Introduction

Shrubs are important components of both rural and urban areas. They provide beauty, diversity, wind protection, privacy, homes for wildlife and even a source of human food. Backyards, gardens, shelterbelts, woodlots, wildlife areas, and fence rows are among the areas that could beneflt from shrub plantings. Species selection and planting designs vary with the landowner's tastes and objectives. Yet, there are certain guidelines to remember.

This is nature's design and results in less disease problems, better use of space, and more vigorous plants. Fourth, remember the best place to plant shrubs or trees is in areas where they grow naturally. Draws and low-lying areas offer wind protection, greater moisture, and more fertile soils.

Selecting plants is one of the most enjoyable tasks. It should be based on your own personal tastes, as well as site location. Observing different shrubs in a nearby arboretum, nursery, or on neighboring land can be helpful in making your choices.

Planting can be done either in the fall or spring. However, most planting is done in the spring when nursery stock is more readily available. Site preparation should include tillage to reduce all competitive growth by grass and weeds. Areas that have a heavy covering of vegetation should be tilled in the fall prior to spring planting. Proper site preparation, more than any other factor, will determine the success of the planting.

Where space allows, clump plantings of various shrubs or "bouquet plantings" of both trees and shrubs are very attractive. A possible combination would be two or three pines or cedars surrounded by a shrub species. The planting method varies with the number of shrubs and the design of the planting. Machines can easily plant shrubs in rows or in larger clump plantings. Small jobs of less than 200 plants can be handled by hand. Once the shrubs are planted, weeds and grass competition should be controlled either mechanically or chemically for two or three years.

One of the most pleasant rewards of your planting efforts will be the birds- that uses these plants for nesting, feeding, and loafing. Birds that are attracted to shrub plantings include pheasants, quail, cardinals, brown thrashers, mocking birds, Harris sparrows, white-throated sprarrows, and black-capped chickadees.