When considering shrubs for your garden or yard, many people probably think first of prickly evergreen hedges. But a variety of different types of shrubs are available and each have their preferred environment and features. The dictionary defines the word shrub as “a woody plant smaller than a tree, usually having multiple permanent stems branching from or near the ground.” You may choose the typical evergreen or you might want a colorful, flowering shrub.
The right shrub can make all the difference
Choosing the right shrub for your yard will depend on the type of climate you have in your area, conditions for lighting and water, where it will be planted, and how it will be used, or its purpose. The Aisling View pros can help you decide what type of plant will work best in your soil and climate. We can make suggestions about where it will be planted, but you may want to be the one to decide the “why” for your shrubs.
Just like flowers, shrubs come in a variety of heights and widths. They can be a backdrop to annual and perennial flowers. They can also add interest and drama with varying textures and colors of foliage. In winter, shrubs become the structure for the fallen snow to create undulating drama that plays out atop sleeping garden beds.
Shrubs are more than decorative pieces in your landscape
Shrubs generally are installed to add color or variety to the landscape. But they can also serve a purpose like providing security and privacy. You may install a hedge around your property or between your yard and your neighbor’s yard so that you have privacy when outside. Shrubs can line a path or driveway, giving direction for friends and visitors. Unlike trees, some types of shrubs can be planted close together and form a barrier that’s hard to get through.
You might want to hide some of those areas in your yard that aren’t as attractive like that spot where your trash receptacle sits or around an electrical or mechanical box.
Flowering shrubs can add color as well as purpose to your yard
Flowering shrubs may be planted simply for decoration, but they can be used for privacy as well. And, some people would be surprised at the plants that are classified as shrubs. For example, roses are shrubs. American holly, bayberry, hydrangea and rhododendron are all considered shrubs. Some shrubs must be planted in full sun and others can be planted in shady spots. Different shrubs flower at different times of the year and the foliage may change colors as well.
Aisling View professionals suggest many types of flowering shrubs including:
- Forsythia bursts forth with yellow flowers in early spring. The bush can grow as high at 10 feet.
- Rhododendron blooms can be white, pink, yellow, purple or red. Different species grow better in different zones.
- Azaleas are a type of rhododendron and love being under a shade tree. They bloom in the spring.
- Lilacsprovide a wonderful fragrant bloom in early spring. Like their name, the blossoms are a purple color in varying shades as well as white.
- Serviceberry provides a white blossom in spring, a colorful leaf in the fall and edible berries.
- Dogwoodshrubs, not to be confused with the dogwood tree, also has a white bloom in the spring. Their blooms are smaller than the tree. The shrub is also known for its colorful fall and winter leaves. Some varieties sport red stems and variegated foliage.
- Juniper shrubs vary in shape, size and type. They don’t need pruning, grow in adverse conditions and attract wildlife.
- Viburnum bushes have flowers, colorful fruit (some edible by humans) and lovely fall foliage. They are very versatile for gardens and landscapes.
- Hydrangea provides blooms throughout the summer and part of fall. They have a long live span and come in many different colors. Color may depend on the soil alkalinity.
The professionals at Aisling View can help you select and install shrubs to make your landscape project one you will love and enjoy for years to come. Contact us today at 317-636-9408 for a free estimate.
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