Landscaping with Shrubs
Texture, color, sunlight and shade are all elements of effective landscaping. These elements can be achieved by the choices and placement of shrubs, trees, vines, flowers and herbs. Comfy benches under leafy shade trees; stone stepping tiles strategically placed in luscious flower beds; and refreshing water features add even more interest to the landscape. The all-important shrub often serves as a landscaping centerpiece.
The Burning Bush is a well-known and admired centerpiece shrub that floods the landscape with a spectacular display of red during the fall months. The large round bush is at home in just about any landscape.
When the ground is covered with snow, the China Holly comes to the rescue of the barren landscape, with deep green foliage and bright red berries. The colorful bush is equally impressive against a white picket fence or light-colored house.
If you’re looking for year-round color, choose shrubs that bloom more than one season per year. The Purple Sand Cherry will provide color in the form of flowers in May, and purple leaves and red cherry berries in the fall and early winter months.
Shrubs Earn Their Place in the Landscape
In addition to adding interesting color to the landscape, shrubs can be used to mask unappealing concrete foundations around the outside of the house. They can also serve as sturdy organic privacy fences. Low shrubs are good borders around flower beds. If you’d rather use your Saturday mornings for something besides mowing a large lawn, break up the lawn by creating mini gardens of comprised of shrubs and flowers.
Topiaries, which are shrubs that have been clipped into a shape, are wonderful conversation pieces and an exciting addition to any landscape. With a little practice, anyone can acquire the skills to create and maintain the topiaries.
Most shrubs continue to provide color and texture year after year, but require very little care and maintenance. They are delicate enough to be beautiful and graceful, but strong enough to withstand the elements in most cases.
If you travel, or need to be away from home often, shrubs may be a good landscaping choice for you. Two beautiful low-maintenance shrubs include the Bougainvillea with beautiful red leaves, and the Mentor Barberry.
Shrubs Come in Many Sizes and Shapes
Once you consider where you want to plant shrubs, you’ll have no problem finding a shrub that is the right size and shape for your area. The Smooth Hydrangea grows three to five feet tall, and the Chinese Juniper can stretch up to eight feet. Shorter shrubs include the Cranberry Cotoneaster and the Dwarf Honeysuckle, which grow to about three feet. Some shrubs are bushier, while others are more contained and vertical. Shrubs can be trimmed and clipped to just about any shape and size that will accommodate your landscaping needs.
Let your imagination take over when you landscape. You can’t go wrong when you incorporate interesting props and a wide variety of plants, including climbing vines, ground covers, herbs, colorful flowers and multi-seasonal bushes.
Tags: gardening, Trees and Shrubs