What is a garden without shrubs, I always say. Shrubs are an integral part of any attractive garden. The reason for their importance lies in their size and structure. Most of the shrubs look like dwarf trees giving them a delicate touch. Personally I am a shrub fan, not only are shrubs easy to maintain but they provide an aura of rich greenery across the garden. In this article I would like to provide you with information which would help you plant garden shrubs to improve the look and attractiveness across the length of your garden.
What is a shrubbery?
Any area in the in your lawn which is dominated by the presence of garden shrubs is called a shrubbery. A shrubbery usually provides a border to any area of the garden.
Shrubbery design scenarios:
The best places to inculcate a shrubbery in your garden would be along the gate entrance or pathway, around the hedges or surrounding a bed of flower plants. The best shrubs for the above scenarios would be as below
1.) Along the gate entrance: You can indulge in Choisya shrubs and would be my best recommendation for such a scenario. Choisya is an aromatic garden shrub and a popular decorative plants in areas where mild winters are prevalent. The flowers are star shaped and have a strong aroma. The leaves are glossy, 3-8 cm long and compounded with 4-13 leaflets.
2.) Around the hedges: This is my favourite garden scenario. You can build a garden hedge out of shrubs like honeysuckle (any variety of your choice) and set a bottom border using shrubs like Phormium Purpurea, Hidcote or Buddleia Pink. These shrubs provide the perfect combination of color and structure along with a hedge composed of honeysuckle.
3.) Surrounding a bed of flower plants: Citus would be my choice for this scenario. The reason being the delicate 5-petaled flowers available in various colors ranging from white, purple to dark pink, these flowering shrubs add a perfect backdrop to a luscious flower bed. The leaves are evergreen and clustered giving a border like appearance when planted in groups.
Tips on maintaining the Shrubbery:
Maintaining a shrubbery is usually quite easy and does not require a lot of effort on the part of the gardener. It is important ensure the structure of the shrubbery is well maintained; its like giving a haircut to the garden shrubs on periodic basis to keep them well groomed. Most of the shrubs can get infected by pests and hence regular conditioning through pesticides is a must. Garden shrubs grow well in locations where the climate is usually along the range of mild winters and most of them are not suitable for warm summer climates.
I hope this article was useful and would act as a motivation for you to develop shrubberies within your garden. Experiment with the design and colors available to you through the use of various shrubs, have fun!
