When to plant Heather?

Heather thrives in full sun and demands acidic, free-draining soil—ideally sandy or peaty ground with a pH below 6.5. If your garden soil is neutral or alkaline, heather will struggle and eventually fail, so test before planting or grow it in containers filled with ericaceous compost. Avoid heavy clay unless you can improve drainage significantly with sharp sand and organic matter. The best planting windows are March to May and September to October, when the soil is workable and plants can establish roots before temperature extremes. Space plants 40 cm apart; they will knit together into a low, weed-suppressing mat within two to three years. Dig a hole slightly wider than the root ball but no deeper—heather roots are shallow and dislike being buried. Tease out any circling roots gently, place the plant so the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil, then backfill with the excavated soil or ericaceous compost if your native soil is marginal. Water thoroughly after planting to settle roots, even though heather has low water needs once established. A 5 cm mulch of composted bark or pine needles helps retain moisture, suppresses weeds, and maintains acidity. Avoid rich, moisture-retentive mulches like garden compost, which can encourage root rot. Heather dislikes root disturbance, so plant carefully and avoid repositioning later. In exposed sites, firm the soil around the base after winter frosts, as shallow roots can lift. No staking is needed; the plants are naturally compact and wind-tolerant once settled.