Small Landscaping Shrubs

Compact and colorful, azaleas are an ideal shrub for landscaping small gardens.

Shrubs, like trees, are classified as either deciduous plants, which shed their leaves each year, or evergreens. Both are available in a wide assortment of sizes and shapes, easily bridging the gap between large trees and small flowers. However, in some yards, towering 20-foot shrubs can overwhelm the landscape. In smaller spaces, low-growing shrubs make more effective foundation plants, softening the garden with greenery while giving the yard an established, open look. Does this Spark an idea?

Fall Color

With careful planning, the garden can still be bursting with color long after spring and summer flowers have faded. Though small in stature, shrubs such as the smokebush, azalea, cotoneaster and spicebush are big on colorful fall foliage, reliably producing dazzling seasonal displays each autumn. Small deciduous shrubs can be placed in front of evergreens as the year-round greenery provides an elegant backdrop for the ever-changing foliage and flowers.

Showy Flowers

There is no denying the beauty of a well-maintained flower bed, but spreads of annuals, perennials and bulbs require regular upkeep to look their best. Small flowering shrubs are a low-maintenance way to add color and fragrance to the garden. Use a mix of shrubs, such as the spring-blooming chokeberry, the summer-flowering shrub rose, and the autumn-blooming butterfly bush, to create an ongoing floral display.

Low Hedges

Tall hedges offer privacy and a sense of seclusion, but they can overpower small spaces by blocking out the light and giving the garden a claustrophobic feel. Use small shrubs, such as hebes and lavenders, to form a colorful, casual border, creating an effective boundary while giving the space an open, airy look. Use the traditional boxwood to create a more formal looking hedge -- though the common variety can reach up to 15 feet in height, the dense, small foliage responds well to pruning. Alternatively, boxwood is available in dwarf varieties that are less than 1 foot tall at maturity.

Shady Spaces

While many plants thrive when planted in full sun, others prosper when set in the shade. Fill dark corners and empty spaces with shade-loving shrubs, such as the holly bush or snowberry. Not only will the bright, seasonal berries add color to the garden during the winter, the variegated foliage glows in dark shadows, bringing light to an otherwise gloomy area.

Dry Climates

In arid or desert climates, the lack of natural rainfall can severely limit gardening endeavors. Traditional landscapes can only be created and maintained with extensive, and costly, irrigation. Shrubs that tolerate drought are the mainstay of the water-conserving garden. Small, hardy junipers add year-round greenery to the background, while colorful rugosa roses and bush honeysuckles give a lush look to the garden while using very little water.

References

• Arizona Game and Fish Department: Small Shrubs: Desert Landscaping for Wildlife
• "New Complete Guide to Gardening"; Susan A. Roth;1997
• "The Gardener's Handbook"; Peter McHoy; 2001

Resources

• Nature Hills Nursery: Small Shrubs