Choosing the Best Spot in Your Yard for a New Shrub
Now that you’ve decided you want to plant a new shrub, and maybe you’ve even brought it home from the nursery, you need to choose the best spot in your yard for planting. Selecting the best place from the beginning means you won’t need to dig it up later because it has grown too big or you’re unhappy with its placement.
Be Considerate of the Surroundings
Depending on the shrub you’re planting, it can drop leaves and even fruits. A shrub against your foundation may drop its foliage into window wells or gutters, which are difficult to keep clean. Or will it make your neighbor unhappy every fall when it covers their lawn with leaves?
If it drops fruit, be mindful they may stain your driveway, make a mess of your vehicle, or land on a busy walkway, so they get stepped on and tracked everywhere. These fruits can also attract birds, which also increases the cleanup.
How Easy Will it Be to Water?
Most new plantings require extra water until the root system gets well established. In many cases, you’ll need to water it by hand once in a while, especially if you don’t get consistent rainfall. Does your hose reach that far? Or will you need to carry water?
Do You Want it Visible from a Specific Window?
If you choose an ornamental shrub to add a focal point to your yard, you want to enjoy it as often as possible. For some people, this means planting it in a visible spot from inside the house. Maybe you want to see its beautiful flowers and foliage through the kitchen window when standing at the sink. Or perhaps you want to sit on the living room sofa and watch the hummingbirds it attracts.
Think About Lawn Mowing
When it comes to placement, you should also think about how the mature shrub may affect mowing your lawn. A small, immature plant doesn’t typically impede anything, but it will fill out as it grows to its mature size. Planting it in the middle of the yard means you’ll need to mow close to it, which can be challenging, especially if the branches are low-hanging or have thorns. Or you’ll need to cut around it using a string trimmer.
Don’t Impede Access to Important Items in Your Yard
Shrubs are incredibly helpful at hiding eyesores in the landscape — air conditioning units, garbage cans, and utility boxes. While this is great, you always want to keep them an appropriate distance away from these items so you can access them when needed.