How to Plant Bare-root McKenzie Black Chokeberry Shrubs

Photinia melanocarpa , also more commonly known as the McKenzie Black chokeberry shrub or Aroniaberry is a native plant to eastern North America. This is a medium-sized shrub perfect for planting as a living fence, or in a windbreak. It is hardy in the U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 3 through 8. This shrub grows to a height of 5 to 10 feet with a spread of 4 to 5 feet. When I first read the name chokeberry, my mind thought it read, chokecherry, but they are not related. So don’t make that mistake.

The McKenzie black chokeberry is a deciduous shrub, which means that the leaves will drop in the fall. In the spring, clusters of white flowers appear, making them more striking against the dark glossy green leaves. The flowers will draw hummingbirds and bees in to pollinate, so the fruit can form. In mid- to late summer, clusters of berries form. Each berry is about 1/2 inch in diameter. When September arrives, the berries have turned a dark purple-black. This is the time to harvest the berries. The berries can be used to make jelly, juice or wine. You can also can the berries in their whole state. If you wait too long, the berries will shrivel on the plant. Birds do not bother this food source very often. In the fall, the leaves will turn bright red before they flutter to the ground.

The McKenzie black chokeberry is usually shipped out as bare-root plants. They may not look like much when you get them, a stick with a root section, but they will take off and grow beautifully when planted in the ground. They need different care than shrubs that you buy already growing in containers.

Prepare the Soil

It is a good idea to prepare the ground where you want to plant the shrubs before the shrubs arrive. If the shrubs are coming in the spring, work the soil in the fall. If you are expecting them in the fall, work the ground in the late summer or early spring. This gives the soil time to settle and you don’t have all the work to accomplish when the bare-root shrubs arrive.

Location

Find a sunny to partly sunny location for the McKenzie Black Chokeberry shrubs. Remove any weeds or grass growing in the area. Dig a hole with your spade that is 3 feet in diameter. If you want to plant a hedge, till or dig up the entire planting area to break up the ground. Do not dig the holes until the shrubs arrive. The day before the trees arrive, you can dig the holes.

Unpacking

When the shrubs arrive, decide whether you want to plant them or wait. Usually nurseries or your local county extension district will send you the bare-root shrubs when all danger of frost is past. If you need to wait, store them in a cool, shady location that offers wind protection. The air temperature should be around 33° to 35° Fahrenheit with a 95% humidity rate. Do not remove the packaging until you are ready to plant them. At that time, unpack them carefully, so you don’t damage their delicate root system. If you do accidentally break a root, cut the broken piece off with sterilized pruning shears.

Pour water into one or more 5-gallon buckets, depending on how many shrubs you have and are going to plant within a certain amount of time. Or if you have one of those galvanized water troughs, you can use that instead. You only want enough water to cover the root section. Place the shrub’s roots in the water and leave them to soak for four to six hours. Add more water if necessary. While the roots are soaking, it is time to start digging the holes.

Holes

Dig the planting hole or holes 2 feet wider than the root system and the depth of the planting hole should be slightly deeper. Scuff the sides and bottom of the planting hole, so the roots can penetrate beyond the walls easily. Space the holes 3 to 6 feet apart, depending on how dense you want your hedge or windbreak to be.

Planting

Fill the holes with water before you plant. This ensures that the water goes deep into the soil. After the water has drained away, remove one shrub from the bucket and immediately position it in the hole. The shorter the time that the roots are exposed to the open air, the better the chances of your shrub surviving.
It is a good idea to have someone help you at this time. While one person holds the tree in the center of the hole, the other person can begin filling in the holes with soil. The root collar should be at or slightly below the soil line. To find the root collar, look at the trunk, just above the root section. It will be a darker area. As you work, tamp the soil in place with your hands or feet to eliminate air pockets.

Watering

Water the shrubs thoroughly using a soaker hose as you plant them. This will further remove air pockets in the soil and give the roots moisture. Check the shrubs again to see if they are planted to the right depth. If the soil settles too far, exposing the roots, add more soil. If the McKenzie black chokeberry shrub sinks deeper into the soil, gently pull it upward while the soil is wet. This way you won’t damage the roots.

Unless your area has rainfall, water once a week for the first summer to ensure best survival rates. Allow the soil to dry out between watering so the roots will go deep into the soil. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy or the roots may rot.

Mulch

Place a 2 to 4 inch layer of mulch over the ground. Keep the mulch 1.5 to 2-inches away from the trunk of the shrub. Mulch helps to retain moisture content and reduces the chance of weeds growing.

Pests

Pests rarely bother the McKenzie black chokeberry shrub.