Available in several hundred varieties, with various colours and shapes, flowering or not, shrubs give body to your garden. They are the ones who suggest the structure, the architecture of your flowerbeds. They delimit spaces, highlight focal points of your home and create small privacy screens or transitions in your decor. In hedges, lined up along the edge of the pool or scattered here and there on your property, shrubs set the tone for your landscaping.
Choosing your shrub
There is no shortage of choice in the store: there is something for every taste and every possible use. Ask our nursery experts for advice on finding the perfect variety for you.
Many varieties of shrubs are known for their beautiful foliage. From yellow to red to all shades of green, ochre and even purple and pink, the foliage of your shrubs will add colour, texture and beauty to your landscaping as the season progresses. Some even have evergreen foliage, which means they keep their leaves through the winter, isn’t that wonderful?!
There are also flowers. Some species bloom, others do not. It’s up to you to see what best suits your decor. You will find varieties that bloom almost all season long, ensuring a constant touch of colour in your garden. Some are very floriferous and will offer you an abundant, even impressive bloom!
Planting and maintenance
Shrubs do not require much maintenance after planting, do not require much water or fertilizer, and take hold quickly if planted correctly and in the right place. We can’t say it enough: the right plant in the right space! Choose your plants, shrubs as well as others, according to the environment in which they will grow: hardiness zone, sunlight, type of soil, environment, etc.
How to plant your shrub?
Shrubs can be planted at any time of the season. Avoid heat waves, of course, so as not to put unnecessary stress on your plant.
- Dig a hole 5 to 10 cm larger and deeper than the pot your shrub is in.
- Add compost, a root fertilizer or mycorrhizae at the bottom of the hole and mix it with the soil that will be used to fill the hole.
- Place your shrub at the center of the hole and fill with the soil mixture, packing lightly but not too tightly.
- Water thoroughly – that’s it!
To ensure that your shrub performs at its best, give it a good fertilizer specifically designed for trees and shrubs in the spring and fall, and water thoroughly.
Remember that your shrubs will grow in width and height over time, so give them room to grow. Don’t plant them too close together. Your specialist will be able to direct you correctly.
Should I prune my shrubs?
Pruning stimulates flowering and allows you to control the development of your shrub. Never remove more than one third of the plant during the season. At the end of the season or in the spring, you can cut back the branches more severely to restore vigour to a shrub that is losing feathers.
For your spring blooming shrubs, wait until after bloom to prune, from late May to mid-June. For summer and fall blooming varieties, prune in the fall when you’re closing your garden or early in the spring to encourage abundant bloom.
Also remember to keep your shrubs clean, cut back dead wood and dispose of dead leaves and flowers throughout the season to promote optimal growth.
Got an idea? We have the solution! Come see us in store to discuss your project and find the best plants to achieve your goals.
