Book Review: Shrubs and Hedges
Shrubs & Hedges: Discover, Grow, and Care for the World’s Most Popular Plants by Eva Monheim (Cool Springs Press, 2020, 224 pp., $30)
Sometimes it seems like perennials are the darlings of the horticultural world. We gardeners love the colors and variations of the many different flowers we’ve added to our gardens over the years. But shrubs are much easier to take care of and add so many unique qualities to the landscape.
In Shrubs & Hedges, a brand-new offering from Cool Springs Press, author Eva Monheim shines the spotlight on these amazing plants. Throughout the book, she takes readers on an amazing journey that is sure to inspire them to choose well when adding them to their gardens.
She begins by talking about the important role shrubs and hedgerows play in our environment. Examples include privacy screens, food and shelter for insects and birds, color in the landscape, and food for humans. Then Eva explores the history of some notable and much-loved shrubs such as the rose, camellia and lilac.
Eva takes the time to explain the naming conventions for shrubs — and all plants, for that matter. She gives examples of why common names aren’t clear enough for identifying specific plants. Enter the binomial (2-name) system, which was developed by Carl Linneaus in 1735. Eva goes through plant taxonomy and how it works, which is information all gardeners will benefit from. This fascinating discussion take the mystery out of plant names.
Chapter four is filled with shrub profiles and includes both tried-and-true plants and the newbies. Each profile includes a plant’s tolerance to cold temperatures and when they look their best in the landscape. There is an impressive and extensive chart of many species of hydrangeas, with their size, light requirements and season(s) of interest.
In the chapter on “Designing with Shrubs,” the author approaches the use of shrubs in your landscape over time. There are suggestions for shrubs that add to the view during winter through their color, texture and structure, and key points on how to design edge plantings to attract birds and insects while decreasing road noise. The accompanying photos illustrate the points and underscore why she has recommended each shrub.
Chapter six, “Pruning for Structure, Shape, Form and Profit,” is certain to be popular with gardeners of all experience levels. Eva emphasizes the importance of pruning at the right time based on each type of shrub. She stresses that we should always have a reason for pruning and then provides details on different techniques for accomplishing our goals. The before-and-after illustrations make it easy to understand the process.
But there is so much more to this book. Eva explains how to propagate our shrubs through sexual and asexual techniques, outlines what hedges add to a garden, ways to attract pollinators and other wildlife through our plantings, and provides excellent information on selecting shrubs for ponds, creeks, slopes and other water-challenged settings.
Shrubs & Hedges is a wonderful reference book that thoroughly covers the many uses of shrubs and hedges for different settings. As a longtime horticultural educator, Eva knows how to communicate useful information in a meaningful way because she wants gardeners to be successful.