Shrubs Provide Color, Texture for Landscape
When designing a landscape, designers consider texture, light and shade, color, and placement of a variety of plants. Plush fruit trees provide instant shade and some color. A rustic stone path may provide contrast and texture when set against green ground cover. Flowers are known for their plethora of color in the garden. Shrubs, which come in a variety of shapes and colors, can create variety, texture, and shape in any landscape.
The Burning Bush is a well-known and admired centerpiece shrub that floods the landscape with a spectacular display of red during the fall months. The large round bush is at home in just about any landscape.
When the ground is covered with snow, the China Holly comes to the rescue of the barren landscape, with deep green foliage and bright red berries. The colorful bush is equally impressive against a white picket fence or light-colored house.
Enjoying a colorful landscape year-round is an easy task when you plant shrubs that bloom more than one season of the year. In May the Purple Sand Cherry boasts bright flowers and in the fall and early winter months it share purple foliage.
Shrubs Make Good Fences
In addition to adding interesting color to the landscape, shrubs can be used to mask unappealing concrete foundations around the outside of the house. They can also serve as sturdy organic privacy fences. Low shrubs are good borders around flower beds. If you'd rather use your Saturday mornings for something besides mowing a large lawn, break up the lawn by creating mini gardens of comprised of shrubs and flowers.
Bushes can truly be an art form when topiary skills are applied. Topiary is the art of clipping and forming bushes into animal or geometric shapes. Keeping shaped bushes in good form does require time, but the experience can be fun.
One of the advantages of shrubbery is the low care and maintenance. They do not require as much work as most annual flowers, and are not as delicate and finicky. The exception is that some shrubs do have to be pruned regularly.
If you travel, or need to be away from home often, shrubs may be a good landscaping choice for you. Two beautiful low-maintenance shrubs include the Bougainvillea with beautiful red leaves, and the Mentor Barberry.
Shrubs Come in Many Sizes and Shapes
Before you purchase shrubs, consider the area where they will be planted. Allow room for the shrub to spread out and grow up. Shrubs can range from just inches tall to several feet tall. If you have a spot where you need a taller shrub, consider the Smooth Hydrangea which grows three to five feet tall; or the Chinese Juniper which will top off at three to eight feet. If you need a shorter shrub, the Cranberry Cotoneaster or Dwarf Honeysuckle may be perfect because they usually grow to about three feet.
When landscaping, let your imagine scamper where it will. Use flowing vines, tall and short plants, vibrant blooms and various shapes and sizes of herbs to create an engaging landscape that can be enjoyed for years to come.
Article Source: http://www.search-raven.com
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by: SylviaJ.Barnes
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