Caring for garden shrubs means some work on your part, but I assure you that it's worth it. Bushes are tireless workhorses in our landscapes. Flowering standouts add color to our yards in spring and summer with their lovely blooms, while other types are famed for gracing the autumn landscape with colorful fall foliage. Still others enliven the winter landscape with displays of bright berries -- which carry the added benefit of attracting wild birds.
This FAQ is an introduction not only to caring for garden shrubs (namely, planting, pruning and protecting them), but also to selecting them. There's a wide variety available, so take your time and browse through the resources I provide to make strong selections. Once you get your choices properly planted in the ground, treat them well: they will return the favor season after season.
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What Types of Garden Shrubs Are There to Choose From?
It's more than just a question of evergreen vs. deciduous....
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Technically, What's the Difference Between Trees and Bushes?
There is a technical difference that you sticklers out there can make use of....
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What's the Correct Method for Planting Bushes?
Some future problems can be avoided simply by planting them correctly....
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How Can I Shade Newly-Planted Shrubs So That the Sun Does Not Dry Them Out?
Transplanting a bush is sure to stress it out. How severe the stress becomes depends on a multitude of factors. Are you planting in the summertime? Do you live in a hot climate? Will there be shading (from a tree, for example) for the plant at any point in the day, or will it suffer from an onslaught of sun rays from morning till evening? Here's a way to help your shrub cope: furnish it with shade via a shelter.
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When Do I Prune Flowering Garden Shrubs?
Prune at the wrong time and, in some cases, you lose out on blossoms for next year....
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When Do I Prune Evergreen Bushes?
"Broadleaf" vs. "needled" is an important distinction here....
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Should I Provide Flowering Garden Shrubs With Winter Protection?
The promise of spring blossoms vs. the hard reality of harsh winters....
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Should I Provide Winter Plant Protection for Evergreen Garden Shrubs?
You'll have to strike a balance between different needs in answering this one....
