Shrubs enrich the garden in many ways. They act as eye-catchers, soundproofing or delimit the property. As dense hedges or planted individually, they provide a valuable source of food for butterflies, wild bees and bumblebees or serve as a habitat for birds. Sometimes it is important that the shrubs are fast-growing.

Care tips to promote growth

It has been scientifically proven that plants grow faster and more efficiently after injury. They multiply the chromosomes in their cells, allowing more of the much-needed growth proteins to be made. This explains why regular pruning and thinning measures promote the development of new shoots. These usually grow faster and prove to be more fertile. In addition to pruning, it is important to regularly supply the shrubs with nutrients. Plants depend on the three main nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They also need secondary nutrients and micronutrients such as:

  • sulphur, calcium and magnesium
  • boron, cobalt and iron
  • copper, molybdenum and zinc

Tip: Feed your shrubs preferably with granules, because these act as long-term fertilizers. Alternatively, you can give the plants compost.

flowering shrubs

Fast-growing shrubs with lush flowers provide numerous insects with a valuable source of food at different times of the year. They are also an enrichment for the garden, because they set colorful accents. The care required for these flowering shrubs differs depending on the species and location. Adequate water supply is the basis for healthy growth.

peasant jasmine

  • botanical name: Philadelphus coronarius
  • Growth: 40 to 80 cm
  • Growth height: 200 to 300 cm
  • Main flowering period: May to June
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: normal garden soil, well drained to fresh

forsythia

  • botanical name: Forsythia x intermedia
  • Growth: 30 to 60 cm
  • Growth height: 200 to 300 cm
  • Main flowering period: March to May
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: thrives on any soil with fresh conditions

panicle hydrangea

  • botanical name: Hydrangea paniculata
  • Growth: 30 to 100 cm per year
  • Growth height: 200 to 300 cm
  • Main flowering period: July to October
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: sandy to loamy, rich in humus and nutrients

sloe

  • botanical name: Prunus spinosa
  • Growth: 10 to 30 cm per year
  • Growth height: 150 to 400 cm
  • Main flowering period: April to May
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: dry to fresh with nutrient-rich conditions
  • Special feature: hardy

Black elder

  • botanical name: Sambucus nigra
  • Growth: 50 to 70 cm per year
  • Growth height: 350 to 500 cm
  • Main flowering period: May to July
  • Location: sun to shade
  • Substrate: moist and loamy soil with a high humus and lime content, also dry and poor soil

Buddleia

  • botanical name: Buddleja davidii
  • Growth: 50 to 150 cm per year
  • Growth height: 200 to 350 cm
  • Main flowering period: July to September
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: loose and permeable, not too rich in humus
  • Special feature: faster growth through regular thinning of the flowering shoots

trumpet tree

  • botanical name: Catalpa bignonioides
  • Growth: 30 to 50 cm per year
  • Growth height: 1000 to 1500 cm
  • Main flowering period: June to July
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: normal garden soil
  • Special feature: appears shrub-like due to its very short trunk and wide spreading crown

ornamental currant

  • botanical name: Ribes sanguineum
  • Growth: 40 to 60 cm
  • Growth height: 150 to 250 cm
  • Main flowering period: April to June
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: sandy to loamy, fresh to moderately moist

deciduous shrubs

If you value bird protection shrubs that are fast-growing and offer privacy, then these shrubs are ideal. They convince with decorative fruits or aesthetic leaves and prove to be easy to care for and grateful. When the plants are well established, maintenance is reduced to a minimum. Regular watering is usually not necessary.

Tip: From a botanical point of view, bamboo belongs to the sweet grasses. However, the plant is extremely fast-growing and can develop shrub-like appearances.

vinegar tree

  • botanical name: Rhus typhina
  • Growth: 30 to 40 cm per year
  • Growth height: 300 to 500 cm
  • Main flowering period: June to July
  • Location: sun to shade
  • Substrate: thrives on any soil that is not too heavy
  • Special feature: attractive autumn colors

cherry laurel

  • botanical name: Prunus laurocerasus
  • Growth: 40 to 60 cm per year
  • Growth height: 200 to 350 cm
  • Main flowering period: April to May, September
  • Location: sun to shade
  • Substrate: well drained, alkaline to slightly acidic
  • Feature: evergreen

liguster

  • botanical name: Ligustrum vulgare
  • Growth: 50 to 120 cm per year
  • Growth height: 200 to 500 cm
  • Main flowering period: June to July
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: thrives on any normal garden soil
  • Special feature: decorative berries

curly willow

Fab5669, Orléans - parc floral (75), crop from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • botanical name: Salix erythroflexuosa
  • Growth: 40 to 100 cm per year
  • Growth height: 300 to 500 cm
  • Main flowering period: February to April
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: thrives on normal garden soil that should not be boggy
  • Special feature: twigs are reddish in color

hazelnut

  • botanical name: Corylus avellana
  • Growth: 40 to 90 cm per year
  • Growth height: 500 to 700 cm
  • Main flowering period: February to April
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: no special requirements
  • Special feature: bright yellow autumn colour

willow

  • botanical name: Salix caprea
  • Growth: 50 to 100 cm per year
  • Growth height: 500 to 800 cm
  • Main flowering period: March to April
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: thrives on any soil, tolerates drought and flooding

coniferous shrubs

Conifers give the garden a rough character, because they are reminiscent of the boreal coniferous forests of Siberia, Scandinavia or North America. These shrubs are fast-growing and have adapted to harsh environmental conditions with their needled leaves. They prove to be hardy and require little attention when it comes to care.

Occidental Tree of Life

  • botanical name: Thuja occidentalis
  • Growth: 20 to 40 cm per year
  • Growth height: 200 to 1000 cm
  • Main flowering period: March to May
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: normal garden soil with moist conditions
  • Special feature: needles of young shrubs turn copper-colored in winter

yew

  • botanical name: Taxus baccata
  • Growth: 20 to 30 cm per year
  • Growth height: 200 to 1000 cm
  • Main flowering period: February to March
  • Location: sun to shade
  • Substrate: thrives on normal garden soil, tolerates clayey-loamy substrates

juniper

  • botanical name: Juniperus communis
  • Growth: 20 to 40 cm per year
  • Growth height: 500 to 800 cm
  • Main flowering period: April to June
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: poor in nutrients and dry
  • Special feature: fruits are edible after two years of ripeness

Scots pine

  • botanical name: Pinus sylvestris
  • Growth: 15 to 40 cm per year
  • Growth height: 1000 to 3000 cm
  • Main flowering period: May
  • Location: sun to semi-shade
  • Substrate: humic, moderately dry to fresh, rocky to clayey
  • Special feature: can be easily cultivated as a shrub-shaped hedge

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