Creating lush, inviting walkways and borders requires a selection of shrubs that offer beauty and resilience across the seasons. In Sussex County, NJ, maintaining year-round greenery is essential for landscapes that appeal to clients. Choosing the right shrubs to frame walkways and landscape borders can elevate the look and functionality of a property, making it feel more welcoming and complete. Here’s a closer look at six shrubs that bring continuous beauty and ensure your landscape installations look fresh and vibrant.
Related: 6 Evergreen Shrubs for Creating Dense, Year-Round Privacy Hedges in Hudson Valley, NY
1. Boxwood (Buxus spp.)
Boxwoods are a classic choice for defining walkways and borders, known for their dense foliage and structured shape. You can easily prune these shrubs into hedges or sculpt them into a specific form, allowing for excellent versatility. Boxwoods thrive in partial shade and full sun, making them suitable for our area. Even in winter, their evergreen leaves retain color, providing a green outline to borders and walkways. Boxwoods are also quite hardy, tolerating heat and cold, which means they’re a smart investment for long-term durability.
2. Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra)
For a lush and robust year-round green, inkberry holly is a reliable pick. This native shrub is an excellent alternative to boxwood with its dark green foliage and natural rounded shape, perfect for framing walkways. It grows well in acidic soil and can tolerate wet and dry conditions, which makes it highly versatile. Inkberry holly offers low maintenance with minimal pruning and pest resistance, making it ideal for creating serene and hardy borders.
3. Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)
Winterberry holly is an eye-catching shrub that offers a unique year-round appeal, especially valuable for landscape contractors who want seasonal interest in their designs. In summer, it’s lush and green, and come winter, it sports bright red berries that attract birds and bring a burst of color to the landscape. This deciduous holly loses its leaves in winter but keeps its berries, adding a festive look that’s especially popular in cooler months. Ideal for moist soils, winterberry holly is a wonderful addition along walkways and borders where drainage might be a consideration.
Related: Designing Vibrant Perennial Landscapes That Thrive in Shaded Areas of Orange and Sullivan County, NY
4. Japanese Pieris (Pieris japonica)
Japanese pieris is known for its ornamental qualities, including cascading clusters of bell-shaped blooms in spring and rich evergreen leaves year-round. This shrub thrives in acidic, well-drained soil and partial shade, making it suitable for many properties. It’s an excellent choice for landscape contractors looking to add height and layered interest to borders without overwhelming nearby plantings. Japanese pieris grow with minimal care and provide a sophisticated, peaceful atmosphere for walkways and borders.
5. Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)
Dwarf fothergilla brings a soft, airy texture to borders and walkways with its compact form and distinctive foliage. In spring, it’s adorned with fragrant, white bottlebrush blooms, and in autumn, the leaves turn vibrant shades of orange, red, and yellow. While it’s deciduous, the seasonal color show ensures year-round interest. Dwarf fothergilla is suitable for partial to full sun and does well in acidic, well-drained soils. This shrub is perfect for clients seeking seasonal variety with a unique texture that complements other evergreens in the landscape.
6. Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)
Rhododendrons are a staple in many landscapes due to their lush foliage and stunning spring blooms. For year-round greenery, select evergreen varieties that maintain their leaves throughout the winter. Rhododendrons thrive in well-drained, acidic soil and partial shade, offering a natural fit for our area. Their large leaves provide a strong visual contrast to finer-textured plantings, and their dense foliage makes them an excellent choice for privacy or a defined border.
Related: Accessing Top-Grade Garden Nursery Offerings for Landscaping Projects in Bergen County, NJ
