Gardening With Deciduous Shrubs:

Dduous shrubs are among the most satile of all garden plants. Whether d to frame architecture, provide privacy or attract birds, dduous shrubs are an indispensable part of the garden and are the starg point of great landsc design. In most cases dduous shrubs are y maintenance. In fact, most will thrive for years with only occasional ping.

Dduous shrubs offer year round interest in the garden. Along with their vibrant fers, they offer lush summer foliage and brilliant fall colors. What many gardeners don't realize are the winter attributes of dduous shrubs. For example, the red twig dogwood has amazing red bark which contrasts strikingly against white snow and stands out among the barren winter landsc. Many shrubs, such as seal spes of viburnum, are fruit bearing and will produce colorful berries which last though the fall and winter.

Formal landsc designs may call for shrubs which are small and respond well to frequent ping, such as daphne, privet and cotoneaster. Gardens which are meant to be informal and have a more natural feel should be planted with shrubs which, if aled to w, become unruly such as viburnum, spirea and forsythia. Spmen shrubs are those which have y disct, eye catching qualities and are able to stand out as indival plants. Often, interesgly shd or dwarf egreens are d as spmen shrubs but there are dduous shrubs which can have dramatic effects in the landsc as well. Butterfly bush, for example, with its prof summer fers, and witchhazel with its late winter/early spring fers both can be considered spmens.

Proper plang is essential to a successful shrub plang. Before choosing shrubs for r garden, consider their intended function in the landsc. Shrubs can be d in a number of ways in the landsc. Planted as a hedge, shrubs can act as windbreaks, screens which provide privacy or to delineate sections of a property. Hedges generally consist of one type of shrub a can be both formal and neatly ped or informal and aled to w.

Shrub borders a variety of shrubs and are designed to be more decorative than ful. Plant an array of shrub sizes and shs in the border. Start with a back drop of larger shrubs. Lower wing shrubs can then be planted between and in front the taller shrubs. Include plants which during different times of the season. While most bloom in the spring, some shrubs, hydrangea, bloom in late summer. Rather than using one of many spes of shrubs in the border, a few different varieties and repeat patterns which seem to work well. There are seal disct shs of shrubs; columnar, globular, weeping, spreading, and pyramidal. When plang in a nar space or on the corner of a tall building, columnar (or tall and nar) shrubs should be utilized. Spreading shrubs are wing and are well suited to a slope plang. Also, be aware of the shrub's hardiness to be sure it will survive the winter.

When contemplag color for r garden don't limit r thinking to the fers. For much of the season green is the dominant color in the garden so chose shrubs with interesg foliage. There are many shades of green available to the gardener, from light pale greens to darker blue greens. There are also variegated varieties which can brighten up shady spots. Colors which are opposite on the color wheel will work well together, such as yel and purple. White fering shrubs can stand out on their own and, much like variegated foliage, are effective in brighteg up shady spaces.

One characteristic of shrubs which is often olooked while plang a garden is their mature height. Improper placement of shrubs is a main reason for unnecessary transplants and ping. Dduous shrubs w quickly and plants which are 4' at the nursery could y well end up being 15' tall in a few years.

Shrubs should be planted soon after they are purchased. If this is not possible, keep the roots moist while the plant is out of the und. Spring and fall are ideal times to plant new shrubs as the temperatures are cooler. When 're ready to plant fol these general guidelines. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root ball and just as deep. Place the plant in the hole making sure that the top of the root ball meets the exisg grade of the garden. Ne plant shrubs too or too high, this a major ca of premature plant decline. If the roots are wrapped in natural burlap it won't need to be removed, just pull it way from the tk of the plants and tuck it down into the hole. Back fill about half way with a mix of exisg soil, peat moss and compost or manure. At this point, water and let the soil settle. This will eliminate any air pockets and will water the deep roots immediately. Finish backfilling and construct a saucer around the tk of the shrub and water again. Taller shrubs on an exposed windy site may require staking.

The standard rule of thumb when ping dduous shrubs is to pe those which bloom before July immediately after they've finished blooming. This gives them nearly an entire year to develop new bud-bearing branches. Pe those which bloom after July in the winter or early spring. Pe selectively. Remove any branches which w inward toward the tk or crisscrossing each other. Thing out old branches and cutg back those that have become long and leggy will renew the shrub. By removing about one-third of the shrub's old wth will result in a huge flush of healthy new wth.

With hundreds of shrubs to choose from, dding what to plant can become owhelming. Find shrubs which like and those. Include in garden plang a visit to r local nursery or arboretum to become familiar with how shrubs w; may come across shrubs don't recognize which inspire new design ideas.