Tree, Bush, Shrub & Plant Guide for Landscape Planning

Trees

• Select large trees to provide focal points, future shade and windbreaks. Large tree specimens, even the quick-growing variety, take years to reach their mature height. Place elms, oaks and maples in areas large enough to allow for future growth. These types of deciduous trees look nice planted singularly in the center of a yard. You can also create a line of them along the back of the property, as long as you don’t mind them blocking the view as they mature. Evergreen trees such as pines and spruce look nice when placed along property borders. Keep in mind that these trees create heavy shade under their limbs, killing grass and other sun-loving ground covers. You can use various types of fruit trees in your landscape planting to provide a burst of colorful blossoms in the spring and edible fruit in late summer.

Shrubs and Bushes

• Bushes and shrubs are a popular addition in yards of all sizes. Include these average-sized plants in your landscape for a variety of applications. Honeysuckle and privet shrubs make nice hedges and can be manicured or allowed to freely branch. These shrub hedges make nice dividers between planted areas or neighboring yards. Use flowering shrubs, such as forsythia or butterfly bush, for a splash of color in the center of your lawn. Include a few evergreen varieties for fresh greenery during drab winter months.

Annuals and Perennials

• Use annual and perennial plants in your landscape to add a finishing touch to a beautiful landscape. Annual flowers, such as petunias and cosmos, can be replanted each spring for redesigning purposes. Place perennial flowers, like giant phlox and snapdragons, in noticeable areas to enjoy their continual beauty, year after year. Use ground covers to fill in bare areas and enhance rocky areas. Use drought-tolerant varieties in areas not easily accessed. Keep in mind that many types of ground covers can become invasive when not contained.