How to Arrange Shrubs

Planting Shrubs

• 1

  Identify the goals and purpose of your garden. Before purchasing any plants, know what you want out of your garden. Consider how it will be used and the type of foot traffic it will receive. Examples of different landscaping goals include attracting wildlife, reducing water use and beautifying your yard.

• 2

  Create a garden design plan. Creating a plan forces you to measure the space with which you have to work. Use graph paper to create your design. Remember to take into account the potential size of any shrubs. Depending on your goals, you will probably have several options.

• 3

  To create a focal point, arrange showy shrubs, such as bride wreath spirea, around the front of the house or at the end of an axis in the garden design. Such placement will draw the visitor's eye into the design and create an inviting atmosphere.

• 4

  Plant shrubs of the same species along either side of a central axis, such as path or walkway, to create symmetry. The matching shrubs, arranged an equal distant apart, will create a formal atmosphere. Taken as a whole, they can add a lovely focal point.

• 5

  For balance, choose shrubs of various sizes, so that no single element overpowers the design of the garden. Shrubs create dimension. Carefully chosen shrubs can complement colors of the flowers planted near shrubs.

• 6

  Place larger shrubs near the front of the garden to create depth. A large element in front tricks the viewer's eye into thinking the garden is of a larger place. If you're working with a small garden space, design tricks such as this add interest to the design.

• 7

  To create privacy, plant fast-growing shrubs, such as buddleia or weigela, as close together as recommended, for an attractive privacy screen. For privacy year round, choose evergreen shrubs such as arborvitae. Placing them around a deck or patio helps create an extension of your home.

• 8

  To create a border, plant hedges such as yew along the edge of the property line. Bear in mind that to create a dense growth of shrubs, pruning will be necessary, especially just after planting. Pruning shapes shrubs and directs plant growth. Take into account the size of the shrubs before planting.