Choosing the Best Plant to Plant

Choosing the right tree or shrub to suit a particular space is important. The species and types of plant selected will directly affect garden aesthetics, health, infrastructure longevity, and more. These choices can be even more challenging when selecting to suit small garden landscapes. However, in understanding the factors which should be considered in this choice, the outcome can be extremely rewarding.

The difference between a tree and shrub isn’t always clearly defined. Commonly:

A tree is a plant that grows a single stem, or trunk, to a certain height then branches to form a canopy of foliage well above the ground.

A shrub often has multiple stems which branch much closer to the ground, forming a mass of foliage that may extend to ground level.

It is important to know how big a plant will grow before selecting it for use in a small garden. You should consider the species and the cultivar or variety. This is because varieties of the same species can grow very differently!

Why Grow Shrubs?

There are many reasons why people choose to grow shrubs. The value of shrubs may be summarised as follows:

Environment – Shrubs can moderate temperature. In cities plants will slow temperature change, reducing the heat island effect. Shrubs can be mitigate flooding and erosion; reduce glare from sunlight, and control wind intensity and direction.

Wildlife – Flowers and foliage of shrubs provide food and protection for animals, including mammals wildlife, bees and butterflies. Many birds and insects feed on nectar from shrubs. Certain animals have developed a particular synergy with certain plant genera (eg. swallowtail butterflies that only lay eggs on certain Rutaceae family plants). Shrubs provide habitat and nesting sites for smaller birds. Thorny and dense shrubs provide them with shelter from predators.

Livestock – Many shrubs can provide nutritious foraging material for livestock. Cattle, goats, and sheep especially are all foragers of various shrubs. These ruminant livestock have four-chambered stomachs which makes digestion of shrubby plant materials possible through a process of fermentation.

Value – Flowering shrubs can be used to create an aesthetic affect, making a garden more pleasant to be in or to observe from a distance. Shrubs may be used to provide colour and texture; or combined and treated in various ways to create a mood, feeling or beauty.

Functional value - Shrubs are sometimes used for more practical or functional purposes, such as screening an undesirable view, providing privacy, or directing the flow of foot or vehicular traffic.

Cut flowers – Some shrubs are cultivated commercially for cut flowers, including Roses, Protea, Banksia, Buddleia, Bouvardia,  Gardenia, Camellia, Hydrangea, Forsythia and Lilac.

Cropping – Some shrubs are grown and harvested for various products. Certain edible berries (eg. red currants, blueberries) come from shrubs. Green and black tea is harvested from a Camellia. Lavender and a range of other herbs are grown to produce valuable scented oils. Many other shrubs may be grown for harvesting.

Choosing Appropriate Shrubs

A vast range of shrubs were brought into commercial cultivation in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many cultivars and hybrids have been developed from original species giving us a very rich variety of cultivars today. Some genera (eg. Rhododendron, Rosa and Citrus) have been extensively developed to produce cultivars suited to a huge range of specific requirements. Some cultivars are bred for varied flower or fruit characteristics. Others are bred for shape, height, tolerance to disease, or suitability to particular environmental or soil characteristics.

Shrubs can provide colour, structure and beauty throughout the year. However, choosing appropriate varieties for the specific location and requirements of the garden owner is paramount. Given the vast array of plants available, there are shrubs which can be grown in small spaces, large spaces, shaded sites, full sun, acidic soils, sandy soils, etc. There are also shrubs with remarkable flowers and shrubs which are more renowned for their foliage. Some are evergreen, and others are deciduous. One of the goals of this course is to help make the task of choosing shrubs for specific sites easier by understanding the nature of different shrubs; their habit, culture, size and spread, and notable features.       

Many Choices, Not So Many Right Choices

Choosing the best plant for the location and circumstances you are faced with is not always straightforward. Mistakes are often made; but with knowledge and an expanded palette to choose from; the likelihood of making mistakes will shrink.

Learning about more plants can save time, money and heartache.

Choosing Appropriate Shrubs

A vast range of shrubs were brought into commercial cultivation in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many cultivars and hybrids have been developed from original species giving us a very rich variety of cultivars today. Some genera (eg. Rhododendron, Rosa and Citrus) have been extensively developed to produce cultivars suited to a huge range of specific requirements. Some cultivars are bred for varied flower or fruit characteristics. Others are bred for shape, height, tolerance to disease, or suitability to particular environmental or soil characteristics.

Shrubs can provide colour, structure and beauty throughout the year. However, choosing appropriate varieties for the specific location and requirements of the garden owner is paramount. Given the vast array of plants available, there are shrubs which can be grown in small spaces, large spaces, shaded sites, full sun, acidic soils, sandy soils, etc. There are also shrubs with remarkable flowers and shrubs which are more renowned for their foliage. Some are evergreen, and others are deciduous. One of the goals of this course is to help make the task of choosing shrubs for specific sites easier by understanding the nature of different shrubs; their habit, culture, size and spread, and notable features.       

Many Choices, Not So Many Right Choices

Choosing the best plant for the location and circumstances you are faced with is not always straightforward. Mistakes are often made; but with knowledge and an expanded palette to choose from; the likelihood of making mistakes will shrink.

Learning about more plants can save time, money and heartache.

See

https://studyacs.com/product-selecting-trees-and-shrubs-for-small-spaces-short-course-11419.aspx