How to Plant Quince

Showy blooms appear on flowering quince every spring.

Flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is a fast-growing deciduous shrub that produces showy flowers in shades of orange, red, pink or white every spring. An upright bush that grows up to 12 feet high, flowering quince is used as a hedge, border or in a mass planting. Tart fruits take the place of the blooms, and can be used in jams, jellies or wine, or left on the bush to feed hungry birds. Quince is hardy to USDA zones 4 to 8.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Garden hose
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Choose a planting spot where the quince is exposed to full sun or partial shade. Quince grows in any soil type, but will do best in well-drained soil.

2. Dig a hole two to three times as wide as the quince's root ball. The hole should be slightly shallower than the root ball, as planting the quince too deeply can cause the roots to rot.

3. Slide the quince from its nursery container and set the shrub in the hole with the top of the roots slightly above the soil. If the roots are wrapped in burlap, remove twine or wire, then fold the top of the burlap down so it won't extend above the soil.

4. Backfill the hole with soil, tamping the soil down lightly to remove air pockets. Build a temporary trench around the shrub to hold water, then water the shrub deeply.

5. Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch in a 3-foot ring around the shrub. Don't allow the mulch to pile up against the trunk.

6. Water the quince once every week. Water deeply so the quince develops a healthy root system.

References

• University of Nebraska Extension: Flowering Quince
• University of Vermont Extension: Flowering Quince
• Bluegrass Gardens: Planting Shrubs