What Is an Evergreen Foundation Shrub?

Evergreen Shrubs

• Evergreen shrubs include any shrub with needles, coarse leaves or glossy dark leaves that remain on the bush all year. Just a few examples are boxwood, holly or yews. Some evergreen shrubs have flowers at certain times of the year. An example is the rhododendron, which has showy pink blooms in spring. Other evergreen shrubs, such as holly, have berries for part of the year.

Foundation Plantings

• Foundation plantings dress up a home's perimeter. They are planted along the foundation, usually in the front yard to provide curb appeal. Newly constructed homes rarely have foundations showing, but foundation plantings are still used to provide a pop of greenery when camouflage is not needed.

Maintenance

• Evergreen foundation shrubs require less maintenance than deciduous foundation shrubs. Because they don't lose their leaves in the fall, no raking is required. But many evergreen shrubs require annual pruning in the spring to maintain their shape, remove stray branches and maintain healthy growth. Pyramidal shrubs, for example, require annual shaping. Regular watering and yearly fertilizing also are required for many evergreen shrubs.

Size and Space

• When choosing foundation plants, homeowners should leave adequate space for the shrub's mature height and width. Don't crowd young shrubs together if they will double in size over the next few years. Foundation shrubs fail without adequate space. And don't plant a shrub that will eventually grow over a window or higher than a roof. Plan for the shrub's mature size.

Recommendations

• Susan Schlenger, a New Jersey landscape architect, recommends on her website, Landscape Design Advice, mixing some deciduous shrubs in the landscape with evergreen foundation shrubs to add visual interest. She also advises homeowners consider a shrub's sun and shade needs and water requirements before placing it. Don't plant a sun-loving shrub in the shade, or a water-loving bush in a dry spot, she says.