Should I Mound Dirt Or “moat” Dirt In A Barrel Planter For A Gardenia Button Bush?

Question

I got 2 Gardenia button bushes that I put in barrel planters. After a couple days of being planted the root stalks kinda fell loose from each other. I piled more dirt around the base of the bush and patted it down firmly. I did tie some jute around the worse one to hold them together. But when watering, th dirt comes away from the trunk. I just need to know if I should build a little moat type thing around the bottom with dirt to keep the water contained by the trunk.

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Answer 1

The best strategy will be a gentle, sweeping spray from a garden hose or watering can. This should not disturb the soil enough to cause dips and peaks, as this will indicate that there could be root damage done.

This collection of articles will help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/watering