If you’re looking to landscape your yard, it’s important to avoid planting certain types of shrubs. Some shrubs are invasive and can quickly take over an area, while others require maintenance and care. This article will discuss some of the most common shrubs you should avoid planting in your yard.
What Are Shrubs Exactly?
Shrubs are one of the most attractive features of any garden, but what makes them different from other types of flora? Shrubs are woody plants with multiple branches and stem that grow to a lesser height than trees. Despite their smaller stature, they can often last for years and bring a vibrant mix of evergreen or colorful foliage to perennial gardens.
In addition to beautifying outdoor areas, shrubs also have practical applications: they can act as a natural windbreak, provide privacy from nosy neighbors, attract beneficial wildlife into the area, and even help remediate soil damage by adding nutrients. Whether for decorative or functional purposes, the right shrubs make an invaluable contribution to any garden.
Japanese Barberry
The Japanese Barberry is a popular shrub among gardeners and landscapers alike, although it should be avoided if possible. While its colorful leaves and long-lasting red berries can certainly offer aesthetic appeal to yards, this plant often has unintended negative environmental consequences. Japanese Barberry is an invasive species that will out-compete native plants–including wildflowers and seedlings–for resources such as water and soil nutrients.
In addition, the species can provide a habitat for destructive pests like ticks and deer mice, making it inadvisable in some areas of the country. If you’re weighing your options concerning potential shrubs, Japanese Barberry isn’t necessarily bad, but it’s essential to consider its environmental impacts before planting it around your home.
Common Tansy
Common tansy is an herbaceous, perennial plant of European origin that has long been a traditional herbal medicine, but gardeners and homeowners should be aware that it can quickly get out of hand when planted in their landscaping. It tends to overtake native vegetation, suppressing growth and crowding out other species.
Additionally, common tansy can potentially become toxic in large amounts–particularly to livestock–which further underscores the fact that it is best avoided when planning a landscape. If you have it on your property or want to plant it, be sure to act cautiously and keep a diligent eye on its growth so as not to threaten local biodiversity.
Glossy Buckthorn
Glossy buckthorn is an invasive, deciduous shrub native to Europe that is often in North America and other parts of the world. It has dark green foliage and glossy, black-red fruits that attract birds. Unfortunately, this invasive species can quickly take over natural habitats, competitively displacing native plants and animals.
Buckthorn’s dense foliage dominates the landscape, and its long roots prevent grass from growing underneath it. It requires intensive labor to control the spread of this plant, and even then, it might not always be successful due to its high number of seeds. Because of these issues associated with its growth, if you are looking for a shrub for your garden, you should avoid planting glossy buckthorn!