Trees & Shrubs: Borderline Beauty

Email Page

Print Page

Susan Mason

Extras

Add Photo to Journal

A successful tree and shrub border begins by carefully evaluating your landscape site, creating a plan and selecting the right plants.

As the saying goes, “Good fences may make good neighbors.” But no one ever said those fences had to be boring. Why not grow a fantastic living fence, or add a beautiful border to an existing one? Tree and shrub hedges are a great way to outline your property. Or consider a beautiful border alongside your existing fence. These special plantings change with the seasons, and offer something attractive to enjoy any time of the year.

The real key to successful living plantings is proper spacing. Whether you’re installing trees or shrubs, proper spacing gives the plants what they need: the room to grow into their natural forms (which means less excessive pruning), good air circulation (which is essential for keeping plants healthy) and adequate access to nutrients and sunlight.

Spacing recommendations are usually based on the mature width of a plant. For example, if an azalea will grow 4 feet wide, in most cases you’ll want to plant a group of azaleas4 feet apart so that they’ll just touch at maturity. Even if your planting looks sparse at first, the azaleas will fill out and make a beautiful statement in just a few years.

Add Photo to Journal

Proper spacing is the key to any successful planting. Marking paint, string or even flour can help you visualize the mature spread of your plantings before you dig the holes.

If you’re planting two different species next to each other, you can split the recommended planting distance. For example, if one shrub reaches 12 feet at maturity and another shrub reaches 6 feet, you can plant them 9 feet apart. (If you’re planting a hedge, however, you can plant the shrubs a little more closely together than recommended so that a solid screen will quickly develop.)

When putting in foundation plantings, be sure that even at maturity there will be enough room to walk comfortably between the plants and your home. This maintenance zone allows you to get around to paint the house, perform other household repairs and even just reach water faucets and hoses on a regular basis.

If you’re planting near a sidewalk or other walkway, give your trees and shrubs enough of a setback that pedestrians will be able to walk by easily. (And be sure to avoid shallow-rooted, invasive trees in these areas, as they can lift or damage pavement, as well as make mowing around them difficult.) If a tree or shrub is planted near a driveway, be sure that clear sight lines will remain even at the plant’s maturity, so cars can safely enter and exit.

Warnings

Comply with all local codes and homeowner’s covenants when you plant trees and shrubs. If planting near buried utility lines (or if you’re not sure where your underground utility lines are), notify your local utility department before proceeding.
Features such as inground pools should be protected when you plant nearby. Allow the recommended spacing for the species, plus an extra safety factor of 50 percent more.

Tips

Be patient with your newly planted hedges. Even if you plant your trees and shrubs a little more closely than the recommended spacing distance, it will still take 3-4 seasons to get that solid hedge you’re looking for – and several more seasons for it to reach the final height.
If you can’t envision how you’d like your planting to look, get out in your yard and take your watering hose with you. Lay it out on the ground to mark where you might like a tree and shrub bed or border. This can help you “see” where it should go and the shape it should take. Once you’ve got the design down, transfer it to paper.
Read More...

Definitions

Borders: Landscape features that follow existing structures such as dwellings, fences, paths and streets. Usually narrow and long, they look best when planted with permanent trees and shrubs.

Faqs

Q: What are some good design ideas for trees and shrubs?
A: Raised landscape beds are a good answer for large tree and shrub groups. An inground island bed set off with a neat hedge requires the least effort to install. It’s also good option for gardens that include shrubs of varied heights.

Page 1 of 3

Next Steps

Articles

Getting Your Garden Design on Paper
Large or small, great gardens start with getting your ideas down on paper. Once you’ve got your property plotted out, you can lift the lid on your imagination so your garden can grow to its fullest potential – and your heart’s desire!
Shrub Selection and Planting
Knowing what you want – and need – from your shrub is an important step in plant selection. Here are a few questions to consider when picking a shrub, as well as some planting tips.
The Mighty Tree – Enjoying and Selecting
Trees have a lot to offer the garden, no matter what the season – from summer shade to winter interest. Here are a few things to consider before buying a tree for your yard.

RATE THIS PAGE

On average this item has been rated a 4 out of 5.