Shrubs are an inevitable part of every outdoor area. These bushy and colourful plants are available in different types, sizes and looks, and this makes them the most versatile types of garden plants. They are extremely easy to grow pot plants which can also be planted directly into the soil. They can be used as feature plants, as decorative greenery or as borders and fences in order to improve your privacy. But what are these beauties exactly?!
Also known as bushes, they’re small to medium-sized perennial woody plants that differ from herbaceous plants because their woody stems are above the ground all the time. On the other side, they differ from trees because they have shorter stems and a height of not more than 6 metres. Even though in some cases they can be about 10 metres, usually, they are trimmed into hedges in neat forms and interesting shapes.
Benefits of Having Them in Your Outdoor Area
Improved Curb Appeal
The backyard is a place designed for lounging and relaxing in comfy outdoor furniture. The biggest factor that contributes to creating a relaxing and stylish backyard area is the bushes. And just like enjoying else in your backyard is important, you really shouldn’t forget about the front yard landscaping. This is an important aspect of your home’s appearance and improving its curb appeal should be on top of your list. Given the fact that the shrub is a versatile plant available in numerous shapes, designs and colours, an appealing bush design can also provide texture, structure and interest to the entire outdoor area of your home.
Increased Property Value
By investing in the curb appeal of your home and its backyard area, you’ll basically improve the value of your property. So, in case you decide to sell the house someday, its value will be higher thanks to these green bushes.
Improved Privacy
Even though they don’t grow as tall as trees, still they have the needed height to provide privacy. Whether you live in a busy area and want to isolate yourself from the surrounding and crowd, or you want to improve your privacy from the curious neighbours, planting shrubs is the ideal solution. Aside from giving you needed isolation and peace of mind, they’re extremely appealing, especially the evergreen ones which will provide you with scenic views year-round.
Enhanced Local Biodiversity
Did you know that these beautiful bushes play a huge role in enhancing biodiversity?! Studies show that they provide habitat and shelter for wildlife and they also make the perfect meal for bees and all pollinators and songbirds thanks to their fruit and flowers.
Improved Air Quality
Just like trees are the perfect natural air filter, shrubs improve the air quality by trapping harmful pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone in their leaves. This is of vital importance for reducing different respiratory issues that humans seem to face more and more.
How to Plant Them?
When planning to plant them in the front yard, you can plant taller varieties on either side of the front yard. You can even remove any front walls and fences and replace them with alive breathing walls that can also improve the air quality in and out of your house.
Aside from this, bushes are also great for creating driveway borders and separate zones. You can use them to define garden beds from the lawn, just make sure to choose smaller types of bushes. In order to improve the curb appeal, make sure to trim them properly and regularly. Aside from the basic types of bushes with leaves, you can also pick from the large selection of bushes with flowers that can add more colour to the yard.
How to Care for Them?
Well, different bushes need different care. For instance, native Australian bushes thrive better in dryer climates like the Australian, so they need less water than natives from other parts of the world. Aside from this, you should also consider the climate in your area and the soil conditions.
Given the fact that they grow a lot taller than flowers, they have deeper roots just like trees. So, if you live in an area where you get rain every week or two, then this should be enough for the roots to draw the needed amount of water from the soil. In case you live in a dry area, then they’ll need deep watering every 2 – 4 weeks or often when the weather is pretty warmer than usual.
The best way to water bushes is to slowly soak the soil with water. Let it penetrate deeply to wet its entire roots so that the bushes could get just the needed amount of water. Ideally, you should water them with a hose on a slow trickle and move them slowly from one bed to another.
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