A shrubbery is a foundational concept in landscape design, referring to a planted area dominated by shrubs. These woody plants are typically smaller than trees but larger than herbaceous flowers, forming the structural basis of many gardens. This type of planting provides year-round texture, color, and depth to an outdoor space.
Defining the Shrubbery
A shrubbery is formally defined as a deliberate, often dense, grouping of shrubs within a landscape setting. It is characterized by its informal, naturalistic appearance, unlike highly structured plant groupings. This design typically incorporates a variety of species, creating visual interest through a blend of different heights, foliage types, and flowering periods.
The goal is to achieve a flowing, layered look that mimics a natural environment. Designers often combine deciduous shrubs, which offer seasonal flowers and fall color, with evergreen varieties that provide consistent structure throughout the winter. Plants are spaced to allow for their mature size, ensuring each specimen can develop its natural shape. This mixed-species approach enhances biodiversity and creates a more resilient plant community.
Shrubbery Versus a Hedge
The distinction between a shrubbery and a hedge lies primarily in their aesthetic and maintenance requirements. A hedge is a linear planting of shrubs, usually of a single species, placed close together to form a uniform, dense boundary. Hedges are maintained through regular shearing to create a formal, architectural shape, functioning as a living wall or fence.
A shrubbery, conversely, is an informal grouping featuring a loose mix of different plant types. Plants in a shrubbery are not sheared into geometric shapes but are allowed to grow into their natural form. This results in a softer, more organic border compared to the rigid, highly manicured structure of a hedge.
Common Purposes and Placement
Shrubberies serve multiple practical and decorative functions within the landscape. A primary use is to provide visual screening, effectively softening property lines or obscuring less attractive views. The dense, layered foliage is effective at creating privacy without the hard lines of a fence or wall.
Shrubberies can also act as effective windbreaks, filtering air currents and creating a calmer microclimate for sensitive plants nearby. Positioning a shrubbery along a property’s border or at the edge of a lawn helps to define separate “garden rooms” or transition spaces. Placement requires careful consideration of the mature size and light requirements of the chosen shrubs, ensuring adequate sun exposure for all plants.
Basic Care and Maintenance
Maintenance for a shrubbery is less labor-intensive than for a formal hedge, emphasizing selective intervention over constant shaping. Watering is most important during the establishment period, typically the first two to three years after planting. This requires deep, infrequent soaking to encourage strong root growth. Once established, many shrubs become resilient to drought conditions.
Pruning focuses on maintaining the plant’s natural structure and involves removing dead, damaged, or crossing branches rather than shearing the entire surface. This selective thinning promotes air circulation and allows light to penetrate the center of the plant. Applying a 5 to 7-centimeter layer of organic mulch around the base helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and enrich the soil as it decomposes.