- Consider using shrubs in a variety of ways, such as for privacy hedges, as a backdrop for other plantings, to define garden beds, to line your property and to add seasonal interest. Plant landscaping shrubs in the fall or early spring, giving roots plenty of time to become established. Make sure your shrubs have plenty of good, well-drained soil, and consider adding compost to the soil prior to planting. When you are ready to plant your shrubs, loosen the roots with a knife before placing the shrubs in the hole and give them lots of water at first. Because shrubs grow so quickly, they must be pruned frequently with an electric or gas-powered hedge trimmer. Don't worry if your shrubbery landscape looks empty initially because the shrubs will spread out and fill in gaps over time. Once the shrubs are established, all you have to do is keep them mulched. Some species of landscaping shrubs don't even need pruning.
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Consider where the shrubs are going to be placed before you choose the best types for your yard. Find out a shrub's growth habit (the shape and height it will grow). You don't want to plant a tall shrub in front of a first-floor window. And if you want to disguise a foundation, a small juniper would not do much good. If planting near walkways, avoid shrubs that would obstruct them once the shrubs reach their mature height, but also stay away from a plant that would grow long, low branches right beside the walk.
Read on the tag about each shrub's sun requirement. For example, an azalea will die in the sun, but a crepe myrtle can't survive in shade. For your shady areas, consider azaleas, one of the most popular landscaping shrubs, which produce pink, purple and white blossoms in spring. A rhododendron grows best among other underbrush. For sunny spots, include gardenia, which has white flowers with a sweet perfume in summer, or crepe myrtle, which can grow 10 feet high.
Take into account the seasonal interest new shrubs might provide. Spring flowering shrubs include salix melanostachys, jasminum and daphne; examples of summer flowering shrubs are cinquefoil and little leaf lilac; shrubs colorful in the fall include burning bush, smoketree, firethorn and viburnum; for winter, choose from the many varieties of evergreen shrubs--among the easiest and hardiest of all shrubbery--such as holly and juniper, which are maintenance-free and attract birds to their bright red wintertime berries.
For landscaping shrubs that offer pleasant aromas, consider lilac, witch hazel, viburnum and weigela. Then, there is the incomparable aromatic rose bush, which is also beautiful and makes attractive privacy hedges and foundation plantings.
