design element Shrubs & Hedges

Shrubs and hedges provide structure, rhythm, and year-round presence in a landscape. Used for privacy, definition, or ornament, they range from tightly clipped forms to informal, layered plantings that shape outdoor spaces and reinforce the overall design.
A formal privacy hedge forms a living green wall at the garden gate, creating enclosure, screening, and a clear transition between outdoor rooms.

living walls and borders

Shrubs and hedges are foundational elements in residential landscape design, providing structure, scale, and year-round continuity. From formal, clipped hedges to naturalistic groupings, they define outdoor rooms, frame entries, soften architecture, and guide movement. Common selections include boxwood, yew, arborvitae, inkberry, and flowering shrubs that add seasonal interest. In the Boston area, plant choices must account for cold winters, snow load, and variable spring temperatures, making hardiness and spacing critical.

Thoughtful placement also enhances privacy, wind and noise protection, and long-term plant health, allowing shrubs to mature gracefully without becoming overgrown.

common shrubs and hedge questions

1. Which shrubs are best for privacy screening?
Evergreens like arborvitae, yew, boxwood, and inkberry are commonly used for privacy. Dense deciduous shrubs can also provide screening while allowing more light in winter months.
2. What is the difference between a hedge and a shrub border?
Hedges are typically planted in linear rows and maintained with regular pruning for a consistent height and shape. Shrub borders are more informal groupings that vary in size, texture, and seasonal interest.
3. What shrubs perform best in the Boston climate?
Cold-hardy plants that tolerate snow load and temperature swings—such as boxwood varieties rated for New England, yew, inkberry, hydrangea, and native shrubs—tend to perform well in the Boston area.
4. When is the best time to plant shrubs and hedges?
Spring and fall are generally ideal, allowing roots to establish before extreme temperatures. Timing may vary depending on plant type, site conditions, and overall landscape goals.
Mixed foundation shrubs surround this historic Brookline, MA entry, balancing evergreen mass with varied textures to complement architecture and create a welcoming approach.

see examples of our work

Boxwood foundation beds paired with window boxes reinforce symmetry and scale, grounding this classic colonial with year-round greenery and seasonal accents.
In Lincoln, MA, boxwood borders frame stone-walled terraces, layering evergreen structure with planting to define outdoor rooms and manage elevation changes.
Tiered boxwood hedges flank stone steps at this formal front entry, reinforcing symmetry, guiding arrival, and creating a polished transition from landscape to architecture.
Formal boxwood hedges flank stone steps in this front garden, reinforcing symmetry, guiding circulation, and adding evergreen structure to the entry sequence.
Evergreen mass plantings frame this entry, providing consistent color, visual weight, and a strong foundation that enhances curb appeal year-round.
A curved boxwood hedge follows the lawn edge, creating a smooth green boundary that enhances privacy while reinforcing the landscape’s flowing geometry.
In Wellesley, MA, foundation shrubs trace a curved walkway, guiding movement while softening the home’s base with layered greenery and refined proportions.
Flowering shrubs mixed with boxwood foundation plantings add seasonal color and texture, softening the porch while maintaining evergreen structure and balance.
A mixed shrub border softens this stone retaining wall, combining evergreen structure and layered textures to define the front yard while improving drainage and visual depth.
A tall evergreen privacy hedge creates a dense green screen along the lawn edge, offering seclusion, wind protection, and consistent color across all seasons.
Neatly clipped boxwood borders define this drive court, adding clean lines, evergreen structure, and a clear edge that enhances circulation and curb appeal.
A clipped boxwood hedge lines this gravel path, creating crisp edges and autumn contrast while directing movement through the garden with timeless formality.
Clipped boxwood terraces this sloped pond edge, stabilizing grades while adding structure and rhythm that complements the water feature.
In Wellesley, MA, a curved boxwood hedge defines the lawn edge, offering evergreen privacy and a refined transition between open space and planting.
Tiered boxwood plantings follow the retaining edge, pairing crisp form with low groundcover to stabilize slopes, soften stonework, and maintain visual order year-round.
Layered foundation shrubs line this gravel driveway and colonial entry, softening hard edges while guiding arrival with year-round structure and seasonal interest.
Layered evergreen shrubs line this stone wall along the driveway edge, providing dense screening, rich green color, and a soft transition between hardscape and planting throughout the seasons.
Layered evergreen foundation plantings create a rich green backdrop, adding texture, depth, and reliable structure that anchors the home within the landscape.
In Weston, MA, mixed shrubs and ornamental grasses frame this backyard terrace, blending movement, seasonal color, and soft screening to enhance outdoor living areas.
Formal boxwood hedges frame the front lawn of this brick colonial, reinforcing clean lines, symmetry, and year-round structure at the street edge.
A neat row of boxwood lines this gravel drive, providing evergreen structure, clear edges, and a polished transition between driveway and planting.

beauty, depth, and visual appeal

Beyond function, shrubs and hedges shape the overall character of a property. Low hedges reinforce clean lines along walkways or terraces, while layered shrub borders add depth around patios and foundations. Evergreens provide year-round screening, while deciduous and flowering varieties bring seasonal change. In New England landscapes, soil, drainage, sun exposure, and maintenance needs all influence successful design. A well-planned shrub strategy balances visual appeal with durability and ease of care.

If you’re considering new plantings or refreshing existing hedges, contact us to learn more about our shrub and hedge design, installation, and maintenance services throughout the Boston area.
Clipped boxwood hedges define this garden room in Weston, MA, framing a gravel patio and fire pit while adding year-round structure, privacy, and a refined sense of enclosure for outdoor living.

read our related blog posts

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There are countless shrubs to choose from, with more being developed yearly by plant breeders. It’s tempting to fall for the newest or shiniest variety, but it’s wise to build the structure of your garden with tried and true performers. For me, there are three flowering shrubs that stand out amongst the landscape, as it were.
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Newton, MA
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West Roxbury, MA
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Weston, MA
“When designing the space Tom considered every detail including privacy concerns, colors, the reuse of existing plants, our likes and dislikes, cost, placement and size of walkways and stairs, shape of pool deck and where snow would be plowed in the winter. The result is a yard we enjoy all year-round. Since its design, the maintenance team at a Blade of Grass has maintained the yard's beauty.”
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Waltham, MA
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Lincoln, MA

define your property with shrubs and hedges.

Contact us today to discuss how our award-winning landscape designers, gardeners, installation, and maintenance teams can install beautiful shrubs and hedges to your property.
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