The Bushes I Wish I’d Planted Years Ago (And the Ones I’m Glad I Skipped)

The Bushes I Wish I’d Planted Years Ago (And the Ones I’m Glad I Skipped)

Bushes in front of your house can make or break your curb appeal, and I learned this the hard way when I spent three years battling a row of scraggly, half-dead shrubs that looked like they belonged in a horror movie.

You’re probably standing in your front yard right now, staring at that awkward space between your windows and walkway, wondering what the hell to plant there.

Or maybe you’re dealing with overgrown monsters that are swallowing your house whole.

I get it.

Let me walk you through what actually works.

The Front Yard Bush Basics Nobody Tells You

Here’s what I wish someone had told me before I wasted money on plants that died within months:

Your bushes need to do three things:

• Frame your home without hiding it
• Survive your climate without constant babysitting
• Look good more than two weeks a year

That’s it.

Forget the fancy landscaping jargon.

Boxwood: The Reliable Friend You Can Count On

I planted my first boxwoods five years ago, and they’re still the easiest decision I’ve ever made for my front yard.

Why boxwood works:

• Stays green all year (yes, even through brutal winters)
• Takes shaping like a champ
• Doesn’t throw tantrums about soil conditions
• Looks expensive without the price tag

The Winter Gem variety handles cold like it’s nothing.

I shaped mine into neat spheres along my walkway, and they’ve needed trimming maybe once a year.

That’s the kind of low-maintenance I can get behind.

Holly: For When You Want Drama (The Good Kind)

My neighbor has inkberry hollies under her windows, and I’m genuinely jealous every winter when those glossy leaves and dark berries pop against the snow.

Holly delivers:

• Year-round glossy foliage that photographs beautifully
• Berries that birds actually love
• Disease resistance that boxwood sometimes lacks
• Zero fuss about trimming

Inkberry holly specifically is my top pick if you’re sick of babying plants that get weird fungal issues.

It just… exists. Happily.

Hydrangeas: Because Sometimes You Want Flowers the Size of Your Head

Look, I’m not normally a “showy flower” person, but hydrangeas changed my mind.

I planted ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas three years ago, and every summer my front yard looks like I hired a professional designer.

The hydrangea truth:

• Those massive blooms hit different
• They change colors based on your soil (free entertainment)
• ‘Limelight’ variety forgives mistakes
• Cut flowers for your kitchen table all summer

They need more water than evergreens, but the payoff is worth schlepping the hose around.

The Low-Maintenance Hall of Fame

These are the bushes I recommend to friends who kill houseplants and forget to water their lawn.

Spirea: Set It and Forget It

Why I love it:

• Cascading branches covered in white or pink blooms
• Prune it once a year (or don’t, honestly)
• Handles heat, cold, and neglect equally well

Barberry: The Tough Cookie

Real talk about barberry:

• Those red and purple leaves steal the show
• Survives drought like it’s training for the apocalypse
• Basically pest-proof
• Requires zero attention after the first season

I planted barberry in the hottest, driest corner of my yard where everything else died.

It thrived.

Butterfly Bush: For the Nature Lovers

If you want your yard buzzing with actual butterflies and hummingbirds, this is your plant.

What you need to know:

• Fragrant blooms all summer long
• Cut it back hard in late winter (takes 5 minutes)
• Drought-tolerant after year one
• Comes in purple, pink, white, and more

I cut mine down to stumps every February, and by June it’s shoulder-high and covered in flowers.

Matching Bushes to Your House (Without Overthinking It)

Traditional Homes

Plant these:

• Boxwood hedges (formal and clean)
• Lilacs for that classic fragrance
• Hydrangeas because they photograph well
• Peonies if you have room

I see so many traditional homes with ultra-modern grasses that just look… confused.

Stick with the classics.

Modern and Contemporary Houses

Go with:

• Japanese maples (sculptural and artistic)
• Dwarf Alberta spruce (geometric perfection)