Shrubs Ideas, Tips & Guides

Tips for Growing Saskatoon Serviceberries Amelanchier alnifolia

From the lone Irish yew tree, first discovered growing in Co Fermanagh in the 18th century, whose countless offspring now flourish in gardens all over the world, to the great Irish gardeners, garden makers, planthunters and plantspeople who have made valuable contributions to the world of horticulture, we have many reasons to be proud of our unique gardening tradition. Here are some suitably horticultural ways to celebrate Ireland’s “40 shades of green”.

<use xlink:href="#trending-icon" xmlns:xlink=«http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink»> Trending Videos

Repeat flowering old Rose varieties do what it says in their name however the first 5 in my Top Ten only flower once per year but still inspire.

Nigeria boasts a wide variety of native Nigerian flowers that are synonyms to the country’s diverse ecosystems. These blooms are also vital for bees, butterflies, and birds, which play an important role in maintaining the ecological balance.

The plant kingdom is full of surprising doppelgangers, and these fruits that look like tomatoes are no different! Let’s learn how to differentiate them for good!

<use xlink:href="#trending-icon" xmlns:xlink=«http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink»> Trending Videos

April in the garden is a time of fresh beauty and feverish activity for us gardeners. Seeds are sown regularly, and once germinated, they are pricked out and potted on. Nights are often still cold though, and taking winter protection off your tender plants might be a little premature depending on the year’s weather. The colour is found in the bulbs – daffodils, early bluebells and tulips. The weeds (if you let them grow) will be in full flush with a delicious bounty of wild garlic and fresh nettle leaves.

Colorful Spring Garden Bed with ‘Hino-Crimson’ Azalea Start your growing season by showcasing the vibrant blooms of 'Hino-Crimson' azalea along with other shade garden favorites. Add a burst of spring color with ‘Hino-Crimson’ azalea

Japanese aralia or paper plant, Fatsia japonica, is a fantastic foliage plant, native to Japan. A medium sized shrub, Fatsia japonica bears glossy evergreen leaves and spherical, ivy-like flowers, followed by black berries. It’s a great choice for a shady spot in the garden, and it can also be grown as a house plant.

'Hino-Crimson' Azalea Bring dramatic spring color to your shade garden with 'Hino-Crimson' azalea! ‘Hino-Crimson’ azalea packs a punch of color!

March is that time of the year which marks the fresh growth in many plants – pruning around this time places a vital role for the coming burst of Spring and Summer, preparing the specimens to bloom properly!

15 of the Best Gardenia Varieties for Your Garden

This Hydrangea panniculata Limelight was one of several under-planted trees at Thorp Perrow Arboretum. In full flower at the beginning of September this Hydreagea was one of 70 or so species and varieties planted in the grounds. Different parts of the arboretum have soils with PH values of 6.7 to an acidic 4.6 . There is marshy and wet ground despite the 15,000 trees drawing water from the land.

Are you looking for inspiration on drought tolerant plants?  This article has 50 great suggestions for low maintenance plants that will tolerate hot, dry weather.

February has been an almost surreal month in many ways, so it comes as a surprise that I have remembered that today sees the end of it, allowing me to post a timely review of that garden – not a detailed review, I hasten to add, but just a quick romp round, so please excuse its brevity. We start, as always, with the view from behind the house (above) and of the adjacent streamside and shrub border, the latter from both directions.

Why Autumn is the Best Time for Planting Shrubs

15 of the Best Woody Shrubs for Fall Color

Pruning regularly is the best way to keep your shrubs and trees in good shape and produce the best display.

Almost every house has a foundation planting, something that should help the large, man-made structure somehow blend with the natural landscape it was dropped into. More often than not, the foundation planting is done by the builder, who adds a line of common, usually evergreen shrubs to make things seem not so out of place in the hope that the buyer will be much happier with the property. The plantings are often bland and not in scale with the house. Even worse, these humdrum plantings are often ignored until they become so large that making changes is more of a job than one is willing to take on.

One of my favorite late winter blooming shrubs is Winter Hazel (Corylopsis spicata). It is a deciduous shrub that flowers in my Upstate garden in late February to early March.

I had no preconceived ideas of what I might pick for today’s vase but wanted to avoid hellebores and snowdrops, which would have been the easy option. I don’t have many summer snowflakes, Leucojum aestivum, but the first stems were in bud so I cut three as a starting point, keeping the stems long.

Here’s an exclusive list of the most Beautiful Trees with White Flowers you must grow in your yard!

Q: Is this a good time of the year to plant lilac? And if so, could you please recommend some varieties that don’t grow too large? JK, Dublin

Potted Bushes: How to Grow Shrubs in Containers

What Are Fruit Tree Guilds? Learn How to Start Your Own

How to Collect and Plant Hydrangea Seeds

How to Grow Hazelnut Trees Corylus spp.

When it comes to botanical longevity, it’s fair to say that annual and biennial species of plants are the “here today, gone tomorrow” ephemerals of our gardens and allotments. No sooner have they made our acquaintance, then they up and disappear like thistledown. Perennials, by comparison give far more bang for their buck, but even they can’t compare to ornamental trees and shrubs, many of which are easily capable of outliving their owners by decades, sometimes centuries.

Our gardens really spark back into life this month. Bulbs are emerging, perennials are producing fresh growth and deciduous plants are sprouting new leaves. As the days get noticeably longer and the mercury rises, our gardens and their inhabitants are warming up for the season ahead.

Is Lily of the Valley Invasive?

Apart from being incredibly beautiful to look at, camellia flowers also carry hidden aspects that relate to love, admiration, and cultural significance across different societies.

Trees offer a perfect canopy for shade loving plants, where they can remain protected from the harsh afternoon sun. These are some beautiful specimens you must have in your garden!

15 of the Best Dogwoods to Liven Up the Winter Landscape

Winter is a great time to look outside and evaluate the structure of your landscape. It can be easier during this time of year to tell if you need a few more woodies to add structural support. Small shrubs in particular have a lot of utility in gardens. They fit perfectly in beds and borders and can be used in tight spaces where more presence than a perennial is warranted. Here are a few smaller shrubs with impressive foliage that have worked well for us in the Southeast.

As February unfolds, deciduous trees stand in a state of dormancy, making it an opportune time for pruning. With leaves shed and the tree's energy directed inward, removing dead or diseased branches promotes overall health. Pay attention to the tree's structure, thinning crowded areas to enhance air circulation. While major shaping is best left for late winter or early spring, minor adjustments now can contribute to a flourishing canopy come spring.