How to Improve the Look of Your Yard With the Right Shrubs

Shrubs are woody plants that look like a tree but are smaller. These plants usually have several main stems that arise from the ground or from the main stem, which explains their bushy, full appearance. They’re certainly smaller in height than trees, and their height ranges somewhere between 2 and 6 metres. The greatest thing about them is that they are available as evergreen and deciduous types of shrubberies, giving you the chance to plant the right one for your needs.

Why Plant Them in Your Yard?

The ability to be trimmed into hedges, neat forms, or some new and interesting shapes makes leafy and decorative shrubs one-of-a-kind types of plants. Since some of them are deciduous, this means that they can bloom from spring to autumn, offering a long-lasting view and colour in your yard. These types of plants are quite tough, and they can stand up to the Aussie climate with minimal care. 

Whether used for hedging, as borders to improve your privacy while sitting in your yard or relaxing in the pool/swim spa, or focal points, these plants can fit seamlessly into any yard style. They can add form and depth to the yard and give you peace of mind that it’ll look great year-round.

Popular Types in Australia

Japanese Box

Japanese Box or Buxus microphylla japonica is a popular and fast-growing evergreen hedge. It’s quite popular in Australia as it thrives perfectly in full sun and part shade. To thrive, the Japanese Box needs a well-drained soil, regular watering and trimming. Australians love it because this plant can handle heat quite well, unlike some other popular hedges.

Aside from its amazing heat and sun resistance, what makes this evergreen so popular is its bright green, glossy leaves and dense growth. And since this particular hedge is evergreen, its leaves won’t fall off in winter, instead, they’ll turn into the most dazzling copper-orange colour, stealing the glances.

According to experts, planting them should be done at a distance of 30 cm–40 cm for a fast-growing hedge. They need regular and light pruning during the growing season for a denser look. They also need regular watering during the dry seasons, however, this doesn’t mean that they’ll dry if not watered regularly. The truth is that they love plenty of sun and are drought-tolerant, perfect for the Australian hot climate. To encourage their lush green colour and fast growth, you can apply a slow-release fertiliser in early spring.

Hebe ‘Pretty n Pink’

The Hebe ‘Pretty n Pink’ is a low-impact, compact and charming evergreen shrub known for its amazing blooms that can add vibrancy to any garden setting. Aside from its delicate and stunning pink flowers, this shrub can also take pride in its small and glossy green leaves, making it an excellent choice for those of you who want a year-round yard appeal with minimal maintenance. It’s said that it produces flowers from spring to autumn, offering long-lasting colour and appeal to your yard. Just like the previous type, this shrubbery loves full sun to part shade, and it can thrive well in any type of soil, as long as it’s well-drained. It can reach about 60cm in height, making it perfect for being used as a border. Aside from being planted in the ground, this shrub also allows for being planted in containers. The Hebe ‘Pretty n Pink’ can tolerate coastal conditions and light frosts, making it suitable for the different Australian conditions.

Hydrangea

Even though known for its flowers, the hydrangea is basically a deciduous flowering shrub, known for its large, showy flower clusters in pink, blue, white and lime green. They bloom from summer to autumn, offering a breathtaking view. Even though this plant comes in many species, most of them grow as shrubs, typically ranging from 1 to 3 meters in height.  All of them love a well-drained soil with partial shade, however, some of them also love full sun. The greatest and most interesting thing you should know about this shrubbery is that soil conditions can dictate its flower colour. Consequently, acidic soil produces blue flowers and alkaline soil produces pink flowers.

Hydrangeas love consistent deep watering, meaning that the soil needs to be constantly moist but not soggy. For being bushier and having more flowers next year, new Hydrangeas need to be pruned late winter/early spring. Old Hydrangeas, on the other hand, need to be pruned immediately after blooming.

Helleborus (Winter Rose)

The last but not least border bushy plant you can plant in your home is the winter rose plant. As the name suggests, this type of plant thrives in winter, promising to add a bit of colour and sight to your yard. The winter rose can take pride in its amazing cup-shaped flowers that usually come in white, pink and purple. It loves shade to part shade and a well-drained, humus-rich soil. It’s said that this plant is quite resistant, especially to animals like deer and rabbits.