Landscaping with Trees and Shrubs

Think of adding trees and shrubs to your landscape as adding "bones to your garden."

These should be the first plants to be planted once the hardscapes (walls, walkways, etc.) have been added.

Although they may be pricier than annuals and perennials, these plants are considered a good investment because they make a greater impact on the landscape, not to mention the fact that a properly placed tree can lower utility bills in the summer and winter and increase your property value.

Wouldn't you rather buy a house with accents like this rather than one without?

Another advantage is that you can create "rooms" throughout the garden just by adding plants like hydrangeas and evergreens that block views from the rest of the garden, or cause visitors to want to go around the corner to see what's next.

This creates more interest for you and your visitors. That's what we did in the picture at the top of this page. They also provide colorful flowers, fruits, berries, and leaves throughout the year.

Especially here in the Mid-South with our long growing season. Plants with interesting shapes or bark are wonderful additions to the winter landscape.

A deciduous plant like hydranges and especially the endless summer hydrangea make beautiful backdrops to your annuals and perennials.

With so many types of trees to chose from , there is one for every situation.

You may need fast growing specimens, or a tree for a wet site, or perhaps you love to decorate inside during the holidays or want to provide a wildlife habitat outdoors for you furry friends with with berries and pods

When considering what to plant, the book Smart Garden Regional Guide: Southeast (American Horticultural Society Smartgarden Regional Garden Guides) has these great suggestions.

Keep in mind the eventual size, hardiness and heat tolerance, foliage color and density, and flowering time of the plants you are considering.

I will agree with them on that. I have had neighbors buy 5 or 10 plants just because they are on sale and then wonder where to put them. It's not a bargain if it's not the right plant for area.

You need to be sure you know whether the woody plant has top roots (sometimes called shallow roots which means their roots grow on the surface of the soil and compete with other plants for moisture), or if they have bark and leaves that falls of the tree making a mess of your deck most of the year.

For instance, you don't want to plant a large shade tree like ash or maple, that will require major pruning to let any light in, in a tiny backyard.

For this situation, smaller flowering specimens such as a redbud or silverbell would work better.

Check with your local extension service or local landscape contractor for help in picking the right plant for you area.

Even evergreens like the boxwoods range from small to medium and now you can even find columnar boxwoods that work beautifully in the front of the house next to the steps.

Broadleaf evergreens are such as magnolias are grown mainly for their foliage.

Below you can see how we use oak leaf hydrangeas in masses to create "rooms" in our garden. I enjoy drying the hydrangea blooms for my dried arrangements. A nice added bonus!

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