Shrub Plants
Shrub plants are a gardening must-have. These bushy plants are the ultimate garden fillers, and super versatile too. They can take pride of place as feature plants, unite a bare landscape, create a lush border or serve as a decorative pot plant. You’ll find an endless range of shrub plants at Flower Power, from varieties that reveal new foliage colours with the seasons to shrubs that brim with beautiful flowers and so much more.
The best shrubs at Flower Power
Shrubs are a garden essential. These hardy, bushy plants are the ultimate garden fillers and are super versatile: they can work as feature plants, create borders and boundaries, or work as a decorative and easy-to-grow pot plant. At Flower Power we have a huge range of flowering shrubs, Australian shrubs and shrubs for hedging and edging.
What are shrubs?
A shrub, which is also called a bush, is a small- to medium-sized perennial woody plant. They differ from herbaceous plants because they have persistent above-ground woody stems, and they are set apart from trees by their multiple stems and shorter height. They are usually less than six metres tall and never more than ten metres tall, and can be trimmed into hedges, neat forms or even novelty shapes. Species less than two metres tall are sometimes called subshrubs. Australian shrubs can be deciduous or evergreen, and can flower seasonally, year-round or not at all.
How to place shrubs in front yard
Large shrubs (and/or trees) are usually the first elements to consider in front-yard design. If you want to frame your house, think about planting taller shrubs or trees on either side of the front of your house. It will also give a new house a look of being established and soften the roofline.
You could also consider replacing front walls or fences with shrubberies – they can be just as effective but living, breathing walls are usually more attractive than man-made materials.
When deciding how to place shrubs in a front yard, remember that they are effective at creating driveway borders and separate zones within your front yard. You can use them to delineate garden beds from the lawn and lead people to the front door or around the side. On narrower walkways, opt for smaller shrubs so visitors don’t feel claustrophobic and are able to move without bumping into the bushes. Keep border bushes well-trimmed so the zones and walkways are clear and easy to navigate.
When considering what are shrubs useful for, it is also worth thinking about their visual properties. Use flowering shrubs in a front yard to add colour, create mass and a feeling of abundance. Because they are usually dense, bushy plants, they will instantly add a sense of plenty to the greenery in your garden. With the variety of colours, shapes, sizes and seasonal flowers available, you can choose bushes that visually work together and with the other plants in your garden for a pleasing aesthetic.
How often should you water shrubs?
It varies. Native Australian shrubs, which thrive in our climate, obviously require a lot less water than natives from other parts of the world where they may expect frequent rainfall or cool damp weather. Beyond that, you’ll need to consider the climate in your area from season to season and the conditions of your soil.
Because woody plants such as bushes and trees usually grow deeper root systems than flowers, it means they can draw water from a larger volume of soil. In general, if you get a bit of rain every week or two, these woody plants will probably be getting the water they need. If you have not had rain in a while, they will thrive with a deep watering every two to four weeks or more often in warmer weather.
If your shrubs are shallow rooted because your soil is compacted, for example, you should water deeply and less frequently to train the roots downwards. Ask a friendly Flower Power expert for advice on your specific shrub situation.
The most efficient way to water woody bushes is to slowly soak the soil, letting it penetrate deeply to wet the entire root system. If you apply the water too fast to dry soil, it will just run off. The easiest way to do this is to turn the hose on to a slow trickle and move it slowly from bed to bed. You can also use a drip irrigation system that lets water leak gradually along the entire length of the irrigation tubing, though you’ll need to make sure that plants with different water requirements are on a separate system.
How often should you water shrubs in winter versus in summer? As with other plants, water less in cooler weather and more frequently in hot, dry weather. Adding mulch around the base of your shrubs will help them to retain water. Look to the leaves or blooms on flowering shrubs for signs of over or underwatering: drying, curling, drooping and dropping off are all signs of too much or too little water.
With a little trial and error and advice from a Flower Power horticulturalist, you’ll be able to maintain the proper moisture balance to ensure your shrubs thrive in your garden.
Check out our Garden Advice and Garden Diary pages online, or visit your nearest Flower Power store for advice and guidance on caring for your shrubs.