SHRUBS
SHRUBS
Shrubs are an instrumental part of every garden ecosystem. They can be used as foundation plantings, privacy hedges, backdrops or merely specimen plants. They provide shade, improve soil stability, enhance air quality and create habitats for wildlife. A shrub is a “woody plant which is smaller than a tree and has several main stems arising from the ground”. They fill the gaps, keep weeds down and enable a sense of enclosure within the wider landscape. They are the essential middle tier between ground covers and trees. Common shrubs are Camellias, Hydrangeas, Rhododendrons, Viburnum, Leucodendrums, Pittosporums, Choisyas, and Coprosmas.
Planting:
Autumn is the season to plant just about everything. When selecting a planting site, consider the plants needs. Determine its soil and light requirements (full sun or shade? well-drained soil?) Consider its growth habit (height/width at maturity). Will it interfere with nearby plants, walls, buildings?
Start by digging a planting hole 50cm wider than the root ball to allow plenty of room for the roots. Planting depth should be the same height of the root ball. Place compost in the bottom and fill with shrub/rose mix. Loosen the roots, and place the root ball into the hole. Top up with the loosened native soil that was removed from the hole. Water the shrub immediately after planting to minimise the shock to the roots during the transplanting process. Apply adequate amounts of moisture as needed, especially during periods of drought. Apply approximately 5-10cm of mulch around the base of the shrub to retain moisture and combat weeds around the base. Avoid placing the mulch directly at the base of the trunk as this may allow water to collect here and cause rot problems.
Care:
Shrubs are generally low maintenance plants requiring little care but they may need some care such as shaping, soil enhancement, and protection from weather, pests and diseases. In good soil most shrubs do not require the addition of much fertiliser, but for flowering and fruiting shrubs add an appropriate shrub fertiliser once every six to eight weeks during the growing season. Consider protecting smaller shrubs in frosty weather with frost cloth. Pruning shrubs at the correct spacing to allow air and light in encourages production fresh new growth. Hard pruning is best done during winter dormancy; just before new growth begins in spring. Some shrubs are susceptible to pests and diseases. Prevention is better than cure. Spraying to prevent pests and diseases is usually needed, however, for some susceptible shrubs pro-active protection is advisable to ensure healthy growth. Just a few well-timed applications of fungicide and/or insecticide will prevent most problems.
Examples of Shrubs:
There are two main types of shrubs – either deciduous ones like Hydrangeas, Viburnum, Barberry, which lose their leaves in winter or evergreen shrubs like Buxus, Rhododendron and Choisyas. Your selection will depend on its main purpose.
Flowering: Azaleas, Escallonia, Camellia
Decorative: Coprosma, Nandina
Shape: Acacia Limelight, Loropetalum, Pittosporum Golfball
Scented: Daphine, Viburnum Tinus
Shade loving: Hydrangea, Rhododendron, Pieris
Sun-loving: Weigela, Chaenomeles
Berries/fruit: Ilex (Holly), Nandina
These shrubs all enjoy moist, well drained lime-free soil (acid soil) with plenty of compost in semi-shade.