Shrubs are highly important in the natural environment, because they provide shelter and food to a variety of wildlife. But in landscape design, shrubs serve an entirely different purpose. From a visual perspective, shrubs help to bridge the gap between tall (trees) and short (grasses and small flowers). Shrubs also provide that sense of fullness, which makes your garden look well established.
When planted around your home, shrubs break up the lines between house and lawn. Softer edges are kinder to the eyes. Without shrubs, we would all live in homes that looked like little plastic monopoly houses stuck to a game board!
Of course, your shrubs will require some maintenance as they grow to their full height. Pruning may be necessary to train them into their correct shape. But pruning can become challenging over the years, as your shrubs grow larger and larger. If you let them go, shrubs can become taller and taller, blocking windows and looking out of control. But pruning bushes that have been left too large can create a lot of work, and you might not feel up to it as your shrubs mature.
A good solution for this dilemma is to choose dwarf shrubs instead of their full-sized counterparts. Dwarf shrubs reach their full height at about three to four feet, so they never become too large to prune easily. And once they’ve reached their full height, you never have to prune them at all! Dwarf shrubs will never become out of control or take up too much space in your landscaping when planned and spaced properly. For these reasons, dwarf shrubs are ideal for gardeners who want to avoid too much maintenance work, and for those who live in homes with smaller yards.
Some common varieties of dwarf shrubs that grow well in our area include:
- Dwarf Escallonia
- Dwarf Sweet Pea
- Dwarf Myrtle
- Dwarf Butterfly Bush
- Dwarf Abelia
- Dwarf Breath of Heaven
- Mini Roses
Stop by our nursery and view our selection of dwarf shrubs. We’ll be happy to offer some insight and advice on choosing the right shrubs for your landscaping project, and we can give you some tips on keeping your plants healthy and happy.
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