.
• Refill the hole with the earth removed, backfilling, and firm in the soil with your heel, avoiding the root ball.
• Water well and mulch around the base of the plant with a collar, compost, gravel, bark etc

Aftercare Advice:

• Happiest in dappled shade where it will bring an almost tropical feel to beds and borders.
• Not fussy with soil type and in fact performs best in heavy clay.
• Protect plants from cold, drying winds.
• Older leaves may turn yellow and then brown - just trim them off leaving a 1in stub which quickly falls off.
• Leaves will blacken in extreme cold (-4°C or below) but miraculously the plant will quickly recover as the temperature rises - any damaged foliage can then be cut back.

Pruning Advice:

• Prune lightly in mid to late spring, trimming back any shoots that spoil its shape.
• Older plants will tolerate rough treatment and the odd hack back is soon forgotten with a burst of new growth.