Low-maintenance small evergreen shrubsare first-rate selections for DIY landscape foundation plantings.
They enrich the looks of shady front yard landscapes.
Plant breeders continue to introduce shrubs that save maintenance time, effort, and money.
These introductions are smaller than their normal-sized relatives and often labeled as dwarfs.
They are relatively disease and pest resistant.
Both needle-leaf and broad-leaf evergreen varieties offer year-round color interest.
The 21st century tradition of foundation plantings persists in many regions.
Problems result when small trees and shrubs overwhelm foundation area spaces.
Habitually, shearing plants into contorted shapes is used to maintain optimal sizes.
This practice leads to bizarre looking and unhealthy plants.
These plants are relatively slow growing and require little maintenance over the years.
Shearing distorts their natural positive features and requires unnecessary work.
Most do not require pruning except for snipping off wayward and winterkilled branches.
Because these plants appear small when bought in containers, it is important to space according to mature spread.
This avoids overcrowding of mature plants.
