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Front yard landscaping shrubs


Best shrubs for the front of the house |

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Planting one of the best shrubs for the front of the house in your front yard will imbue the entrance to your home with character and personality, creating structure, a refuge for wildlife and a frame for your front porch. 

Introducing greenery and foliage to your front yard ideas will increase the curb appeal, while adding flowering shrubs will bring with them beauty and fragrance in equal measure. When planted in the right location, the right shrubs for the front of the house can also be used to provide privacy, block unsightly views and reduce noise pollution – so working them into your front yard landscaping ideas is a must.

‘When choosing a shrub for your front yard – pay more attention to your local hardiness zone than anything else. Your hardiness zone determines which shrubs will survive and thrive in your front yard,’ says Elle Meager, founder and CEO of Outdoor Happens .

Shrubs for the front of the house

There are species of shrubs for the front of the house to suit almost any type of home and garden. From towering specimens that are great for achieving your garden privacy ideas, to the prettiest floral varieties and the best low growing shrubs for the front of the house to incorporate into your small front garden ideas, adding one of these shrubs will help you to create a warm welcome to your home. 

The best shrubs for the front of the house are also great companions for the best trees for front yards, as together they will add height, color and texture to the front of your home. Landscaping with evergreens is also the most environmentally friendly option.

1. Best floral shrub for the front of the house

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Shrub roses make for stunning front yard cottage garden ideas. Unlike other types of roses, shrub roses have a bushy appearance making them a great addition to front yard flower bed ideas as well as to rose gardens.  

According to experts at David Austen : 'Shrub roses look best when planted in groups of three or more of the same variety. They will then grow together to form one dense shrub, which will provide a more continuous display and make a more definite statement in the border.'

If growing shrub roses, then it is important that you know how to prune roses. 'For bush and shrub roses prune down to half their height in spring and remove all dead wood,' advises Period Living garden expert Leigh Clapp. 'Don’t, however, prune English shrub roses too hard over the first couple of years, until they have established, to help the stems mature and support the blooms.'

2. Best low growing shrub for the front of the house

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If you only have a small front yard, then looking for low growing shrubs for the front of the house will be a better option. Despite only having a small footprint, lavender makes a big impression. Lavender are great low growing shrubs for the front of the house and has a signature fragrance that offers a warm welcome as you approach your front door.  

'Though it can only grow about one foot in height, its 2 inch wide blossoms are loved by butterflies and bees,' says gardening expert Lindsey Hyland of Urban Organic Yield . This makes them a great choice if you are trying to incorporate more wildlife garden ideas into your front yard.

A staple of front yard walkway ideas, 'lavender is a popular choice for foundation plantings and when established, they are drought tolerant plants, but they are best placed in full sun,' continues Lindsey. Planting drought tolerant shrubs in the front of the house will help to keep your front yard even during the driest summers.

3. Best shrub for the front of the house for a show-stopping display

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Part of the rhododendron family, azaleas are beautiful flowering shrubs that are favored for their long-lasting blooms. Popular plants for flower bed ideas, azaleas are great shrubs for the front of the house as their large size makes a bold impression. 'The azalea features long, leathery, egg-shaped leaves as well as showy white, magenta pink flowers with ruffled petals. This outstanding flower can become the focal point of every garden,' says Victoria Kuchinskaya, a plant physiologist for the NatureID app .

If deciding to grow azalea shrubs for the front of the house, it is also important that you know how to prune azaleas to enjoy the best from them.

4. Best evergreen shrubs for the front of the house

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Evergreen shrubs are one of the best shrubs for the front of the house as they offer year-round character and interest to your front garden ideas.

'Winter Gem Boxwood shrub is a common type of low-growing shrub that is perfect for growing at the front of your house,' says Shannon Bernadin, botanist and creator of The African Garden . 'It is a dense and bushy shrub that is evergreen and super easy to maintain. It will provide greenery to the front of your house all year round. '

Plus, boxwood shrubs are one of the best low growing shrubs for the front of the house.

5. Best winter interest shrubs for the front of the house

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Holly shrubs can be grown as either a small tree or a shrub and is a great addition to the front of the house. Characterized by dark green, sharp leaves, they are great evergreen trees for gardens and can also be grown into a hedge to provide garden privacy.

Holly comes into its own in the winter, with its bright red berries adding vibrancy to your garden during the bleakest winter months. As well as providing aesthetic interest, the berries are also great for feeding birds in winter.

'Another tremendous benefit of holly shrubs is that they come in many cultivars. Whether you live in North Carolina or frosty New England – you can find a holly shrub that will acclimate to your area,' says Elle Meager. 'However, one word of warning: holly shrub cultivars vary substantially in their size. Some maintain a height of only a few feet, while others skyrocket to over 30 feet.’

6. Best colorful shrub for the front of the house

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Hydrangeas are unusual in the fact that their color is defined by the soil pH. 'An acid soil ( pH below 7) will usually produce flower color closer to blue, whereas an alkaline soil (pH above 7) will produce pinker flowers,' explains Victoria Kuchinskaya. Hydrangeas can be grown either in the ground or in a pot, making them a great choice for small front garden ideas.

Most hydrangeas are deciduous shrubs, however there are some evergreen varieties that can make for great shrubs for the front of the house. 'Hydrangeas are a versatile choice with an array of options on offer to match your color scheme and work beautifully in more formal front gardens. They prefer sun in the morning with some shade in the afternoon,' says garden expert Leigh Clapp.

7. Best floral shrub for the front of the house

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Part of the verbena family, Lantana camara is a fast-growing shrub that is native to Central and South America. Characterized by its colorful flowers in carnival shades, its pretty blooms catch the eye and produce a sweet tutti frutti scent. Typically growing around 2m tall, it creates a bold statement that will make it a welcome addition to the front of the house. 

Furthermore, they're a great addition to other wildlife garden ideas. 'All butterflies and bees go mad for this, and it's incredibly easy to grow in a pot or border,' says plantswoman Sarah Raven .

8. Best flowering winter shrub for the front of the house

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Camellias have seen a rise in popularity in recent years, quickly becoming favorite shrubs for the front of the house. Loved for their flamboyant flowers, they are one of the first flowers, offering a cheery display through the darker months of the year. 

'Camellias have been hybridized to create more durable flowers and longer bloom times and the pink 'Winter's Star' is lovely in late fall and early winter. Camellia 'Winter's Snowman" blooms earlier in white, usually in October or November where we are in Washington,' says Robert Bell, principal at Bell Design .

As such, camellias are one of the best winter plants for pots and borders, and would make a stunning container display on the front porch. If growing these beautiful shrubs, it is vital to know how to prune camellias to get the best out of these pretty plants.

9. The best wildife shrubs for the front of the house bush (Buddleja davidii)

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If you are looking for shrubs for the front of the house that will help you to incorporate wildlife garden ideas into your plot, then buddleja is a must.

'Perfect for adding to front yard cottage garden ideas, buddleja can be grown as an ornamental plant pretty much anywhere,' says Victoria Kuchinskaya. 'Furthermore, it is fast-growing and not in the least fastidious. Unfortunately, however, Buddleja davidii is considered to be an invasive species in some U.S. regions so be careful before you add it into your garden.'

10. Best shrub for the front of the house for privacy

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You can't help but fall in love with the cheery yellow color of forsythia's flowers. They are characterful shrubs for the front of the house that will brighten even the greyest spring day. 

'They offer speedy growth, beautiful blossoms in the spring. Because they grow so fast and offer thick foliage, they make unrivaled screeners – especially if you want a privacy hedge in front of your home quickly,' says Elle Meager. In fact forsythia are one of the best fast-growing hedges for both privacy and interest.

'You'll need to prune your forsythia regularly because they grow seemingly overnight! Expect them to grow well over 12 inches per year. Some may reach a height of up to 10 feet – and some even slightly taller. However, there are smaller cultivars that are great for incorporating into your small front garden ideas,' continues Elle.

Which small shrubs for the front of the house look good year-round?

Evergreen small shrubs look good all year round. Since they don't lose their leaves they continually add life to the front of your house. Holly, camellias and boxwoods are all good options that bring year round interest to the front of your house.

What shrubs look good in front of the house?

Lavender, shrub roses, forsythia and hydrangeas are all shrubs that look good in front of the house. 'I always recommend a variety of shrubs, plants, and flowers for the front of your home – especially if you intend on building a privacy screen or supporting wildlife,' says Elle Meager.

Having graduated with a first class degree in English Literature, Holly started her career as a features writer and sub-editor at Period Living magazine, Homes & Gardens' sister title. Working on Period Living brought with it insight into the complexities of owning and caring for period homes, from interior decorating through to choosing the right windows and the challenges of extending. This has led to a passion for traditional interiors, particularly the country-look. Writing for the Homes & Gardens website as a content editor, alongside regular features for Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors magazines, has enabled her to broaden her writing to incorporate her interests in gardening, wildlife and nature.  

Low Growing Shrubs for the Front of the House: 16 Great Choices

Attractive low growing shrubs for the front of the house are great for reducing yard maintenance. While most gardeners love to work in their garden, they may not love pruning their shrubs every year. One way to make landscaping easier while increasing your home’s curb appeal is to move beyond the typical overgrown azaleas and rhododendron and choose foundation plant varieties that stay compact. The list of 16 low growing bushes featured in this article consists of both evergreen shrubs and flowering choices. They’re the perfect solution for homeowners who don’t enjoy pruning!

Finding the right low growing shrubs for your foundation plantings is a key to reducing maintenance.

Why low growing shrubs for the front of the house are best

Dwarf shrubs for the front of the house are a wise choice for several reasons. Aside from their minimal pruning requirements, many of these compact shrubs for front yards are evergreen and provide year-round interest to the landscape, while others produce beautiful blooms. Some even have interesting bark. Plus, many of these low growing shrubs for the front yard produce flowers that support bees and other pollinators. And lastly, as you’ll see in the plant profiles below, most exhibit extensive cold hardiness, some as far down as USDA zone 3.

6 Flowering low growing shrubs for the front of the house

I’ll start by introducing you to 6 deciduous low growing shrubs for the front of the house. These gorgeous flowering shrub choices stay compact yet still provide color and texture to your foundation plantings.

Dwarf Korean lilac shrubs produce fragrant blooms in the spring.

Dwarf Korean lilac (

Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’)

This flowering shrub produces lovely, pink to purple, sweet smelling flowers in late spring. Requiring full sun, the bushes top out at 4 to 5 feet in height, without pruning. It makes a great compact flowering hedge, and the foliage not prone to powdery mildew like traditional lilacs are. It flowers profusely and is hardy down to -30°F. When it comes to low growing shrubs for the front of the house, the deer-resistant dwarf Korean lilac is a real stunner.

Little Lime hydrangea blooms profusely yet stays small.

Dwarf hydrangea Little Lime® (

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Jane’)

Little Lime hydrangea produces panicle-shaped clusters of light green to white blooms in summer and is hardy to -30°F. Topping out at 5 feet in height, it thrives in full sun to part shade. Like other hydrangeas, Little Lime prefers moist soil. It’s a multi-stemmed shrub and is especially easy to care for. Unlike mophead hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) whose buds often freeze out in cold climates, the flowers on Little Lime are produced on stems that develop in the spring, so there’s no risk of the buds freezing out. This compact hydrangea looks so lovely in front of a house. Guests will no doubt ask about this beauty. The smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens), such as ‘Annabelle’, are another group of low growing shrubs for the front of the house worth growing. Their blooms are globe shaped rather than being panicle shaped.

Summersweet Clethra is a must-have if you love summer blooms.

Summersweet Clethra (

Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’)

If you’re looking for a low growing bush for foundation plantings that produces pretty summertime blooms, Clethra is my top choice. This compact variety attracts several types of bees and butterflies. It handles everything from full sun to heavy shade (though it won’t bloom quite as well with less than 4 hours of sun per day). Reaching a maximum height of just 4 feet and winter hardy in zones down to -30°F, it even tolerates wet soils. This is a cultivar of a North American native plant that’s very easy to grow. ‘Hummingbird’ is known for its slow growth and compact, mounded shape. It also produces more creamy white flowers than the straight species.

Virginia sweetspire is a lovely shrub and ‘Little Henry’ is a compact variety.

Dwarf Virginia Sweetspire (

Itea virginica ‘Sprich’)

Known as the Little Henry® sweetspire, this full sun, low growing shrub for in front of the house produces drooping, cylindrical spires of white flowers in early spring. The stems are red-hued which adds another element of interest. In autumn, the foliage of this compact shrub turns a brilliant orange or red. It is hardy to -20°F and thrives in full sun to partial shade. The blooms strut their stuff anytime from early June to late July. Damp to wet soil is preferred, but as long as you don’t let the soil get bone dry, Virginia sweetspire will do just fine. This is a dwarf cultivar of a North American native shrub.

Shrubby Cinquefoil produces vivid summer color in the landscape.

Shrubby Cinquefoil (

Potentilla fruticosa, syn. Dasiphora fruticosa)

In the summertime, there are few low growing shrubs for the front of the house that outshine the cinquefoil. Smothered in bright yellow, orange, pink, or white blooms (depending on the variety), this pretty, compact shrub is a vigorous grower for full sun to part shade conditions. It is attractive to bees and butterflies and survives winters down to -30°F. Growing to a maximum height of just 4 feet, the soft, feathery shape of this shrub is quite distinct. It makes a great deer-resistant flowering hedge or foundation plant. If you trim off the spent flowers, the bush often reblooms and may even be in near-continual flower from early summer through autumn.

‘Little Princess’ spirea is bursting with pink blooms by mid-summer.

Spirea ‘Little Princess’ (

Spiraea japonica ‘Little Princess’)

Japanese spirea has long been adored for its low maintenance requirements and reliable blooms. But many varieties grow too large for the front of the house without regular pruning. ‘Little Princess’ is a dwarf shrub that stays super compact, topping out at a height of just 30 inches! It produces flat-topped clusters of pink flowers from late spring through summer. Not only is this compact Japanese spirea easy to grow (just provide full sun), it is also deer resistant and handles a wide range of soil conditions. The growth is dense and rounded.

10 Evergreen low growing shrubs for the front of the house

Next, let’s look at some low growing shrubs for the front of the house that are evergreen. Because they hold onto their green leaves or needles year-round, they’re a prime choice for almost any climate, except for very warm ones. Their evergreen foliage provides shelter for winter birds and looks lovely when topped with a light layer of snow. Let’s meet 10 compact, low maintenance evergreen shrubs for the front yard.

Dwarf mugo pine is deer resistant and evergreen.

Dwarf Mugo Pine (

Pinus mugo cultivars)

There are several varieties of mugo pine that are compact and make perfect low growing shrubs for the front of the house. They are drought resistant, deer resistant, and can be used as a great low hedge. Regular mugo pines grow large (up to 20 feet in height) so be sure to look for dwarf varieties, including the dwarf mugo pine (P. mugo variety pumilio) which reaches just 5 feet tall, ‘Teeny’ which tops out at a mere 1 foot tall, and ‘Paul’s Dwarf’ which grows to 3 feet. All are fully evergreen, non-flowering, and very low maintenance. Hardy down to -40°F. Full sun is best. Deer resistant.

Dwarf Hinoki cypress is a personal favorite due to its deep green color and fan-shaped needle clusters.

Dwarf Hinoki Cypress (

Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’)

Though the deer absolutely adore feasting on the green foliage of this shrub, I won’t garden without it. I have two, and both are covered with a layer of deer netting year-round. I find them to be the finest of the low growing shrubs for the front of the house because their deep green, fan-shaped foliage is so distinctive. An Asian native, dwarf Hinoki cypress are very slow growing. It takes 10 to 15 years for them to reach their maximum height of 6 feet. Plant this foundation plant in full to partial sun and avoid waterlogged soils. The straight species grows very tall, so be sure to seek out the dwarf form. It’s quite winter hardy, down to about -30°F. Here’s our full article on how to grow a dwarf Hinoki cypress.

Round Arborvitae (

Thuja occidentalis varieties)

Most gardeners are probably familiar with tall, pyramidal-shaped arborvitae varieties, but did you know there are also compact arborvitae that are globe-shaped? I love these little cuties! One of my favorites is Mr. Bowling Ball®, but other options are ‘Little Gem’, ‘Hetz Midget’ and ‘Globe’. In late winter, when covered with a dusting of snow, these petite shrubs are extra fun. New growth emerges in spring, but there’s no need to prune this shrub to keep it round and compact. Skip this plant if you have a problem with deer. Choose a full sun to partial shade location and plan for a height of 3 feet. Most are hardy to -40° F.

Dwarf globe blue spruce has unmistakable blue-green foliage.

Dwarf Globe Blue Spruce (

Picea pungens ‘Globosa’)

Deer resistant? Check! Pest and disease resistant? Check! Compact growth habit? Check! Unique foliage color? Check! And those aren’t the only traits this fun shrub for the front yard possesses. It’s also very hardy (-40°F), drought tolerant, and fun as all get out. Think of it as a classic blue spruce shrunk down to a tiny size. Dwarf Globe blue spruce reaches 4 feet tall and wide at maturity, but it struggles in climates with very hot summers.

Bird’s nest spruce shrubs have been popular in gardens for many years.

Bird’s Nest Spruce (

Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’)

Another compact spruce variety, bird’s nest spruce has long been a favorite in the category of low growing shrubs for the front of the house. It’s been around for decades. Picea abies is known as the Norway spruce, and the straight species is a massive tree that grows to over 150 feet tall. However, this cultivar grows just a few feet in height and does so very slowly, taking several decades to reach maturity. The flattened tops of these compact shrubs look a bit like a bird’s nest, hence the common name. Hardy to -30°F and preferring full sun, it is deer resistant.

The variegated foliage of ‘Emerald n Gold’ Wintercreeper is a fun addition to the winter landscape.

Emerald and Gold Wintercreeper (

Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald n Gold’)

If you’re looking for variegated low growing shrubs for the front of the house, then this is the choice for you. The glossy, evergreen leaves are a combination of golden yellow and rich green. It’s so low growing that some gardeners grow it as a groundcover. Emerald and gold wintercreeper has great winter interest and tolerates lousy soils and shade (though the color is best in full to partial sun). This plant has been classified as invasive in some growing zones, so be sure to check with your state’s database for invasive plants before introducing it to your garden.

Rockspray cotoneaster plants produce bright berries in the fall and winter.

Rockspray Cotoneaster (

Cotoneaster horizontalis)

Admittedly I’m not a huge fan of this shrub, but it’s for a silly reason. The arching stems make it challenging to clean leaves out in the autumn. Not a critical fault, to be sure, but one that has kept me from planting it in my own garden. However, if a persnickety leaf clean up isn’t a concern of yours, then consider the rockspray cotoneaster for the front of your house. This low-growing shrub is a broadleaf evergreen. It produces small pink to white flowers in the spring, followed by clusters of orange or red berries in the fall. The spray-like branches arch out from the trunk, giving it an almost cascading look. Hardy to -20°F, choose a site that receives full to partial sun. Avoid in southern locations with hot summers.

Compact shrubs like Juniper ‘Blue Chip’ cover the ground and smother weeds.

Creeping Juniper (

Juniperus horizontalis)

A fast-growing ground cover, this low growing shrub is very popular. Reaching a height of just 18 inches with a spread up to 8 feet wide, it’s a great dwarf shrub for covering a lot of ground. Its evergreen needles are a lovely blue-green and it’s both deer and drought resistant. Full sun is best for this North American native shrub that’s hardy to -40°F. Though it has few insect pests, creeping juniper can develop fungal blight which leads to dieback of the stems and can be spread by pruning equipment. All the more reason to never prune this low growing shrub! It looks great along the front walk or on front yard slopes.

There are many varieties of dwarf boxwoods that never need to be pruned.

Dwarf Boxwoods (

Buxus species and varieties)

Boxwood is a very popular shrub for the front of the house because it is deer-resistant and easy to care for. Standard English boxwood and Japanese boxwood varieties grow large and need to be pruned yearly, but compact dwarf varieties like ‘Green Pillow’, ‘Baby Gem’, ‘Green Mound’, ‘Morris Midget’, and others are a great bet if you don’t want to have to prune. Partial shade to full sun is best. Some dwarf boxes only reach a foot in height, while others top out at 3 to 4 feet. Pay attention to the plant tag to be sure you are choosing the best variety for your needs.

Inkberry hollies produce small dark berries that the birds enjoy.

Inkberry Holly (

Ilex glabra)

The lovely dark green leaves of the inkberry holly are spineless and evergreen, and they make it among the finest of the low growing shrubs for the front of the house. Inkberry holly thrives in conditions from full sun to full shade. It’s one of those low maintenance shrubs that everyone asks about because it’s not very common (though it should be because it’s a terrific choice!). Barely noticeable flowers appear in spring, but they are soon followed by dark black berries that feed many different species of birds through the winter months. These plants need minimal pruning and top out at 8 feet tall. The shape is naturally rounded. The cultivar ‘Shamrock’ is among the most compact and worth seeking out. Native to eastern North America, the inkberry holly is hardy to -30°F.

How to plant low growing shrubs for the front of the house

As you can see, there are so many great low growing shrubs for the front of the house. Combine several species together to create an interesting design. Plan for 3 to 5 of each species to create small masses of the same texture and color. I’m sure you’ll find these compact shrubs to be easy to care for and an enjoyable addition to your front yard for many years to come.

For more great shrubs for the garden, please visit these articles:

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The best plants for urban gardening

The rapid rhythm of life in the stone jungle has a depressing effect on the human psyche. Residents of large cities need outdoor recreation. This is quite problematic, since the natural flora is almost destroyed by dense buildings. Urban landscaping comes to the rescue. Parks and squares serve not only as places for recreation, but also ennoble the territory. Who does not dream of living in a beautiful cozy city?

Choosing which species to plant in harsh industrial environments can be tricky. Not all vegetation is suitable for the design of densely populated locations. Flora suffers from lack of moisture, nutrition, exhaust from cars. Let's take a closer look at the best plants for urban gardening in this article.

Landscape Design Studio SAFLOR offers services for landscaping, maintenance of gardens and parks in St. Petersburg. You can buy seedlings of deciduous, coniferous, fruit trees, shrubs, decorative flowers from us. We offer professional planting and maintenance services for green spaces. Masters of their craft work on the design of the territories: landscape designers, agronomists, architects, dendrologists, engineers. Thanks to a combination of many years of experience and following current trends, we are able to realize the most ambitious projects. Call the office of our company by phone: 8(812)438-32-32. We are also available by email: [email protected]. Retail customers can call 8(812)929-80-12. A separate line has been allocated for wholesale customers: 8(812)929-80-11. Contact us for the best plants for urban gardening. Experts will help you choose varieties and bring your creative ideas to life.

Types of urban plantings

Planting in urban areas should be treated responsibly. Species are selected according to the purpose for which they serve. If in the natural environment nature itself took care of the combination of varieties and location, then in the city everything is different. Each shrub, tree, flower has its own purpose. In addition to aesthetic pleasure, green spaces should benefit people.

Landscaping of recreation areas

Recreational areas include squares, parks, boulevards, forest park strips. For planting, tall trees with dense crowns are used, which create shade and give coolness. To make it comfortable for people to be in places of recreation, rocks are planted that:

Plants for urban landscaping of places where citizens spend their time:

Street landscaping

Plants used for urban street landscaping have a different task. Trees should be small-leaved so that sunlight penetrates the roadway. Successful options:

Plants for decorating institutions

The territories of factories, kindergartens, hospitals, schools, and house plots also require landscaping. In such places, breeds that have a beneficial effect on human health should be used.

It is not recommended to plant thorny species in children's institutions. The properties of plants also need to be paid attention. They should not be poisonous, because children, unknowingly, can be poisoned by the fruits.

You can decorate the territory of establishments with perennial flower arrangements. Suitable for this purpose:

In crowded places, it is important to plant flowers that do not cause allergic reactions.

Space zoning

A hedge is beautiful, practical and inexpensive. It is most convenient to decorate the space with the help of shrubs that tolerate a haircut well. Zoning with green spaces is used to:

Bushes of hawthorn, cotoneaster, Tatar maple, golden currant will help to decorate sidewalks, adjacent territories. From conifers, you can choose thuja, juniper.

Lianas are an alternative to bushes. They will need mesh support or other support. Lianas grow quickly, so they require timely pruning. Weaving plants can ennoble the appearance of old fences, brighten up the dullness of multi-storey buildings. For example, girlish grapes are often planted at the entrances to the entrances.

Curly species for hedges can be purchased:

How to choose plants for urban gardening?

Factors to be taken into account:

How plants will grow and develop depends on the soil, humidity, lighting. When placing seedlings on the site, you need to take into account the height, width, density of the crown of an adult specimen. A powerful root system of trees can damage paving slabs and deform asphalt.

Plants must meet the following criteria:

  1. Hardiness. The city has dry air, smog, temperature fluctuations.
  2. Unpretentiousness. Not all places have centralized irrigation.
  3. Decorative. The flowering period must be long.

Greening a metropolis is a big responsibility. It is important to plant plants correctly so that they create comfortable conditions for citizens. Poorly selected varieties may die, therefore, the customer will lose considerable financial investments. Entrust the work on the improvement of the territory to the SAFLOR studio, and we will select the best plants for urban gardening.

Plants for urban gardening. Assortment of trees and shrubs

In cities with a large population, dense residential, industrial and public buildings, a dense network of roads, there is a progressive deterioration of the environment: dustiness, high concentration of toxic emissions from industrial enterprises, noise levels exceeding the maximum permissible medical standards.

Green spaces in cities, industrial areas, and recreation areas play an important role in solving the issues of improving and protecting the external environment. Green spaces play an important architectural and compositional role in the landscape of a modern city, soften the severity of architecture; reducing wind speed, noise level, humidifying and purifying the air, regulating the air temperature, sterilizing the air with phytoncides, create comfortable conditions for work and rest.

Trees and shrubs are the main material for green building. The species composition (range) of woody and shrubby plants determines the architectural qualities of plantings, their sanitary and hygienic properties, durability and economic efficiency of use. According to the sum of indicators - the stability and durability of the species in given natural conditions and the conditions of a particular landscaping object (street, park, industrial zone, etc.), according to decorative qualities - the rocks grown for landscaping are divided into the main, additional and limited assortment.

Main assortment

The main assortment consists of trees and shrubs that grow in urban plantations for a long time and do not lose their decorative qualities. These are such species as:

Deciduous trees:

Coniferous trees:

Deciduous shrubs:

Additional range

The additional range consists of species with high decorative qualities, but less biologically durable or resistant in given environmental conditions. The additional assortment is much wider than the main one and includes most of the most decorative types; it is used for landscaping parks, squares or closed areas of various institutions, i.e. where growing conditions are less severe. Additional range includes:

Deciduous trees:

Conifers:

Deciduous shrubs:

Coniferous shrubs:

Creepers:

Limited range

The limited range consists of flowering shrubs and plants with an architectural crown shape, as well as species that require additional care and protection from adverse conditions, and is intended mainly for collection plantings:

Determining the list of plants

When establishing a list of plants for a specific object, it is necessary that it meets the intended purpose and architectural design of the object and take into account:

1. the specifics of the object, environmental factors and the functions of plantings that they will perform;
2. biological features and architectural qualities of plants, their relation to the environment where they will grow.

The growth and development of plants depend on the condition of the soil, its fertility, humidity and solar illumination of the area.

Particular attention should be paid to coniferous species, which determine the decorative effect of objects in winter.

When placing trees and shrubs on the site, it is necessary to take into account the main biometric indicators - plant height, width, height, density of their crowns.

The height of the plant is taken as its height at maturity under the best growing conditions.

In total, six classes of woody plants are distinguished by height:

The width of the tree crown is determined by the span of the branches in meters:

Crown height is taken into account as a percentage of the total tree height. For shrubs, an important indicator is the width of their above-ground part:

When designing, the density (openwork) of the tree crown should be taken into account. Density is determined by the number of gaps in the crown, expressed as a percentage. According to the density of the crown, the trees are divided into:


Pay attention to the speed of tree growth. Trees are divided into:

It is also necessary to take into account light-loving and shade-tolerant plants, their exactingness to soils, drought resistance and frost resistance.

The ratio of species to light:

1. Light-loving species are Siberian larch, Scots pine, common ash, Cossack juniper.
2. Shade-tolerant species are: yews, various types of spruces, Siberian fir, lindens.

Ratio of species to heat:

1. Heat-loving species are: honey locust, white locust, hornbeam elm.
2. Medium heat-loving species are: pedunculate oak, Norway maple, common ash, Amur velvet.

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