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As with anything choosing the right hedge shrub comes down to personal preference and the type of look you are trying to gain in your yard. The kind of shrub you purchase will also depend on some other factors such as how much sun your planting area gets, the type of soil you have and how much time do you want to spend caring for your new plant.
That last point is important when it comes to choosing a hedge shrub. While some require little to no maintenance there are other types that require a large amount of time to prune and take care of. If you don’t they will grow out of control and could make your yard not look so good. If you don’t want to spend much time caring for your new shrub then consider getting a forsythia or privet. On the other hand, if you like trimming and sculpting your new hedge shrub and have the time to do so then you have many more options to choose from.
The next thing to consider before getting a new hedge shrub is how much sun does the area in which you want to plant it get. Carefully check the amount of sun any plant you wish to buy requires and makes sure that it is suited to the amount of light. The more sun you planting area gets the larger selection of hedge shrubs you will have to choose from.
Third on the list of things to consider is what type of soil conditions you have in your yard. Different shrubs like different types of soil so it pays to check the requirements of the shrub you are looking at before you but it. If you don’t and you get a hedge shrub that doesn’t like the dirt in your yard you could end up with a dead plant and the money lost. It’s much easier to find a hedge that grows well in the soil you currently have. If you just can’t live without a certain type of shrub then be sure to amend your soil before you plant it.
The fourth thing to think about is what you want the hedge for. Is it going to be used as a privacy fence or barrier, or do you just want the decorative look of a hedge shrub? If you want a privacy screen be sure to get a hedge that will grow tall enough for what you want it to do. It won’t do much good if it only grows two feet tall and anyone can jump over it.
Of course the most important point when it comes to buying a hedge shrub is what do you like. As you narrow down your list to meet the criteria outlined above start asking yourself which ones appeal to you the most. Remember, unless you dig it up and throw it away it will probably live in your yard longer then you live in the house. You’ll be seeing it year after year so it makes sense to get one that appeals to you.

Shrubs are essential to a successful garden. They provide fragrant flowers in the spring, lush green foliage during the summer and colorful foliage throughout the fall. Evergreens add color to the winter landscape. Shrubs give a landscape design its overall structure. With a seemingly endless list of shrubs available to the gardener, choosing the appropriate one for your garden takes a bit of planning. This article covers some common, easy to grow shrubs.
Many deciduous shrubs, those shrubs which lose their leaves in winter, are easy to grow and require very little maintenance. Hydrangea, for example, is a popular deciduous shrub which can thrive for years with only occasional pruning. Hydrangeas are essential to the garden in summer for color and foliage texture. They’re one of the few summer blooming shrubs and no garden is complete without them.
Butterfly bush is an easy care, summer blooming shrub with fragrant flowers. As the name suggests, they’re attractive to butterflies. Some varieties grow up to six feet tall and six feet wide so they’re more suitable to the larger garden.
Viburnums have long been a gardener’s favorite as they’re one the most versatile, adaptable and easy care shrubs available. There are over 120 varieties of Viburnum so there’s one for every garden. Some viburnums, such as the Korean spice or judii varieties are suitable for shrub borders and as specimen plants. Others have a more natural feel, such as the arrowwood or maple-leaf viburunum, which are great for the woodland garden. Most varieties retain colorful berries in the winter.
Many evergreens are easy to grow as well and provide gardens with year-round interest. Rhododendrons, for example, a showy, spring blooming shrub, are ideal for the mixed border and perfect for naturalizing the landscape. Once a rhododendron is planted, it requires little maintenance. Though not necessary, pinching off spend blooms encourage a healthy bloom the following year.
Azaleas, like rhododendrons, are quite versatile and suitable for a number of garden situations. They’re perfect for the shade gardens as their colorful spring flowers brighten up the landscape. They work as well planted among other shrubs in a foundation planting as they do in the woodland garden or formal garden. Occasional pruning may be needed to keep them at the size which is best suited to your garden.
Hollies are wonderful evergreen shrubs which are perfect as a hedge or as a privacy screen. They’re also suitable for the foundation planting. Hollies require a bit of pruning to retain their shape, but they are worth the effort since they form beautiful red berries in the winter.
Evergreen boxwood shrubs are hardy and, unless you’re your planting a formal garden, require only light pruning once a year. Boxwoods are generally available in mounding and upright varieties. They’re ideal for hedges, the entrance garden or a courtyard.
When designing your garden, its important to determine the site conditions of your garden. Refer to a plant hardiness map to determine what will grow well in your area. Choosing the appropriate plant results in fewer garden problems and less maintenance. Ideal for people with busy schedules, easy care shrubs thrive with little upkeep and remain beautiful for years.

Shrubs tend to be the centerpiece of most people’s front yard gardening. I think that’s because shrubs are easy, but they’re also expected. Homes without a row of shrubs lining the front look kind of naked and unloved.
But it can be difficult choosing the right shrubs for your yard. There are so many possibilities and so many conditions in front yards that no one shrub is going to be perfect for every situation. I think what most people are looking for in their shrubs, though, is something that is easy to care for.
Shrubs are something you don’t want to have to think about, you just want to plant them and have them survive with a minimum of watering and pruning. And if you’re looking for easy-care shrubs, evergreen shrubs simply can’t be beat.
Evergreen shrubs are the perfect combination of easy good looks and minimum care. They look good year round, which is perfect for something that’s in your front yard where everyone can see it all the time.
When I moved into my current home, the front yard was filled with a bunch of evergreen boxwood shrubs. These little evergreens are super-easy to grow and will look good with almost no care. If you take the time to water them occasionally, they will reward you with more growth.
Though they’re called “evergreens,” boxwood shrubs grown in the sun will actually turn orange in the winter. I think they’re prettier than the plain old green ones, and we actually kept our boxwood that were in the sun and got rid of the ones in the shade (they turn green again when it warms in the spring).
We replaced the boxwood shrubs we got rid of with evergreen azaleas. Azaleas are one of the stars of the shady garden, producing beautiful and bright flowers in the spring. The rest of the time they look nice, too, with small, waxy, dark green leaves. The azaleas are a little more work than the boxwood was; we water them through the summer and apply acid once or twice a year. Still, not much effort for solidly beautiful shrubs.
Another good choice for shade is hydrangeas, which have big puffballs of flowers in the late spring or early summer (some also bloom in fall). Hydrangeas are fun because the plants that bloom pink or blue can actually bloom different colors depending on the condition of the soil. A low pH (acid soil) makes blue blooms, while a very alkaline soil makes hydrangeas bloom pink. Even if you buy a plant that is supposed to bloom the other color, the pH of your soil may give the plant other ideas. (Like azaleas, not all hydrangeas are evergreen, so be sure to check the label.)
Holly shrubs are another good choice, and they make a nice hedgerow if you have an expanse of house that you want to cover up. They’ll need pruning to stay looking nice and to keep their shape, but they are worth it because they make these beautiful, large, lush shrubs that have berries in the winter, which bring color to the yard and attract birds.
Leaving the world of evergreens, for an informal sunny garden, butterfly bush is a great choice. These shrubs have huge cones of colorful flowers that bloom in high summer and are very attractive to butterflies (and bees, so be careful planting these if someone in your household is allergic to beestings). Some varieties of butterfly bush are huge, growing up to six feet tall and five or six feet wide. If you don’t have room for that kind of commitment, smaller hybrids are now available.
Those shopping for shrubs in the Deep South for sunny spots should also consider crape myrtle. These large bushes or small trees make great quick-growing hedges. New cultivars bloom twice a year or have extra-long blooming periods. This is another great shrub for attracting butterflies and other fun insects.
Easy-care shrubs make a great foundation for your flower garden, whether in the front yard or back yard. When these reliable performers are in place you can focus your attention on the fun stuff: planting and caring for your flowers and other plants.