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Shrubs are an important part of almost every garden. They provide height, shape and structure to borders, can create privacy and shelter, and bring colour through flowers, foliage, berries and autumn leaves. With careful choices, shrubs can provide interest throughout the year without demanding large amounts of maintenance.
Before buying, look at the conditions in your garden and think about what you want the plant to do. Soil, sunlight, available space and eventual size all affect how well a shrub will grow and how easily it will fit into the garden in years to come.
A shrub may look irresistible when it is covered in flowers, but its growing conditions matter far more in the long term. Plants suited to their position generally establish more readily, grow more strongly and are easier to care for in the long term.
Before buying, consider:
A small shrub in a garden centre pot can eventually become a substantial plant. Choosing according to its mature size can save years of repeated pruning or the need to move it later.
ð Expert Tip: Look at the planting position at different times of day before deciding that it is sunny or shady. Buildings, trees and fences can significantly change the amount of light reaching a border.
Shrubs can perform very different jobs depending on their size, shape and growth habit. A larger specimen might provide a focal point or screen an unwanted view, while compact varieties work well towards the front of borders or in smaller gardens.
Think about what the space needs. You may be looking for:
Where space is limited, a naturally compact variety is usually easier to manage than a vigorous shrub that needs frequent pruning simply to keep it within bounds.
Both evergreen and deciduous shrubs have valuable roles, and a garden will often benefit from a mixture of the two.
Evergreen Shrubs
Keep their foliage through winter, providing year-round structure, screening and a backdrop for seasonal planting.
Examples: Mexican orange blossom, spindle, Photinia âRed Robinâ, yew, holly and cherry laurel.
Deciduous Shrubs
Lose their leaves in winter but can provide excellent flowers, berries, autumn colour and attractive stems through the seasons.
Examples: forsythia, weigela and hydrangea.
Flowering shrubs can extend the season of colour beyond the main displays from perennials and annuals. By using plants that flower at different times, borders can have something happening from winter through to autumn.
Christmas box produces small but intensely fragrant flowers during winter, while many daphnes are also prized for their scent in the colder months. Later in the year, shrubs such as bridal wreath, weigela and hydrangea provide further displays of flowers.
Fragrant shrubs are particularly effective where their scent will be noticed. Good positions include:
For sunny, well-drained ground, lavender combines aromatic foliage with flowers that are also popular with pollinating insects.
ð Expert Tip: Spread flowering periods across the year rather than filling a border with plants that all peak at once. A few well-timed shrubs can keep colour and fragrance going for much longer.
Light levels have a major influence on plant growth and flowering, so it is worth matching each shrub to the conditions available.
Warm, sunny sites suit many flowering shrubs, especially where the soil drains freely.
Lavender and rock rose both perform well in sunny, well-drained positions. Other sun-loving shrubs include many roses, shrubby cinquefoil and butterfly bush.
Sun does not automatically mean dry soil, however. A sunny border with moisture-retentive clay can offer very different conditions from a light, sandy bed, so soil and drainage still need to be considered.
Shade does not mean you have to rely on foliage alone.
Oregon grape is a tough evergreen that performs well in shade and produces clusters of yellow flowers from winter into early spring. Many hydrangeas are also suited to partial shade, provided their soil and moisture requirements are met.
The type of shade makes a difference. A border shaded by a wall may remain reasonably moist, while soil beneath mature trees can be both shady and dry because established roots compete for water.
Many shrubs need relatively little attention once established, particularly when their natural size and growing requirements suit the position.
For an easier garden, look for shrubs that naturally fit the space available and are suited to your soil, light levels and exposure. This reduces the need for frequent pruning, additional watering or other ongoing care.
Low maintenance does not mean no maintenance. Most shrubs will still benefit from occasional pruning where necessary, watering during prolonged dry periods and a mulch to help conserve moisture and improve the soil.
Shrubs can define a boundary, increase privacy, provide shelter or divide different areas of a garden.
Evergreens such as yew offer year-round screening, while deciduous hedges give more obvious seasonal change. Beech is particularly useful because a regularly trimmed hedge often retains its dry brown leaves through much of winter, maintaining some screening until new foliage appears.
Hornbeam has a similar appearance and is often useful on heavier soils where beech may be less suitable.
For a softer, more informal boundary, flowering and fruiting plants can be mixed together. Hawthorn, blackthorn, holly and guelder rose are all useful components of a mixed native hedge.
Shrubs contribute far more than ornamental value. Dense growth can provide shelter and potential nesting places, while flowers supply nectar and pollen and fruits or berries provide food later in the year.
Native shrubs can be particularly valuable where wildlife is a priority, but non-native garden shrubs can also provide useful flowers, fruit, shelter and nesting cover.
You do not need a dedicated wildlife area to include them. A few suitable shrubs within a mixed border, or a mixed hedge along a boundary, can add habitat while still contributing flowers, foliage and seasonal interest to the garden.
It is easy to buy plants at the moment they look their best and end up with a garden that peaks during one short part of the year.
Look beyond the flowers and consider foliage, berries, fragrance, autumn colour, bark and coloured stems as well.
A seasonal mix might include:
A good mix of dependable structural shrubs and seasonal highlights can provide interest without expecting every plant to do everything.
Plant labels contain much of the information needed to judge whether a shrub is appropriate for a particular part of the garden.
Check:
It is also worth looking at the plant itself rather than selecting purely by the number of flowers on display. Healthy foliage, firm growth and a balanced shape are usually better indicators of a plant that will establish well.
ð Expert Tip: Mature height and spread on plant labels are useful guides rather than exact limits. Soil, climate, pruning and other local conditions can all influence the eventual size of a shrub.
Autumn through to early spring is a good period for planting most shrubs, provided the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. Cooler conditions allow roots to establish before the demands of warmer weather.
Container-grown shrubs can be planted at other times of year, although they need closer attention to watering when planted during spring or summer. Hot, dry weather is best avoided where possible.
Water the rootball thoroughly before planting. Dig a hole that allows the roots to spread comfortably, but avoid setting the plant too deeply. The top of the rootball should sit around the same level as the surrounding soil.
Backfill with soil, firm gently and water thoroughly.
A layer of organic mulch can help the soil retain moisture, but keep it clear of the stems rather than piling it against the base of the shrub.
Newly planted shrubs need regular watering while their roots become established, particularly during dry spells. Keep a close eye on them during their first two years.
ð Expert Tip: Autumn is often a particularly convenient planting time. The soil still holds warmth from summer, while cooler and usually damper conditions reduce the amount of watering needed.
A shrub that suits its position will usually be easier to look after and more attractive in the long term. Consider the soil, light, available space and the role you want it to play before deciding what will work best.
Visit us in Kington. Explore our range of garden shrubs and talk to our team about plants suited to your garden, from evergreen structure and flowering shrubs to hedging and seasonal interest.
