How to grow shrubs

Shrubs are the structural backbone of any garden. Permanent woody plants that stay above ground year-round, they provide height, evergreen cover, seasonal flowers, berries and wildlife habitat without the scale of a tree. A well-chosen shrub collection can carry a garden through all four seasons: witch hazel and winter-flowering viburnum in January, forsythia and magnolia in spring, hydrangeas and roses through summer, then burning euonymus and berry-laden pyracantha in autumn. Most garden shrubs are low-maintenance once established: an annual prune at the right time (timing varies by species) and occasional feeding is usually all they need. Our guides explain pruning technique, soil preference and the best companion plants for each shrub.