Introduction Of The Shrub
Shrubs are small woody plants similar to trees though much smaller. They are bushy and branch out in all directions around the main trunk and provide ground cover in forests. In gardens, shrubs are used to form the structure and framework of the garden. They come in a wide variety of colors and add to the beauty of the garden with their colorful foliage, flowers and berries. Some add to the fall color of the garden while others stand out with winterberries.

Common Types of Shrubs
There are several types of shrubs that are common in our gardens. Some are native bushes while others are hybrids that are natives of other countries. Gardenias are natives of China and the evergreen shrub Little John dwarf bottle brushes are natives of Australia. The Azalea, American High Bush Blue berries, Cranberries etc. are other native shrubs.

Shrubs have several attractions. Some have fragrant or colorful flowers, some have beautiful foliage or decorative trunks and some others have edible or decorative fruits that attract birds and provide color and beauty even in winter. Certain shrubs make good hedges and borders. Some common flowering shrubs are Gardenia, Hydrangea, Camellia etc. The Mountain Laurel, Winterberry Holly etc. are native shrubs that add color in winter through their foliage and berries.

The selection of shrubs for the garden is usually based on their appearance as well as purpose; like whether it is for a hedge, or for a container, or to be planted by itself in the garden to add depth to a rockery or pool or lawn. Shrubs may be planted to add fall color to the garden or as winter glory. Environmental adaptability is another aspect that affects the choice of a shrub.

Shrubs that are selected for fall color are either late flowering shrubs and berries, or plants with foliage that turn color in the fall or in winter. They provide color when most other plants and bulbs would have turned dormant. Blue Mist Shrub Caryopteris (Zones 6-9), Witch Hazel Hamamelis virginiana (Zones 5-8), Scotch Heather Calluna vulgaris (Zones 4-7) all have fall flowers.

Barberry Berberis has red and gold fall foliage and berries. Oalkleaf Hydrangea has burgundy fall foliage and is suitable for Zones 5-9. The Clethra has yellowish-orange foliage and is suitable for Zones 3-8 while the Red & Gold Berries are best suited for Zones 4-8.
The American Cranberry Bush Viburnum trilobum adapts well to Zones 3 - 7 while the Heavenly bamboo Nandina domestica is more suitable for Zones 7 - 9. The Red Chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliant' best survives in Zones 4 - 8. Hollies are shrubs with decorative berries that last through fall and winter. Weeping plants such as Green Cascade can create a dramatic effect and stand out as the focal point of a garden.
Planting shrubs

Shrubs should be planted in individual holes about twice the size of the root balls. The medium can be a mixture of 1/3rd garden soil, 1/3rd peat moss and 1/3rd organic matter. Alternatively, you may buy commercial tree and shrub planting mixes and mix them with an equal quantity of topsoil. Fill half the hole with one of the two planting mediums. Position the plant at the center. The top of the root ball should be higher than the soil level. Fill up the hole with the soil mix and sprinkle water so that the soil is thoroughly moistened. Shaping the soil surrounding the plant into a saucer helps retain water. The plant should be watered once in two or three days until it is well established. Mulching around the plant and leaving a gap around the stem will help retain moisture without causing the stem to rot. From the second year, shrubs need chemical fertilizers for growth.

Pruning & Caring for Established Shrubs
Shrubs grow beyond the space allotted to them and need pruning. Pruning also removes dead branches, shapes them and induces profuse flowering by promoting new growth.
Early spring or just before the beginning of the growing season is the best time for pruning hedges and plants grown for their foliage and late bloomers. The early bloomers may be pruned immediately after the flowering season. Budded boughs of early bloomers can be successfully forced indoors. Evergreens may be pruned later in spring as the climate warms up.

Natural pruning is better than shearing. First the areas that require to be reduced should be identified. Then, the branch that supports the foliage causing the imbalance must be cut off from deep inside the foliage so that the cut end is not visible from the outside. One thing that should be kept in mind is that the pruned shrub should be broader at the base than at the top.
Shrubs need to be fertilized with natural compost worked into the soil and an occasional slow release of chemical fertilizers from the second year. With proper care, shrubs can last for several years.

If you like Shrubs....These pages might also interest you:

Allium Directory, Amaryllis Directory, Begonia Directory, Crocus Directory, Daffodils Directory, Dahlia Directory, Hyacinth Directory, Iris Directory, Lily Directory, Tulip Directory