7 Shrubs For Your Garden

Adding greenery to your outdoor space is an excellent way to decorate an otherwise empty landscape. While trees provide natural shade and flowers add color to the scenery, shrubs break the wind and hold the soil together. Additionally, shrubs are low-maintenance plantsLow-maintenance plants are species that require minimal care to thrive, making them ideal for garden... that can be kept all seasons. 

If you're thinking of a lively addition to your landscape design, consider planting shrubs to beautify your lawn for an easy, low-maintenance fix.

Here's a comprehensive guide on picking the right shrubs for your landscaping project. We've also listed some of our favorite shrubs as recommendations for beautiful yet easy-to-maintain choices below!

1. Rhododendron

Also known as the red tree, rhododendrons are a type of plant with red flowers and woody growth. These can be kept short by pruningPruning is the horticultural practice of selectively removing certain parts of a plant, such as bran..., but they can also grow anywhere from 4 to 15 feet tall. Rhododendrons bear spectacular flowers in the warmer months.

This plant loves acidity, so they grow best in wet areas with lots of rain. Rain water is best for this plant, though tap water can suffice on shorter periods during dryer seasons. The best part about rhododendron is they're fairly low maintenance when planted properly.

2. Rosemary

Rosemary is a herb native to the Mediterranean. Many cuisines nowadays incorporate rosemary for its pungent and somewhat astringent smell, which compliments soups, casseroles, and stews very well. It is adaptable to virtually any soil except wet or waterlogged soil.

If you have a hot climate, rosemary will grow well and develop an intense aroma and flavor. In case you're the type to occasionally forget to water your plants, rosemary is fairly drought-tolerant once grown and won't even need fertilizer to thrive in your yard or garden.

3. Juniper

Juniper is an evergreen shrub that comes in various shapes and sizes. It is a great low-maintenance plant that can fit almost any landscape. Junipers are called evergreens because they bear small, sharp needles when immature, grow scale-like leaves and bear fruiting cones when mature.

Junipers also grow well in tough situations with little care, making them a top choice for busy homeowners. They handle drought very well and enjoy a lot of sunlight. They also require very little maintenance. In fact, don't cut them back to the bare stems if you wish to trim them, as this prevents them from growing.

4. Oakleaf Hydrangea

Get oak foliage without committing to an oak tree by planting Oakleaf Hydrangeas! This plant can grow anywhere from 4 to 8 feet tall and has deeply lobed oak-like foliage. It is great to look at for most seasons, making them a staple in most home gardens.

In late spring and early summer, Oakleaf Hydrangeas bear cone-shaped flower clusters with single or multi-petaled white blooms that eventually fade to a shade of pink. In fall, the leathery green foliage turns purple, red, and bronze.

Besides looking pretty, this plant is incredibly versatile and can grow in different conditions. These don't even require pruning. Just take the dead branches out in the spring, and you're good to go.

5. Weigela

Another beautiful shrub is the Weigela, with its red or pink blooms in spring and early summer. This plant is perennial with a long life span. Moreover, it's a quick grower and can grow up to six feet tall, depending on the variety.

We recommend them because they aren't picky at all as to where you plant them, and they can grow pretty much anywhere. However, if you want the biggest flowers, place them in locations without strong winds. Though the larger Weigelas need a little bit of upkeep, the dwarf varieties need almost no maintenance. Just trim any dead woodWood is a natural, organic material derived from trees, commonly used in landscaping and constructio... in the spring, and you're good to go!

6. Smokebush

Another great low-maintenance plant is the Smokebus,h with its billowy hairs attached to its flower clusters. The plant has waxy green leaves in an ovate shape, which turn a beautiful shade of yellow, orange, or purplish-red in fall.

Though smokebush prefers the sun, they can be planted in part shade conditions. The best thing about them is they don't require much fertilizer, just a bit during spring. They also require minimal pruning; the best time to do so is during winter.

7. Ninebark

Another addition to our list is Ninebark, a fast-growing shrub that does best in clayClay is a natural, fine-grained soil material that becomes pliable when wet and hardens when dried o... and loamy soils. Ninebark is known for its peeling bark as the plant matures. This plant is recommended due to its incredible versatility, hardiness, and reliability.

It can survive any season and is an easy favorite for cold climates. Moreover, Ninebark comes in wide varieties and has various foliage colors to choose from. 

Let Professionals Handle Your Landscaping

Decorate your outdoor area with beautiful year-round plants by hiring professional landscapers! 

At West Hills Masonry, we have over 15 years of experience helping homeowners in Orange County create a breathtaking paradise in their backyards. We use a mix of traditional and modern landscape design techniques to help bring your visions to life!

Work with the most exquisite landscape contractor Orange County has to offer! Contact us today to start your next landscape project.