The average garden will contain plants, shrubs and trees with the shrubs bridging the gap between the low growing flowers and the trees. While there are a wide variety of shrubs so it is always possible to find one or more that will suit any particular soil conditions, some will be too large for a small garden. This article by Teo Spengler which I found on the Gardening Know How website describes five shrubs that are suitable for a smaller area.

Shrubs range from ankle high to taller than you are. If you have a small garden, one big bush can overwhelm the area. Go for smaller shrubs and aim for balance. The best shrubs for your small garden depend on the growing conditions you can offer them. Here are the Top 5 great choices for different exposures and soils.

1. Short evergreen shrub ? If you want year-round structure and texture for your small garden, pick a short, mounding evergreen that will never outgrow its location. Mops dwarf mugo pine (Pinus mugo ?Mops?) is a good choice. This mugo pine doesn?t need shearing to stay dense and compact. It thrives in chilly climates and forms a mound about a yard high.

2. Protective hedge material ? Firethorn (Pyracantha spp.) has the reputation of being armed and dangerous. It?s an evergreen often used in defensive hedges, with its sharp thorns. Gardeners also appreciate the ornamental value of the red, yellow and orange fall berries. It can grow tall enough to form a real shrub wall. For small gardens, try Tiny Tim (Pyracantha ?Tiny Tim), with many of the same attributes but only three feet tall. It has less thorns, and the berries hold onto the branches longer, up through the following spring.

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