Shrubs are an instrumental part of everygarden’s ecosystem. They provide shade, improve soil stability, enhance air quality and create habitats for all types of wildlife. Of course, shrubs and small trees are also beautiful to look at, especially when you choose varieties that add seasonal interest to your landscape.
Top Benefits ofGrowing Shrubs in Your Colorado Garden Design
Lower your energy bills. Planting shrubs in the right locationcan lower your energy bills in both the summer andwinter months. In order to benefit year-round, you’ll need to plant deciduous shrub or trees that do well in our climate,such as Purpleleaf Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii atropurpurea), Kelsey Dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Kelseyi’) or Goldflame (Spiraea x bumalda), all of which add interest withcolorful branches, leaves, seasonal blooms and fruit.
You can plant them in front of your eastern and western-exposed windows to provide shade and reduce your dependency oncooling systems. In the winter, deciduous shrubs will shed their leaves and your home will benefit from passive solar heat gain.
Create wildlife habitats. We frequently share tips for establishing bee, butterfly and bird-friendly landscapes. Most of the time we’re usually talking about the food, pollen and nectar from these plants. However, shrubs also provide homes. They’re great fornesting, cooling off, burrowing underneath and/or escapingfrom less agile predators.
Borders and privacy. The aesthetic value of shrubs is one benefit that canprotectyou from an unattractive view. Use shrubs wisely and your neighbor’s junkyard will cease to exist when you’re enjoying your morning coffee on the patio. You can also use shrubs to grow a living privacy boundary and to separate one area of your yard from another.
Increase your resale value. Landscaped properties have a greater valuethan their bare counterparts. Established trees and shrubs are particularly appreciated because itcan take some time for them to reach amature size. Households that have established landscapes appreciate home values 5to 20 percenthigher than those that don’t.
Contact Lifescape Coloradotodayand benefit from asustainablegarden designthatoptimizes the growthof shrubs, trees and other native plants.