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.
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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!
Himalayan Blackberry
Planting Himalayan Blackberries can seem enticing, given the berries they produce, but these shrubs are invasive and should be avoided. Their rapid spread and aggressive prickles make removal difficult, not to mention hazardous. They are extremely hard to control as they grow thorny vines that will easily out-compete other plant life in their vicinity, disrupting the natural ecosystem.
As gardeners, we are responsible for considering how a particular species may disrupt a fragile balance before we introduce something so drastically into the environment. In this case, it’s best to seek alternatives that don’t strain local habitats to avoid any unforeseen consequences stemming from this species of shrub.
Azalea Kurume
Azalea Kurume is a hybrid evergreen shrub that has been around since the early 1900s. It’s usually in areas of mild to moderate weather, which makes it popular for residential landscapes, but it’s important to know what dangers come with this plant as well. Azalea Kurume is prone to diseases and pest infestations and cannot tolerate extreme temperatures, either too hot or too cold.
Additionally, the roots are very shallow and susceptible to erosion, so in areas with frequent rainy spells, you could have lots of flooding issues if planted in overly soggy soil due to the lack of drainage. Although it can provide beauty to any landscape and is low maintenance, the potential risks of owning an Azalea Kurume far outweigh the rewards. Any homeowner should be wary when considering planting this shrub in their yard.
Heavenly Bamboo
When it comes to shrubs that you should avoid planting, Heavenly Bamboo certainly tops the list. Not only is this evergreen shrub a runner, meaning it quickly spreads and can become invasive – but it can also become nearly impossible to contain. It prefers to inhabit shady areas, which means the plant itself acts as its shade for the roots below – so no matter how much sun you expose it to, the tough-to-eradicate root system remains untouched.
Furthermore, Heavenly Bamboo tends to carry pests and diseases, meaning once your garden has been infested with one of these pesky problems, it may be much more difficult for you to get rid of them. Suppose you’re looking for an easy-going addition to your garden that requires minimal maintenance and won’t cause any harm down the line. In that case, Heavenly Bamboo is better off remaining off your considerations list.
List Of Shrubs That Are Ok To Plant
Now that we have looked at some of the shrubs that you should definitely avoid planting in your garden, let’s take a moment to explore some of the safe plants that can be good additions.
- Common Lilacs
- Red-Twig Dogwood
- Pink Flowering Almond
- North Pole Arborvitae
- Oakleaf Hydrangea
- Rose Bushes
Avoid Planting These Shrubs At All Costs!
In conclusion, when it comes to shrubs that you should avoid planting in your garden, the list is very long! Some of the most common offenders include Japanese Barberries, Azalea Kurume, and Heavenly Bamboo – all known for their invasive growth habits and propensity for straining local ecosystems. So if you’re looking to ensure that your garden remains healthy and happy, always be wary of the shrubs you plant to avoid any unwanted consequences down the line.
