If you're looking for a hassle-free border for your garden that is bursting with color, blooming shrubs are the answer. The list to choose from is long, whether you're looking for texture or color. Azaleas, lilacs, shrub rose, spirea, dogwood, viburnum and hydrangeas are some of the favorites

The key to a good-looking and sturdy border is to not compromise or be rigid in terms of color, texture or height, says Chris Johnson. Evergreen trees like arborvitae or a coniferous larch are ideal options for the ends of the border. These act as anchors while lending height to the border. You can scatter suitable shrubs in between. A dogwood next to the arborvitae will add to the overall effect. It has ornamental leaves and produces white flowers in the spring.

For the center, a cluster of hydrangeas are an ideal option. They grow 3-5 feet tall and equally wide and have big leaves. They produce pom-pom blooms during early to midsummer. You can choose different varieties for the cluster so that you have multi-colored hydrangeas.

Shrub roses are a favorite as they add color all year long and are relatively maintenance-free. You have a wide array of colors to choose from and most of them are usually resistant to insects and diseases. They grow to about a couple of feet tall, but need more room at the top as they require free air circulation around them.

For the corners of your shrub border, spirea would be ideal as they are low-growing and produce summer flowers that contrast well with the green foliage in your garden. 'Little Princess' spirea flowers are pink during summer and turn bright red in the fall.
The soil has to be well-drained and rich for all these shrubs. Rebecca advises liberal amounts of compost, manure and peat moss. Before planting your shrubs, dig a hole in the soil as deep as the pot and twice as wide. Carefully remove the shrub, taking care not to disturb its roots. Spread the roots gently and plant the shrub and backfill the hole and water well.
The border won't look striking immediately, but over time, it will be bursting with color. Do not be overenthusiastic when creating your shrub border and add more shrubs than necessary. Give ample breathing space to each of them. As with everything else, they need time and patience and care for maybe a year or two before your efforts bear fruit. Or should we say flowers in this case?

In the last few weeks of spring, your roses will be at their most beautiful as will your spirea, contrasting well with the dogwood leaves. Mulch aids in water retention and keep unwanted weeds at bay. Use a good fertilizer that is water-soluble every fortnight to help the entire border bloom.

If you like artciles about trees & shrubs....These pages might also interest you:

Guide to Conifers & Evergreens, How to Prune Shrubs, Gardening With Viburnum, Gingko Trees, Growing Magnolias, Japanese Barbury, Katsura Trees,Shrubs as Garden Borders,The Weeping Atlas Tree, Tough Trees, Great Birch Trees, Growing Citrus Trees, How to Prune Shrubs,How to Start Seedlings, Lustrous Abelia, Popular Shrubs, Shrub Winter Care Guide, Shrubs With Berries, Summer Hydrangeas