Shrubs aren’t simply for framing the yard and giving you privacy. They shield your property from strong winds and snowdrifts. They cut down on water runoff and evaporation. They improve the quality of your aquifer and the biodiversity of your lawn.
Still, despite its biological and economic value, this unsung flora often goes overlooked in favor of flower beds and decorative trees. The truth is that shrubs provide many benefits to your property as long as they are carefully planted and taken care of.
Before you grab the shovel and start digging, review the following considerations before you plant shrubs.
1.) Where You’ll Place Them in Your Yard
Shrubs can grow to tremendous sizes. For example, the Rocky Mountain maple, a native, broad-based shrub with greenish-yellow flowers and bright red buds, can grow to be 25 feet high. The American Plum, another native Colorado shrub, grows densely like a thicket, reaching up to 15 feet high.
When you purchase seedlings for these species and others, you may not realize how tall and wide a mature shrub will be. Verify how large each shrub can grow, and plant them with enough space to reach mature size.
2.) How Much Sun, Water, and Altitude They’ll Need
The Colorado Front Range sees almost 300 days of sun. The dry, high-altitude climate can do a number on most plants. When you’re choosing which kind of shrubs you’d like to plant, check with your local landscaper and any other online or literary resources to see how much sun and water that species will need and at which elevation it grows best.
If the species you’re considering needs shade or only needs sun part of the day, plant them in the north and east-facing sections of your yard, respectively. If the shrubs you’re looking at perform well in full sun, plant them in the west and south-facing parts of your property.
Just as shrub species grow better with certain amounts of sun and water, they also grow better at certain elevations. For example, the Mountain Mahogany does well between 4,000 and 8,500 feet. Therefore, if you live in Golden (elevation 5,675 feet), that’s a great choice for your property. However, if you live in the mountainous areas in Clear Creek Country, which exceed 8,500 feet in elevation, that shrub might struggle to reach maturity.
3.) Which Advantages Your Chosen Shrubs Offer
When you’re deciding between shrubs to plant, think about what each species’ benefits are. Does it produce so much fruit that you can make jam, like certain kinds of serviceberry shrubs? Does it require very little maintenance as a sturdy, versatile shrub that can grow in nearly any kind of soil, like the Apache plume?
Try to choose a species for more than just its looks. While flowers and the general appearance are important, shrubs can help with your yard’s ecosystem. For example, shrub roses are a favorite of many Colorado homeowners. They do well in the sunny Front Range climate, growing hardy roots and blooming all summer long. And because of their strong roots, they help reduce soil erosion.
4.) How You Should Prune Them
As your shrubs grow, it’s best to prune them. Pruning not only maintains the shape of your shrubs; it promotes healthy plant growth. When you pruning, try to keep the shrub’s natural shape. Box-like shapes create dense growth on the shrub’s sides and top, which doesn’t allow enough light to reach the shrub’s interior branches.
Once you’ve started to add shrubs to home’s landscape, you may have many questions about how to care for them. Reach out to the tree and shrub experts at Schulhoff Tree & Lawn Care, Inc. to learn more about how you can grow, prune, and sustain beautiful shrubs on your Colorado property.