Shrubs on a surge
After years in the wilderness, these versatile stars are back at the peak of fashion
SHRUBS are the horticultural equivalent of the Targaryen family from the TV drama Game Of Thrones, which returns tomorrow for its final season. For generations, shrubs reigned supreme but in recent times they have found their position challenged by prairie perennials, grasses and architectural exotics.
The fate of the protagonists in the hit fantasy epic will be revealed to fans over the next six weeks. Fortunately, there’s a guaranteed happy ending for shrubs – these plants have bounced back to the top over the past few years, with nurserymen unveiling lots of newcomers to satisfy increased demand.
As far as I’m concerned, shrubs have every right to take back their crown, because no other group of plants is quite so multi-talented. They can draw the eye, give a garden structure, punctuate displays, fill unsightly gaps, attract wildlife
and provide privacy. A number of them make excellent hedges.
Some are renowned for their spring flowers, while others light up the garden in summer. Many have cracking autumn foliage, or a late display of berries or showy stems that dazzle in the depths of winter. Apart from one-season wonders, there are lots of shrubs that have multiple seasons of interest.
Spring is a great time to plant container-grown shrubs. The soil is moist and getting warmer, so is ideal for the production of new roots and shoots. Establishing shrubs in summer is much harder, especially during dry spells, as they will require regular watering to prevent a check to growth.
There are many fantastic shrubs that flower at this time of year, such as viburnums, lilacs and rhododendrons. For a summer display, consider buddleias, philadelphus and potentillas. Lavatera x clementii ‘Barnsley’ is a cracking mallow with 3in-wide, red-eyed white flowers that turn silvery-pink as they mature.
Hydrangeas, abelias and mahonias put on a floral display in autumn, while smoke bushes (cotinus), callicarpas and deciduous forms of euonymus are renowned for their leaf colour. Witch hazels are the finest of all winter-interest shrubs thanks to their highly perfumed, filament-like flowers.
All of the shrubs I’ve mentioned are wonderful, but some only for a brief moment. If you’ve got a small garden, every plant has to earn its keep, so choose shrubs with several seasons of interest. Among the best are heavenly bamboos (nandina), spiraeas and cut leaf elders.
Variegated shrubs are worth their weight in gold, providing structure, colour and appeal all year round. Varieties of Euonymus fortunei, Hebe ‘Heartbreaker’ and Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’, with its yellow-edged leaves and scented blooms, are perfect at the front of mixed borders.
Prior to planting shrubs, dunk plants in a bucket of water for an hour to ensure the rootballs are completely soaked.
Next, dig a hole that’s slightly deeper than the rootball and three times as wide – if the soil is hard, spike the base and sides with a fork to encourage roots to spread out.
Old-school gardeners recommend adding well-rotted manure to the bottom of the hole. This should be avoided, though, as shrubs placed on top of this layer can sink as the material starts to decay. And resist the urge to add fertiliser as this will burn delicate new roots.
Place the plant in the centre of the hole, backfill with the excavated soil and firm with your heel. Water well. Finally, cover the ground with a 3in layer of bark, leafmould or garden compost – try to keep the mulch clear of stems as contact can lead to bark softening and rotting.
Dwarf shrubs are perfect started in 12in pots filled with John Innes No3. Ensure the compost remains damp and feed regularly.
Within a couple of years, plants are likely to have filled their allocated space so they will need moving into larger containers.
They can light up a space in spring and dazzle in winter