How to Grow Bushes Right in Front of Windows

Shrubs create a visual barrier and filter light and noise.

Growing bushes right in front of windows creates a privacy screen, filters light and reduces noise. Picking the right kind of bushes to plant in front of windows is an important part of the planing stage. You want to find drought tolerant varieties so that you're not watering excessively--too much water at the base of a house foundation can cause problems. Consider the overall affect; broad-leaf and narrow-leaf evergreen bushes keep their leaves all year, while deciduous shrubs go bare in winter but leaf out in abundance in the spring. Narrow-leaf evergreens tend to be low-maintenance; but if you want flowers, pick a flowering broad-leaf evergreen or a deciduous shrub.

Things You'll Need

• Organic material
• Garden fork or rototiller
• Shovel
• Gravel or stones
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Clear the planting bed of weeds, sticks and rocks. Leave a 12-inch-wide gap between the edge of the planting bed and the side of the house.

2. Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost, seasoned manure or leaf mold over the planting bed and mix it into the top 12 inches of the soil. Use a garden fork for small spaces. For larger projects, consider renting or purchasing a rototiller.

3. Plan where you will plant each shrub. Determine the mature spread of the shrub and plan to leave at least 3 feet between the foliage and the window.

4. Measure the size of the root ball and dig a hole 1 foot wider and the same depth. Pile the dirt next to the hole for easy backfilling.

5. Lay the shrub on its side next to the prepared hole. Hold the shrub by the base of the stem and pull the nursery pot off the roots.

6. Lift the shrub by the root ball and place it into the center of the hole. Backfill the hole with the same soil you took out. Make sure the base of the shrub, where the roots meet the trunk, is the same depth in the soil as it was in the pot.

7. Continue planting until all the shrubs are planted in front of the windows. Water the area, soaking each shrub to the bottom of the planting hole.

8. Spread a layer of gravel or lay stones in the 12-inch-wide transition area between the shrub bed and the side of the house. This creates a barrier that discourages insects from getting into the siding.

9. Add a 4-inch layer of mulch over the shrub bed but keep it 6 inches away from the base of each shrub. The mulch later adds aesthetic appeal and regulates moisture and soil temperature.

10. Prune shrubs in spring right before the new growth starts to keep them from growing too close to the side of the house and the window. Keep the canopy at least 3 feet from the structure.

Tips & Warnings

• Winter temperatures, rainfall and summer heat all affect how well a specific shrub will grow. Ask at your local nursery for the best shrubs for your area before you start planting.

• Plant shrubs in spring or fall. If you plant during the summer, select a week with cool temperatures when possible.

• Water needs vary considerably depending on the type of shrub. Ask your plant reseller how much water you need for the shrubs you planted.

References

• Missouri Department of Conservation: Screens for Small Yards
• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Foundation Plantings
• North Carolina State University: Planting Techniques for Trees and Shrubs