Gardening Basics

Shrubs Provide Color, Texture for Landscape

Posted by Sylvia J. Barnes

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.

Although most shrubs are green most of the time, many of them have a blooming season where they take center stage in the landscape. One notable centerpiece shrub is the Burning Bush. The large bush proudly displays splendid red color during the fall months, when other garden color may be fading.

China Holly, with its evergreen leaves and red berries, can always be counted on for cheerful color contrast during the winter months. This shrub is a good choice for northern climates with a long winter.

Choosing multi-season shrubs will ensure year-round color in your landscape. A Purple Sand Cherry offers bright flowers in May, red cherry berries in the fall and purple foliage until the winter months.

Shrubs Make Good Fences

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 are not high-maintenance plants. They don’t require constant watering and tending. With just a little pruning and moderate watering, most shrubs will provide years of enjoying for the homeowner.

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.

Plant Shrubs in the Right Place

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.

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