Shrubs

all about

shrubs

Available spring through fall, shrubs are similar to trees in that they are woody plants that actively grow during the season and go dormant in winter, increasing each year toward a mature size. However, shrubs are generally smaller and typically comprised of many small, bark-covered stems rising from the base of the plant as opposed to a singular trunk.

Shrubs offer tremendous versatility for the homeowner. They can be grown as specimen plants, shaped into hedges, or they can serve as foundation plants to adorn the home and provide a backdrop for annuals and perennials. Flowering shrubs offer seasonal blooms while berry-producing shrubs create winter interest as well as food for birds during our harsh Northeast Ohio winters.

Budded on our farms to bloom for you, all shrubs found at Petitti’s are cultivated right here in Northeast Ohio by our team of expert growers on over 4,000 acres of nursery farmland in Lake County. This contributes greatly to our success in quality, availability, and climate hardiness. Choose the perfect specimen for your interest, and we’ll help position you for success by educating you on best practices for planting and caring for your new shrub.

Browse thousands of our most popular plants and products, purchase online today, and pickup curbside or in-store tomorrow. Items will vary with each beautiful season.

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Choose the Right Shrub

Shrubs do a lot of different jobs in the landscape. Picking the right one starts with what you’re trying to solve—a bare fence line, a deer-browsing problem, a pollinator garden, or a year-round anchor for the front of the house. Here’s how our team thinks about it:

Privacy

For screening a property line, patio, or utility area, look to dense evergreens like Arborvitae (especially ‘Green Giant’ and ‘Emerald Green’), Boxwood, Yew, and taller Junipers. Fast-growing varieties can reach screening height in 3 to 5 years in Northeast Ohio conditions.

Deer Resistance

Deer can cause problems for gardeners in much of Northeast Ohio. Shrubs deer tend to leave alone include Boxwood, Andromeda, Spirea, Barberry, Juniper, and most Hollies. No shrub is truly deer-proof, but these are reliable choices for browse-heavy neighborhoods.

Pollinator Support

Native and pollinator-friendly shrubs can host, shelter, and feed bees, butterflies (caterpillars), and hummingbirds through the growing season. Consider Blueberries, Ninebark, Viburnum, Bayberry, Buttonbush, and Chokeberry. All are Ohio-native or well-adapted, and all are serious pollinator draws.

Four-Season Interest

For shrubs that carry the landscape year-round, look for layered value: spring flowers, summer foliage, fall color, and winter form or berries. Oakleaf Hydrangea, Red-Twig Dogwood, Winterberry Holly, and colorful evergreens all earn their space in every season.

shrubs

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FAQs About Shrubs in Ohio

Shrubs that tolerate Zone 5b/6a winters, clay-heavy soils, and variable spring weather do best. Reliable performers include Boxwood, Arborvitae, Hydrangea (Panicle and Smooth are hardiest here), Spirea, Viburnum, Ninebark, and Yew. Our team grows close to 100% of the shrubs we sell on over 4,000-acres in Lake County, so the shrubs on our lots are already adapted to regional conditions.

Dense, upright evergreens make the best privacy screens. ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae grows fastest, 3 to 5 feet per year in ideal conditions, and reaches 20+ feet at maturity. ‘Emerald Green’ Arborvitae is a slower, more compact option for tighter spaces. Boxwood, Yew, and Holly also work well for shorter screening.

Both seasons work well in Northeast Ohio, but fall has an edge for most shrubs. Cooler air, warm soil, and less transplant stress mean strong root growth before winter. Spring is a close second and is preferred for a few varieties. Container-grown shrubs from our nursery can be planted anytime the ground isn’t frozen.

Boxwood is a very reliable deer-resistant shrub for Northeast Ohio yards. Andromeda, Spirea, Barberry, Juniper, and most Hollies also hold up well. In heavy-browse areas, pair deer-resistant plantings with a repellent spray during the first year while shrubs establish.

customers are our priority

“We went to buy an evergreen and were surprised by the depth of assortment and the competitive prices. We were serviced by a very knowledgeable staff member. Once we decided on our evergreen, the staff member wrapped it up and put it in the parking lot. Other staff put it in our car and off we went, a very pleased customer.”

Tom Q., Petitti Bainbridge Customer

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