In your landscape design the colors and they way you use shrubs and vines will make a big difference. These plants can be round, upright, weeping, or spreading it all depends on how you want the landscape design to appear. The colors of these vines and shrubs will not only beautify your landscape but will make a statement.  

A bayberry hedge that stands upright is good to use as a windbreak. The English boxwood, which is a rounded plant that will be able to endure some pruning, is a great hedge to use for low boundaries in separating your yard from your neighbors. If your yard has an eyesore such as a compost pile you can use an evergreen plant to hide it such as holly, yew, an upright juniper or a mountain laurel. There are several types of shrubs and vines you can use to disguise something in the yard. A chain link fence will seem to disappear if you plant a Wisteria floribunda; this vine will weave itself around and through the fence so all you will see are vines and flowers.

English ivy has several varieties that work in mild climates as ground cover or better yet as a living backdrop for your flower garden as it climbs a fence or block wall. A trellis trained evergreen honeysuckle can hide a tool shed, trash cans or your compost pile and present a beautiful aroma at the same time. There are shrubs such as lilacs and mock orange with beautifully scented flowers that are ideal under windows, and around the patio or pool area.

If you have shady areas that are a problem, do not worry, there are shrubs that do quite well without the benefit of full sunlight such as magnolia, daphne and several viburnums. The hydrangea and witch hazel are two shrubs that do very well with having only partial shade. In hot climate areas the hydrangea will do better with morning sun, they will need afternoon shade because the scorching sun will burn them.  

Shrubs are very important for the color scheme of your garden. Since the shrubs are permanent fixtures, their placement should be well planned. Before planting these shrubs, make sure the colors of their blooms will all look good together especially if they will all be blooming at the same time. Some of the evergreens will produce berries and others have flowers and decide if you want evergreens and deciduous shrubs blending together or planted separately.

White flowers along with gray foliage will work well if planted near water. You can plant several butterfly bushes, some with white flowers and others with blue flowers, up against a brick wall for beautiful contrast. These bushes will bloom near the end of summer. It is always better to plant together shades of silver, gray, pink, or mixtures of blue, purple, rose, mauve, and white. You bright colors such as red can stand alone or intermingled with evergreen shrubs that do not produce flowers.  

A clever us of color will make the visual effects appealing to the eye and can change the perspective of your garden. When you use the soft colors near the end of your garden it can give one the illusion of depth and the boundary lines will seem to disappear. The different shapes, textures and colors of your shrubs and vines are all part of the landscape design that make up your garden.

About the Author:
Barbara and her husband are retired couple and enjoy their backyard and are creating a landscape design for the garden. Barbara is always learning something new and enjoys sharing it with others. Visit the website Gardeners Garden Supplies for more interesting gardening ideas.