Shrub Selection & Installation | Portsmouth NH & Seacoast Properties
Right plant, right place – professional selection, soil preparation, and installation for lasting results
Shrub selection and installation determines whether plants thrive for decades or struggle from the start. Expert Pruning's approach to new plantings prioritizes matching shrubs to site conditions rather than forcing plants into locations where they'll never perform well. We work with property owners in Exeter, Rye, and North Hampton to select species suited to coastal New Hampshire conditions—sandy soils, salt exposure, wind, and variable moisture—and install them with proper technique for long-term success.
Poor plant selection creates maintenance problems that no amount of pruning can solve. A shrub that grows ten feet tall installed under a five-foot window requires constant cutting to maintain clearance, while species intolerant of salt spray decline year after year despite care and intervention. Getting the planting decision right initially prevents years of predictable frustration and expense.
Shrub selection begins with understanding site conditions and intended function before considering aesthetics. Sunlight exposure, soil drainage, mature plant dimensions, and realistic maintenance expectations drive the selection process. A foundation planting benefits from shrubs that stay compact naturally rather than fast-growing species requiring aggressive pruning to control size.
Expert Pruning evaluates coastal exposure, soil quality, and available space on properties throughout Portsmouth, Dover, and Greenland to recommend shrubs that will actually succeed long-term. Coastal sites from York to Kittery in Southern Maine present particular challenges—salt spray and wind limit plant choices significantly compared to inland locations. Selecting species appropriate to Zone 6b coastal conditions eliminates the cycle of planting, watching plants struggle, replacing, and repeating the same mistakes with the same unsuitable species.
Right plant, right place prevents future problems
Choosing the Right Shrub
🌿 Selection Criteria We Use
- Mature size: Does the plant fit the space in 5–10 years without constant pruning?
- Sunlight needs: Full sun, partial shade, or full shade tolerance matched to actual site conditions
- Soil requirements: Drainage, pH, and nutrient needs compatible with existing soil or planned amendments
- Coastal tolerance: Salt spray, wind, and sandy soil tolerance for exposed Seacoast properties
Soil Preparation & Site Assessment
Foundation for plant establishment and long-term health
🌱 Soil Preparation Steps
- Site assessment: Evaluate drainage, test soil pH and nutrients, identify compaction issues
- Bed preparation: Work amendments across entire planting area, not just individual holes
- Drainage improvement: Install drainage solutions when needed before planting, not after plants fail
- Organic matter addition: Incorporate compost based on soil test results and plant needs
Soil preparation determines whether shrubs establish quickly or languish for years struggling to grow. We assess drainage, compaction, organic matter content, and soil structure across the entire planting area—not just individual holes. Proper bed preparation encourages roots to grow beyond the original container and access water and nutrients from surrounding soil rather than remaining confined to the planting hole like a potted plant stuck in the ground.
Coastal soils from Hampton to Newington in New Hampshire and down through Eliot in Southern Maine are typically sandy with fast drainage and low organic matter. Our team amends planting areas based on soil testing results and specific plant requirements rather than applying generic recommendations that may not address actual site conditions. Properties near the coast in Stratham, Greenland, and North Hampton often need organic matter incorporation to improve water retention, while low-lying sites or areas with clay layers may require drainage improvement before any planting occurs.
25+
Years selecting shrubs for coastal conditions
95%+
Survival rate with proper selection & installation
18
Towns across NH Seacoast & Southern Maine
Professional Installation
Planting correctly from the star
âś… Professional Installation Includes
- Proper depth: Root flare exposed, planted at grade, no stem burial
- Complete material removal: All containers, burlap, wire, tags, and binding removed
- Root handling: Gentle loosening of circling roots, preservation of root ball integrity
- Establishment watering: Deep initial watering and schedule for first growing season
Installation technique affects establishment success as much as plant selection and soil preparation. We set shrubs at proper depth—finding the root flare where trunk meets roots and planting at grade rather than burying stems which causes rot and decline. All binding materials, containers, wire baskets, and tags are removed completely to prevent root girdling as plants mature. Planting holes are dug two to three times the container width but no deeper than the root ball to prevent settling that would bury the stem.
Our installation work on properties throughout Durham, Rochester, and across Seacoast NH includes backfilling with native soil unless amendments are specifically needed based on testing. We establish proper mulch depth of two to three inches while keeping mulch pulled back from stems to prevent moisture-related rot. Initial watering and first-season schedules create good soil contact around roots without creating waterlogged conditions that suffocate roots and prevent oxygen access.
Shrub Replacement
When to replace and when to restore
🔄 Replacement Indicators
- Wrong species for location: Plant fundamentally unsuited to site conditions, climate, or available space
- Severe structural damage: Major trunk splitting, extensive dieback, or irreparable storm damage
- Advanced disease: Systemic infections like root rot or vascular diseases with poor recovery prognosis
- Size mismatch: Mature dimensions incompatible with location requiring constant aggressive pruning
Not every struggling shrub needs replacement—some can be restored through proper care and corrective pruning, while others are better removed and replanted with appropriate species. We assess whether decline stems from correctable issues like improper pruning, nutrient deficiency, or manageable pest pressure, or from fundamental problems like wrong plant for the location, severe structural damage, or disease beyond practical recovery.
Properties from Wells to Portsmouth face this decision regularly—a shrub planted fifteen years ago in the wrong location creates ongoing problems no amount of care can fix. Sometimes the most cost-effective solution is removing a poorly suited plant and installing the right species rather than managing predictable failures year after year. Other times, an overgrown but structurally sound shrub in Exeter or Rye benefits more from renovation pruning than replacement, preserving mature landscaping at fraction of the cost.
Professional Shrub Removal
Complete removal and site restoration
Shrub removal involves more than cutting plants down—proper removal includes extracting root systems to prevent regrowth and preparing sites for new plantings or alternative uses. We remove shrubs completely, grind stumps when needed, and address underlying soil conditions that may have contributed to the original plant's failure before recommending any replacements. This prevents installing new shrubs into the same problematic conditions that caused the previous plants to fail.
Expert Pruning provides removal services on properties from York and Kittery in Southern Maine down through Portsmouth, Newington, and across the NH Seacoast when shrubs reach the end of useful life, create safety hazards, or need elimination to make room for better-suited plantings. Complete removal and site preparation prevents new plants from struggling in depleted soil or competing with persistent root systems from inadequately removed predecessors—a common problem when removal is done incorrectly or incompletely.
🔨 Complete Removal Process
- Plant removal: Cut above ground and extract root systems to prevent regrowth
- Stump grinding: Grind stumps below grade when preparing for new plantings or lawn restoration
- Debris removal: Haul away all plant material, roots, and waste from site
- Site preparation: Amend soil, address drainage, and prepare for new plantings if replacing
Ongoing care after installation determines whether newly planted shrubs establish successfully or struggle through their first growing season. The first year is critical—shrubs need consistent moisture while roots grow beyond the original container and access surrounding soil. Expert Pruning provides establishment care guidance and can schedule follow-up visits to monitor new plantings and address any issues that emerge during this vulnerable period.
Long-term care requirements depend on species selection and site conditions established during installation. Properties across Seacoast NH and Southern Maine with properly matched plants and well-prepared soil require far less maintenance than landscapes fighting poor selection or inadequate site preparation. Our team works with homeowners in Hampton Falls, Stratham, and Greenland to develop realistic maintenance expectations based on actual plant needs rather than generic recommendations that don't account for coastal conditions or specific site challenges
Schedule Your Shrub Selection Consultation
Expert Pruning provides professional shrub selection, installation, replacement, and removal services throughout Portsmouth, Exeter, and across Seacoast NH and Southern Maine. Contact us to discuss your planting needs and site conditions.
Contact Expert Pruning