Planting Plan for a Strong Garden Framework

Under the right conditions, shrubs can be very long-lived and create a strong framework for the garden.

By using evergreen, deciduous and fruiting shrubs, you can follow the progress of the seasons. In winter, the garden’s appearance is largely determined by those plants which are still green; in the spring it gradually becomes a cornucopia of leaf shapes, scents and flowers which reaches maximum density in the summer and creates a great deal more privacy, followed by autumn tints and berries in the latter part of the year.

The plan is based on a number of different growth habits and heights: ground-covering or creeping varieties, short to medium-height shrubs, and small trees. There are four main forms:

• The erect form, where growth is mainly vertical; the crown usually spreads more and is slightly broader in the mature form;

• The globular or round form, a fairly compact growth habit which looks spherical from a distance;

• The prostrate form, which spreads rather than grows upwards, often more or less horizontally;

• The weeping or pendulous form, which has hanging branches and makes a very good specimen shrub (though these should be used very sparingly in small gardens).

Proper planting distances are important whichever forms you use, as some shrubs grow much more quickly than others. But ideally, you should use as many plants as possible of the same age (two to three years); this creates a balance which gradually evolves into a mature design. If any shrubs do not fit into the scheme of things, do not be afraid to remove them.

It is also important to know whether the flowers appear on young wood (one year old) or older wood (more than one year old), because pruning will need to be tailored to this. Shrubs which flower before about the beginning of July will need to be pruned immediately after flowering, while others will need pruning in the spring before growth begins.

Check out specific growth requirements and potential growing heights for many individual shrubs here at www.gardeninginfozone.com