As summer approaches, many keen gardeners will be eagerly donning their gloves as they prepare their carefully curated spaces for the new season, which always brings a burst of rich colour to the great outdoors.
However, taking on your garden after winter can be a daunting task as shoots begin to pop up all over the place, and if you have any spaces to fill in your pots or borders it's difficult to know which plant will work best with countless options to choose from. But horticulturalist and garden designer David Domoney has suggested a few fuss-free choices of shrub to get you started, The Express reports.
David said: "If you're looking to plug some gaps in your existing garden, or you're starting your garden from scratch, the following shrubs will put on plenty of vigorous growth to fill bare corners quickly with their lush leaves and beautiful flowers. These options are fast-growing and full of colour so there will be minimal waiting time between planting and enjoying their beautiful displays.
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"Plus, many of them are really easy to grow and suit many soil types and positions, so are perfect for beginners. Fast-growing shrubs provide a hit of 'instant' impact in the garden, perfect for filling space while slower-growing varieties get established," he added.
From offering privacy or shade to providing cheerful pops of colour all year round and offering food and shelter for wildlife, there are countless benefits to filling your garden with plants. Here are the gardener's top 10 recommendations for fast-growing shrubs that are sure to add plenty of character your outdoor space.
Hydrangea macrophylla
This species is the most common type of hydrangea seen in gardens, and produces clusters of pink or blue flowers. Gardeners' World advises growing Hydrangea macrophylla in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade, and keeping it sheltered from cold winds.
Their displays are full of "showy flowers" and bring "wonderful interest" to a garden, with many having lovely leaf shapes, according to David. You can encourage the plant to keep producing new shoots year-on-year by cutting it back in early spring, so it's an addition your garden that will give you many years of colour.
Spiraea japonica
Spiraea japonica is a bushy deciduous shrub whose stems produce clusters of delicate pink flowers in summer. David said: "Fairly fuss-free, it will bring some colour to your city, courtyard, cottage or coastal garden where it can grow to one metre tall."
Spiraeas are hardy and easy to grow, and make excellent shrubs for a garden border. They should be grown in fertile, well-drained soil - the smallest spiraeas give the best effect if planted in a group of three, Gardeners' World suggests.
Philadelphus
Also known as 'mock oranges' due to their orange blossom scent, this elegant plant has long been a favourite among gardeners for its pure white blooms. Despite its delicate appearance, Philadelphus is hardy enough to cope in coastal and more exposed gardens.
Philadelphus grows best in moist but well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. They are usually tall, making them a beautiful choice in a border for a "low-maintenance" garden - be sure to plant them near a seating area so you can make the most of their smell.
Mahonia x media
Mahonia x media bears bright yellow fragrant flowers, which appear along the branches in long clusters. Mahonias are known for attracting bees and birds as an invaluable source of pollen-rich flowers and seeds, meaning they are a great choice for anyone looking to make their outside space more nature-friendly.
This hardy evergreen shrub looks particularly good at the back of borders, and grows in most soils and conditions. For best results grow in moist but well-drained soil, in partial shade, Gardeners' World suggests.
Photinia
Photinia is a quick-growing evergreen shrub that's great for creating privacy as a hedge or serving as a standout border feature. The young leaves sprout rich red in spring, providing an "amazing contrast" against more mature deep green foliage - the Red Robin variety is particularly eye-catching.
Its sparse white flowers in spring are usually followed by red berries - giving Photinia its nickname of 'Christmas berry'. These evergreen plants enjoy a sunny or partially shaded position in moist but well-drained soil.
Cornus alba
These are "fantastic fast-growing deciduous shrubs" that are very versatile in the garden and are usually grown for their vibrant displays of bare stems in vibrant yellow, orange or red during winter. They have pale green leaves throughout the summer, and flat white flower heads in spring, so they make an eye-catching addition to your garden all year round.
Otherwise known as 'dogwoods', Cornus alba tolerates a wide range of soil types and produces the brightest winter bark when planted in full sun - it should be cut back each March for best results. The shrub is also known for attracting bees and birds with its pollen-rich flowers and seeds.
Forsythia
This striking fast-growing shrub has woody branches and sunshine-yellow blossom in spring, before leaves appear in summer. They make for great hedging or feature plants and give a garden a real colour punch when in bloom.
Forsythias are quick to grow and tolerate a wide range of growing conditions in the garden. It does best when grown in full sun or partial shade in garden borders, with the most compact varieties suitable for large pots.
Ribes sanguineum
David describes these plants as "fast-growing with vibrant flowers" in spring or summer, and Gardeners' World adds that they are "inexpensive and undemanding" - perfect for anyone who wants to improve the look of their garden with minimal upkeep. They either produce tubular or bell-shaped flowers that are sometimes followed by colourful berries.
Ribes sanguineum is best grown in moist soil in full sun. There are different varieties to choose from - the popular 'Brocklebankii' resembles the fruiting blackcurrant, and provides plenty of colour with its pink flowers in spring and yellow foliage throughout summer.
Pyracantha
Described as a "must-have in the garden" by Gardeners' World, Pyracantha - otherwise known as 'Firethorn' - is often trained against a wall or fence and makes for an excellent evergreen hedge. There are several varieties to choose from, but in general this is an easy-going, wildlife-friendly shrub suitable for most gardens.
This evergreen plant has green leaves and clusters of white flowers in the warmer months. It is often chosen for its magnificent displays of red, yellow or orange berries in autumn or winter, giving a garden a lovely pop of colour when other plants may be dying down.
Buddleja davidii
This is a fast-growing and undemanding shrub, native to China. It's ideal for a growing in wide range of situations, providing they are sunny and the soil is well-drained.
The long, heavy flowering heads make a stunning late-summer display for four to six weeks, attracting clouds of butterflies and other insects. In fact, it is often referred to as the 'Butterfly bush' because it's so appealing to the winged beauties, as well as a host of other pollinators and birds.
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