Shrubs like other landscaping options, come in a variety of types available for landscaping your yard and garden space. They can flower in a variety of colors or can be strictly foliage only. The size range of shrubs encompasses smaller plant forms all the way up to plants that are tree-sized. This gives many options to a homeowner when planning their landscape.

Types of Shrubs

For simple classification purposes shrubs can be divided into two categories: evergreen and deciduous. Evergreen flowering shrubs maintain their color and leaves all year round; deciduous shrubs put on a colorful show in the fall and then lose their foliage until spring.

Shrubs serve different purposes in a landscape or garden, depending on their size and shape. Foundation plantings are found closest to the house along the foundation and help to frame a house, while softening the edges of the structure.  A specimen plant is grown by itself, for ornamental effect, and serves as a focal point in a garden. Hedges, or privacy shrubs, are grown to create a wall of plants. Sometimes they are purely decorative and other times they serve a practical function for the homeowner.

There are many types commonly found in gardens and landscapes, each having their own advantages. One of the main merits of these plants is they typically need little hands on care to grow, this makes low maintenance shrubs great around the house. Some of the most common garden/landscaping shrubs follow:

Azalea

Azaleas

Known for their showy spring flowers, azaleas are a subgenera of the rhododendron family. Although they typically have a shortened blooming season (only a couple of weeks long) compared to most flowering shrubs, they are available in many evergreen varieties to provide year-round interest in your landscape. Azaleas come in a wide range of colors, giving the gardener many options to choose from.

Barberry

Barberry Shrubs

Another low maintenance shrub, is this easy to grow hardy deciduous shrub, barberry provides year round interest in a garden and landscapes. Barberry plants have thick, green leaves that turn red in the fall and bear numerous berries. Their thick, uniform growing pattern makes them well suited for hedges or mixed borders.

Boxwood

Boxwood Shrubs

One of the most common evergreen shrubs used in landscapes, boxwoods are very dense and work extremely well for creating walled gardens or as privacy shrubs. They are commonly used as foundation plantings helping to frame a house and anchor it aesthetically to a site.

Forsythia

Forsythia

The cheery yellow foliage of the forsythia signifies that spring has finally arrived after the doldrums of winter. They are among the first flowers to grow in spring providing a brilliant display of yellow. Forsythia is a low maintenance shrub making it very easy to care for and they make a great privacy shrubs to screen in a landscape or garden.

Holly Bush

Holly Bush Shrubs

Commonly used as a screening hedge, or foundation planting, the holly bush are evergreen shrubs known for their clusters of red berries and spin-edged leaves. They provide a backdrop for other flowers in the summer, and add structure and color to landscapes during the winter months. Hollies require little care other than pruning to keep them compact.

Hydrangea

Hydrangea

One of the most popular flowering shrubs found in landscapes, hydrangeas add a beautiful pop of color to yards and gardens in the summer months. They come in pink, blue and white, and work well in informal borders and as specimen plantings.

Juniper

Juniper

These shrubs are known for their distinctive fragrance and well defined shape. The low growing juniper variety is used most often in landscapes, filling in vacant spaces between larger, more upright shrubs and trees. Junipers never need pruning and tolerate adverse conditions well.

Lilacs

Lilacs

Lilacs are exceedingly popular flowering shrubs are known for their intoxicating fragrance and light purple flowers, making them a staple in many landscapes, especially rural communities. Lilac varieties are available in more compact forms, as well as taller plants; they are also available in yellow and white. They do well when planted together to create screens, or backgrounds, but can also stand alone to create stunning specimen plantings.

Rhododendron

Rhododendron

Closely related to the azalea, rhododendrons are also known for their ornate spring flowers. Rhododendrons are acid loving plants, which do best when planted in groupings instead of individual planting holes. A variety of available rhododendron colors allows for creativity in garden flower color schemes.

Rose of Sharon

Rose of Sharon

This is another flowering shrub that brings large, beautiful blooms to garden spaces.  Rose of Sharon flowers appear during the warm summer months in shades of red, pink, purple and white flowering shrubs. This is a low maintenance shrub that is easy to care for and will thrive with little care. Their 9-12’ stature makes for stunning privacy shrubs but do require some pruning for shape.

Spirea

Spirea

A deciduous flowering shrub that blooms in late spring to midsummer, spireas are often used as foundation plantings, hedges, or accent plants in perennial gardens. Flower colors include white, red, pink and yellow depending on the spirea variety; size ranges from smaller 2’ tall plants, to shrubs that grow to 10’ in height.

With many options in colors, sizes, and purpose, these plants fill an important niche within gardens and landscapes. They can help anchor a home into the site by serving as foundation plantings. They can stand alone, creating stunning focal points, or they can be used as privacy shrubs amassing together to build walls of plants that provide privacy.

The best drip irrigation system is the one that gets water to the plants in a sufficient way. No matter what plants are being grown, they all need sunlight and water to grow vigorously. They come by sunlight pretty naturally – as long as they are grown in the appropriate areas – but water can be a little trickier in certain places. Some areas of the country receive plenty of rainfall to water gardens sufficiently; other areas need supplemental irrigation to make their gardens grow.

While a simple watering can is all you need to give your garden the water it needs, there are other irrigation options available that deliver water more efficiently. After their initial setup they will also significantly cut down on the time it takes you to water your plants; some setups can be even put on a timer/programmer so they come on automatically.

Do It Yourself or Hire Someone?

With most projects, the first decision you have to make is if you’re up to tackling the project yourself or whether you are going to hire it out. If you choose to hire it out take some time and research landscape contractors/sprinkler companies in your area to find someone well qualified and highly recommended. Doing it yourself is a feasible project but it will take some planning and more than likely a few unanticipated trips to the hardware store.

When it comes to designing an irrigation system for your garden it’s best if you start by drawing out the layout of your plants and the garden space. This will make it much easier to decide what kind of system will work best for your needs. It will also allow you to see the sprinkler system configuration on paper, allowing for a more precise estimate of the supplies you will need to purchase.

Above Ground Sprinkler System

Spray or rotor irrigation setups are the systems most people think of first, when contemplating home systems. This is the type where the heads pop up out of the ground and spray water either in a fixed pattern or a rotating stream.  The two systems work really well for lawn irrigation but not so much for vegetable gardens and container plants. In gardens or container plantings it’s best to utilize drip/trickle irrigation.

Best Drip Irrigation System

Drip irrigation is exactly what its name implies: water is slowly delivered/dripped to plants through specialized tubes or hoses that have bubblers, emitters, or micro-sprayers attached. This puts water closer to the root system and greatly reduces evaporation. Drip irrigation can reduce overall water usage by 30-50% if implemented correctly.

The simplest way to set up a drip irrigation system in your garden is to lay soaker hoses by the base of all your plants. Soaker hoses ooze water through tiny holes the entire length of the hose, providing moisture slowly to plants. This minimizes evaporation, runoff, and overspray compared to other irrigation methods. Soaker hoses work best for small garden plots on fairly level ground. To get the most benefit from a soaker hose system stretch the hoses straight and then lay them about 2-3” from the stems of vegetables planted in rows.

If plants are not planted in straight rows, wind the soaker hose in and out between them and wrap the hose entirely around the perimeter of plants that have higher water needs. After positioning the soaker hose use wire pins to hold the hose in place. If you want to further increase water efficiency, cover the soaker hoses with a couple inches of mulch to prevent more water loss. A timer can be added to the system to turn the water on/off on scheduled intervals.

A slightly more complicated drip system uses tubing and special nozzles/hardware. This has a higher price tag than soaker hoses but can be customized more to your garden, and the needs of your plants.  A system like this can be installed by a homeowner but many opt to have it professionally installed. Irrigation tubing – either solid of perforated – is laid through your entire garden and then the appropriate hardware can be installed to deliver water.

Perforated hose works well in garden areas where the plants are evenly spaced; solid hose works well when you are configuring a variety of water needs and plants are not evenly spaced. Dripper heads can then be run directly to the base of plants and deliver a variable rate of water. Micro-sprayer cans be purchased in a variety of spray angles/patterns and volumes to cover a larger range of area.  The benefit to a system like this is the flexibility it gives a homeowner, allowing you to tailor water delivery to specific areas and plants.

Installing irrigation systems in your garden is a great way to cut down on labor and increase water use efficiency. Instead of dragging hoses from area to area, or lugging a heavy watering can around, it’s much easier to turn on a hose and run a system that is set up specifically for your garden.

Drip irrigation systems are the most effective for vegetable and container gardens and can be as simple as laying soaker hoses around the base of plants. If you’re looking for a more complex system then one can easily be tailored to your garden. You can also decide to go full hydroponics, where there is no soil and use only use water.

The benefits of hydroponics are numerous. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants, without soil, providing all of the nutrients and resources needed for optimum growth through an aquatic solution. Hydroponic growing systems are increasing in popularity due to the many benefits of hydroponics, and have helped expand the possibilities of urban and indoor gardening.

Hydroponics Vs Soil

Plants grown in hydroponic systems use less resources, occupy less space, and are higher quality than those grown using traditional growing methods. When it comes to hydroponics vs soil it may seem contradictory to grow plants without soil, hydroponics is actually an intricate system that works very well.

In order to flourish, plants need water and nutrients. If the essential nutrients are provided in water directly to the root zone, there is no need to have any soil at all. Hydroponic systems have been around for thousands of years but have taken off in popularity in the last 60 or 70 years.

It’s been proven that there are distinct hydroponics advantages over gardening in soil. When grown under the same conditions, plants in hydroponic systems grow on average 30-50% faster than those sown in soil and have higher yields. This is thought to be due to the increased oxygen amount in hydroponic solutions.

The extra oxygen stimulates root growth and encourages faster hydroponic nutrient absorption. Roots are constantly in contact with essential nutrients making it easier to find food and break it down within the plant. This saved energy can be put towards faster plant growth and increased yields. If you are interested in traditional garden irrigation that is easy to accomplish with a drip irrigation system.

Benefits of Hydroponics

One of the biggest benefits of hydroponics is the year-round growing season. Indoor gardening can be accomplished at any time as long as ample light is provided for the plants to complete photosynthesis. In urban environments the ability to grow plants indoors without soil is providing communities with fresh, local produce year round.

There are also environmental benefits of hydroponics over in ground gardening. Even though plants are grown in aquatic environments, the best hydroponic system actually uses less water than traditional gardening. The aquatic solutions are constantly reused keeping water usage lower.

Hydroponics benefits also include not having to worry about weeds which are not a concern in hydroponics, and insect pests are reduced as well, depending on the location of a system – this cuts down on the amount of pesticides and herbicides applied to plants, reducing environmental impacts. Topsoil erosion is not an issue either.

Disadvantages of Hydroponics

The biggest hydroponics disadvantages is the initial cost incurred to set up a system. Small, home-based hydroponic systems can be built fairly inexpensively but large, commercial operations are cost prohibitive. This is the key reason hydroponics hasn’t been implemented on large scale systems more readily.

Large scale operations also require more labor to maintain and monitor the system, more inputs in terms of nutrients solutions, and the cost of lighting a large scale operation. Growers believe if some of these drawbacks can be resolved, hydroponic gardening and hydroponic farming could be a more economical alternative to traditional farming on a large scale, despite this the benefits of hydroponics far outweigh any disadvantages.

Indoor Growing Systems

When setting up a home indoor hydroponic system, the first consideration to take is whether to build a system or purchase a hydroponic garden kit that is prebuilt. No matter the type of system wanted, or the space available, even the best hydroponic system needs a water source, nutrient solution, and some sort of reservoir to contain the solution. Indoor hydroponic systems that do not have access to natural light will need artificial light sources.

Many people prefer the ease of buying a hydroponic garden kit, which is a complete system that is already pieced together for them. Hydroponic equipment is readily available and a hydroponic garden kit can be purchased to meet the needs of new or inexperienced growers.

Some people though, like the challenge of putting together all the components and creating a system that meets their needs specifically. There are many resources available for hydroponics for beginners providing instructions on how to build simple, starter systems.

Types of Hydroponics

Another benefit of hydroponics is there are many types of hydroponic systems to choose from. These are classified as active or passive, depending on how the nutrient solutions are delivered to the root systems.

Active systems rely on pumps or other mechanisms to circulate solutions and deliver them to the roots. In active systems the nutrient solution is typically cycled over and over through the solution. The big drawback to active systems is their reliance on electricity; in the event of a power outage, the system quits working.

Passive systems, on the other hand, are easier to set up and maintain. For this reason they are often recommended to beginners. These systems use a growing hydroponic medium –rocks such as hydrocorn or expanded shale, sand, vermiculite, or perlite – through which the nutrient solution is passed.

The roots come in contact with the solution, plants then absorb the water and nutrients. Passive systems require no pumps or moving parts making them easier and cheaper to maintain. The types below each offer hydroponic benefits and drawbacks to be considered before deciding on which to pick.

Active and Passive Indoor Hydroponic Systems are Broken Down into Six Types:

• Wick System – Nutrients are stored in a reservoir, and move into the root zone via capillary action using some sort of wick. This passive system is easy to set up and maintain but is not the most efficient.
• Deep Water Culture System – Also known as DWC, deep water culture systems are simple to set up and maintain. Plants are held up by some sort of platform that allows them to float on top of the nutrient solution. Air pumps and air stones then provide oxygen to the plants, much like in an aquarium. The drawback is that few plants other than lettuce do well in these systems.
• Drip System – The most widely used system in hydroponics, a drip system is similar to a wick system setup. Plants are suspended in a growing medium and then slowly fed nutrient solution through a small drip line. A hydroponic drip system utilizes a timer and pump, requiring upkeep of mechanical components.
• Aeroponic System – This is the most high tech system. Plants are suspended in the air and roots are misted with nutrient solution either in a cycle, or continuously. Aeroponic systems obviously require more technical equipment and are not recommended for hydroponics for beginners.
• Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) System – In this type of system plants are grown in long channels with nutrient solution constantly running along the bottom of the channel. NFT systems are very popular in commercial operations, but require pumps and timers to control the delivery of nutrient solution to plants.
• Ebb and Flow System – In an ebb and flow system, plants are grown in trays filled with the appropriate growing medium. On regular intervals the trays are flooded with nutrient solution and then drained back into a reservoir until the next cycle. They are very versatile systems but are not as popular as the others.

The best hydroponic nutrients needed for any of these systems follows the same principles of garden fertilizers. To be effective, it must contain all of the essential nutrients a plant would obtain from the soil or fertilizers applied. Nutrient solutions come in liquid or powdered mixes, with some organic options available.

One key aspect in growing plants hydroponically is maintaining the nutrient solution at the appropriate pH. Although easy, it is necessary to check the pH frequently to make sure all of the essential nutrients are available for plant uptake. Testing kits are fairly inexpensive and simple to use, giving you a quick result.

Hydroponic Plants

Many different types of plants can be grown hydroponically, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Crops such as cucumbers, melons, squash, corn, and root vegetables are not well suited to smaller systems because of the space they need to grow.

Plants that have a smaller footprint work better since they are more space efficient. Leafy green like lettuce, kale, chard, and arugula grow extremely well hydroponically and are recommended for hydroponics for beginners. Basil and sage are great herbs to start with; hydroponic tomatoes and peppers also grow really well.

While is seems counter-intuitive to grow plants without soil, since the nutrients they need are found in the soil substrate, hydroponics gardening is becoming popular among gardeners.

It allows higher quality plants to be grown faster, with higher yields, while using fewer inputs. The best hydroponic system can vary in technology and cost commitment but provides a very valuable option for people who are practicing urban or indoor gardening.

It is easy to learn how to grow tomatoes. They are the most commonly grown vegetable plant in home gardens. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 home gardeners choose to plant tomatoes plant in their garden plot(s). Overall, tomatoes are relatively easy to grow, and provide bountiful yields in relation to the care needed. One tomato plant can yield 8 to 10 pounds of fruit in a growing season; growing one or two plants in a tomato garden can easily meet the needs of a small family. With thousands of active varieties grown worldwide, it is easy to find one, or a few, that meet your taste preferences and household needs. A few basic principles to follow when you learn how to grow tomatoes will help to ensure a productive growing season and a successful tomato garden.

Tomato Garden

Types of Home Grown Tomatoes

When you learn how to grow tomatoes the type chosen is highly dependent on the tastes of the gardener, and how you intend to use the fruit. For classification purposes, tomatoes are broken down into 5 main types: beefsteak, slicing, plum, cherry, and grape.

Beefsteak tomatoes – The largest of the types, with fruits exceeding 4” in diameter. They are a favorite of home gardeners because of their large size and juicy interior. Beefsteaks are a favorite for slicing to use on sandwiches and hamburgers.

Slicing tomatoes – Slightly smaller than beefsteak, with fruits averaging 2-2.5” in diameter. They are popular because of their medium size and high yielding plants.

Plum tomatoes – Often known as paste tomatoes. They contain lower water content, resulting in a meatier flesh that is perfect for making sauces and tomato paste. Plum tomatoes grow to be oblong in size, typically 3-4” in length and 1.5-2” in diameter.

Cherry tomatoes – Small and round, similar in size to their namesake. Often sweet they are a favorite for fresh eating and using on salads.

Grape tomatoes – Small also but more oblong in shape, similar to plum tomatoes.

How Far Apart to Plant Tomatoes

Green Tomatoes

Plant spacing will depend on the varieties chosen but most plants (besides dwarf varieties) require 18-24” between plants. This gives them adequate space to grow while maintaining air flow around the base of the plant. Most tomato plants will need to be staked or caged to keep the plants upright as they grow.

How to Grow Tomatoes

Since it’s easy to learn how to grow tomatoes, it’s no wonder tomatoes are found in so many gardens across the United States. For optimum growth they need a tomato garden spot that receives 6 to 8 hours of sun and has good air circulation to minimize diseases.

Fresh Tomatoes

Tomato plants grow in two different ways; these growth patterns are called determinate or indeterminate. Determinate tomatoes grow to a specific height, set by the plant’s genetics, and then stop growing. The fruit then ripens at about the same time. After ripening, the plant starts to deteriorate and stops producing any more fruit. This is helpful when the resulting crop is intended to be processed, or canned, since the fruit ripens at about the same time, and the entire crop can be picked simultaneously. Determinate tomatoes tend to be smaller plants and work well in container gardening. Indeterminate tomatoes grow in a pattern opposite of determinate tomatoes. They do not have a predetermined height and will continue to grow all season; as long as the tomato garden plant is actively growing it will set and ripen fruit. With continuous growth and setting of fruit, indeterminate plants will provide a slow and steady supply of fruit throughout the growing season. This is an advantage for home gardeners that want to enjoy ripe tomatoes as long as possible. You can also enjoy growing hydroponic tomatoes using the benefits of hydroponics.

Tomato Fertilizer

Tomato Plant

Tomatoes are heavy feeders (depending on the variety planted and size of fruit produced), meaning they require more tomato fertilizer than most plants during the growing season for optimum growth. To promote fruit growth on plants versus vegetative growth a fertilizer ratio of 5-10-10 is best. You can use a specific Tomato fertilizer meant just for tomatoes otherwise a general fertilizer will suffice. The numbers on the fertilizer label are known as the N-P-K ratio (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium); this ratio tells the percentage, by weight, of the three main nutrients in the bag. In a 5-10-10 formula, a 10 pound bag of fertilizer would contain 0.5 pounds of nitrogen, 1 pound of phosphorus (in the form of P₂O₅), and 1 pound of potassium (in the form of K₂O). Ideally the nitrogen should be less than or equal to the ratio of the phosphorus and potassium to promote setting of fruit. To fertilizer tomato plants, follow the directions on the fertilizer package for application rate; apply fertilizer to plants every 6-8 weeks prior to fruit set, and then every 3 weeks after fruit set until there is a frost.

Tomato Plant Pest Control

When you learn how to grow tomatoes it is important to remember that garden pest management plays a crucial role in a successful harvest. One of the most common tomato pests, tomato hornworms are found in gardens all throughout the United States. These pesky green caterpillars can devastate an entire tomato crop in record time. Their light green color provides fantastic camouflage, making them difficult to spot on foliage. Tomato hornworms can grow up to 5” long and feed voraciously, eating through plant leaves and fruit rapidly.  Removing pests by hand is the most effective method for control. The tomato hornworm caterpillars are not dangerous and do not sting/bite. Ladybugs and green lacewings make great natural predators by feeding on the young caterpillar larvae. Applying insecticides is usually not necessary; however, spinosad and insecticidal soaps are good options if needed as a last resort.

Tomatoes

Aphids are another common garden pests, affecting most fruits and vegetables (including tomatoes), ornamental plants and shade trees throughout North America. The minuscule pear-shaped insects attach themselves to the plant, sucking sap through two tubes projecting rearward from their abdomen. This causes distorted foliage and leaf drop if left untreated. Excretions left behind on plants support sooty mold growth while the feeding itself can spread viral diseases. Hot pepper or garlic sprays can be used as preventative methods. Treatment options include washing infested plants with a heavy spray of water, encouraging predatory/parasitic insects such as aphid midges, lacewings and lady beetles. In cases of severe infestation it is necessary to apply insecticidal soap, neem, or horticultural oil to affected plants.

Plant diseases are always a challenge when working with plants. Tomato diseases such as late blight are a major concern. It spreads quickly and wreaks havoc on a stand within a short amount of time. As its name implies it occurs later in the growing season, most often after the plant blossoms. Late blight is a disease triggered by rainy, damp weather, and causes plants to rot and die if left untreated. Early symptoms look like grayish-green water spots on older leaves; as it matures the spots darken in color and a white fungal growth occurs on the undersides of foliage. The chemical controls for late blight are limited to expensive copper sprays that work best when the disease is caught early. Often times, an entire stand is infected and plants need to be removed entirely and then disposed.

Tomato Plant

Blossom end rot isn’t a pest but a management condition that adversely affects tomatoes.  It is a common problem found in home gardens, and manifests as a dark, sometimes leathery, patch occurring at the bottom of the fruit. Blossom end rot is thought to be caused by a lack of calcium in the soil, but in reality it develops when the plant can’t adequately take in the calcium available.

This is typically because of too little moisture in the soil, or the plant is growing too quickly and the roots can’t keep up with the nutrient demand. To avoid blossom end rot in tomato plants, water plants evenly, and monitor fertilizer applications to prevent a sudden surge in vegetative plant growth.

Tomatoes are found in home gardens more often than other plants. With many varieties to choose from, and a handful of different types, it’s easy to find plants that suit your tastes. When you combine some basic care, proper fertilization, and pest/problem management a tomato garden will yield bountifully.