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Selecting and Buying Shrubs
Shrubs vary in cost according to the variety, size, and age of the plant. Varieties that propagate easily -- like Barberry and Spirea -- are usually less expensive and most common. If expense must be held to the minimum, one should not hesitate to use the least expensive varieties. Keep in mind that the plants are just one element in the picture and using commonly planted varieties does not lessen the outdoor living room's beauty or desirability. Young, undeveloped shrubs cost less than larger, more fully developed specimens but in the end they serve just as well. The only difference being that one will have to wait longer to achieve a wall of green. The important thing is to get strong, healthy plants with good roots. Of some varieties, small young plants will outstrip large older ones in two or three years.
One mistake to guard against is the planting of shrubs without considering their ultimate height and spread. Do not arrange shrubs in the border according to the size of the young plants that come from the nursery. Plant and space them according to their ultimate growth. There is always a temptation to crowd plants a bit at the start to obtain immediate effect. There is no harm in this if the plants are thinned out later when they become overcrowded. With a plan drawn to scale, it is easy to determine in advance the precise number of shrubs that will be needed for the outdoor living room and list them for ordering from the nursery.
Deciduous Trees
For most trees, many different sizes are available, from the very small young tree to the larger, more fully developed specimen. Whether to plant the small size or larger size is a question of availability and expense. Unless the larger size of trees can be moved with special apparatus or have been specially grown for transplanting with dry roots, one may expect better results with the smaller sizes. If there are no moderately large trees already growing in the area planned for the outdoor living room, even one large tree moved in will accomplish wonders in making the garden room comfortable and attractive. Nurseries equipped with tree-moving apparatus can move large trees very successfully at a cost that usually does not exceed the price of one or two pieces of furniture for the living room indoors. From this standpoint, what could be more desirable for the garden room development than to move in one or two large trees where needed?