How to Select Bushes & Shrubbery

Learn your planting zone. Are the shrubs you have selected well-suited for your region and climate? Chances are good that, if you bought them from a local nursery, the plants are preselected for your region. But if you want to be sure, get familiar with the national planting zones--many nurseries include these zone codes in their labeling.

Determine your sun exposure. Is the shrub going to be planted in full sun, partial sun or shade? Some shrubs can do well in any exposure, but most have specific sunlight needs. Get to know where the sun shines in your yard throughout the day and throughout the year, and plant accordingly.

Check your soil conditions. Is your soil sandy or rich? Moist or dry? Acidic or alkaline? Does it drain well? Any of these conditions can be matched with plants that respond well to them. Likewise, soil conditions can be altered to suit your desired arrangement. Some nurseries will test a sample of your soil for its pH balance and suggest plants that would work well with it.

Map out the size and spacing of your chosen plants. Make sure that the shrubs' proportions will fit your intended space when the plant reaches maturity. It can be hard to picture a 6-foot diameter bush when you are looking at a young one-gallon plant, but an overcrowded landscape is a nuisance to maintain.

Consider a variety of plants that will work well together visually. If everything has long, pointy leaves and is close to the same color, your arrangement will look washed out and lacking in depth. Look for plants with colorful foliage that will attract the eye when flowering plants have lost their petals. Put shorter shrubs more in the foreground and larger trees and hedges behind to act as a backdrop.

Decide if you want evergreen or deciduous shrubs, or both. A lot of popular shrubs like roses, lilacs, fruit trees and other flowering shrubs lose their leaves in the winter. Evergreen shrubs like hebes, boxwood, laurel and nandina remain vibrant and colorful throughout the year and require less yard maintenance.

Try to select plants native to your region rather than non-native shrubs and bushes. You'll end up needing to water less, and by planting non-invasive species you can help maintain the ecology of your surroundings.