Growing guide

How to grow shrubs

Shrubs add long-term structure and colour to gardens across the seasons. Many offer beautiful flowers, fragrance, attractive foliage and vibrant fruits or berries. These woody plants come in all sizes and can be used in many ways – as focal points, hedges, ground cover, backdrops and more. Many shrubs are great for wildlife, providing valuable food and shelter.

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Quick facts

  • Many are easy to grow 
  • Different types flower in every season 
  • Some keep their leaves all year, others lose them in autumn
  • Plant evergreen shrubs in October and April
  • Plant deciduous types from autmn to late winter
  • There are types to suit all sites
  • Keep in shape by pruning annually
  • Make new plants from cuttings or seeds

All you need to know

Before you get started
Planting
Ongoing care
Pruning and training
Propagating
Problems
While we think all this information will be helpful to you, we always recommend to read the instruction labels on your plants.

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.