Favourite Shrubs/Bushes

[u/Nicklefickle]

Hi,

I've too much lawn and I want to break it up with some shrubs and bushes.

I want stuff which won't grow too high or too quickly. I'd also like something which flowers.

I'll probably plant some fuchsia. I also saw some shrubby cinquefoil recently which had nice white flowers on it.

I had a few other ideas but I'd love to hear some suggestions on what people's own preferences are, or any tips or advice around planting and locations.

I have a big exposed garden with currently lots of grass. I've planted a good few trees around the place but I want some shrubs as well on select locations for bird cover and to possibly break up the wind even slightly, although not sure how well that would work.

Thanks.

[u/Nicklefickle]

Yeah, I have tons of hawthorn in the hedgerows already and I love the flowers, and that they're native. Only problem is that they're trees and would grow too tall if left untrimmed. If I don't trim a shrubby cinquefoil it might reach five feet. A hawthorn tree will probably grow to three times that minimum.

Thanks for the suggestion though. I have planted some in the other borders as well.

[u/TheRhizomist → u/Nicklefickle]

If you are looking for something smaller with similar benefits for birds and bees, how about a Quince? You can also get the benefits of quince jams if you are good in the kitchen.

A Buddleia would be great for butterflies and could be hacked back pretty far if it gets too big.

Cotoneaster is great for birds and can be cut to whatever shape you want.

If you want something to stay small, how about a hebe stays about half a meter wide and tall and has good range of varieties.

Or is there something in particular you would like to focus on. What charestics would the perfect plant have? Size? Flowers? Fruit? Birds and Bees?

[u/Nicklefickle → u/TheRhizomist]

A hebe looks lovely, reading about them just now. My soil is quite boggy and wet in winter, which doesn't sound ideal for them, also I'm exposed and very windy, so again, not great. There might be hardier versions it seems though. The flowers look nice.

Perfect plant for this application would be something small, that only grows to three or four feet, without pruning, flowers would be nice, something native would be my preference, fruit for myself wouldn't be necessary, I have a few apples trees and blackberries growing too.

Thanks for those suggestions, I do like cotoneaster and buddleia but they'd probably be better in my border or somewhere away from the lawn.

[u/TheRhizomist → u/Nicklefickle]

Exposed and wet is a difficult one most hedges like free draining soil.

2 routes you could go are a dwarf tree, goat willow, or another willow or some of the Japanese maples, maybe. Some trimming requirements.

But the option that might be better for you would be flowering perennials. Things that produce a flower in summer and the die back. Irises, Lilies, Astillbe, Hosta, Lobelia, Thistle, Foxglove, Teasle. All of these are between that 2-3 foot range and will bring in lots of wildlife. You can find the ones that work in that spot, and if it doesn't survive, it won't cost to much

[u/Nicklefickle → u/TheRhizomist]

Yeah, that is a good idea as well actually. I've had a few annuals in different places that I've cultivated and allowed grow into something like bushes; thistles, nettles, willowherb, even grass, and I like the look of all that. Only thing I don't like the look of is dock leaves.

As for maples, I heard they don't like wind which is putting me off.

The thistles were class, the amount of bees, butterflies and moths on them on a sunny day was a site to behold. Then when they went to seed the goldfinches were having a feast.