Shrubs Never to Plant in Your Yard and What You Should Plant Instead

Shrubs can be used to add beauty and privacy to your yard. They should look great year-round and be easy to maintain with a bit of pruning. When you are planting shrubs, it is always important to consider the type you are planting. Some shrubs can be a problem to deal with or may not grow well in Las Vegas. Here are the 5 types of problematic shrubs you should avoid planting in your yard – and some alternatives that grow well in Las Vegas:

Privet
The biggest problem with privet is that it grows all too well. Because of how quickly it grows, you have to prune it about 4 or 5 times per year. If you fall behind on your pruning, privet quickly looks unkept. And while everyone has their own taste when it comes to plants, the look of privet is generally considered to be plain and uninteresting. Most people would say it isn’t worth the amount of work it requires.

Staghorn Sumac
The name “sumac” probably raises red flags for you – and with good reason. The staghorn sumac is related to poison ivy. While not everyone is allergic to this shrub, many people experience blisters that spread easily and itch intensely after coming in contact with it. For this reason, it’s best to steer clear of staghorn sumac.

Forsythia
Forsythia has a beautiful bloom in the early spring. It’s absolutely gorgeous but does not last long. After these brief blooms are gone, it becomes a nuisance to deal with. It looks unruly very quickly if you don’t prune it often. If you are looking for a flowering shrub, there are much better options than the forsythia.

Japanese Barberry
Japanese barberry is a beautiful and colorful shrub that is incredibly drought resistant. If you are really drawn to this shrub, it will grow well in the Las Vegas area. However, the shrubs are covered with thorns, which can make pruning difficult. Birds also eat the berries this plant produces and spread them elsewhere. Because the species is so invasive, it easily crowds out other plants.

Autumn Olive
The autumn olive is another invasive species with sharp thorns. It is so adaptable that it even makes its own nitrogen. This shrub has been such a problem that it is strongly advised against or even banned in many places across the U.S. While it might be legal to plant in Las Vegas, you probably should still avoid the autumn olive.

Shrubs to Plant in Las Vegas

If you are trying to landscape your yard, here are some ideas for shrubs that survive well in the Las Vegas soil and climate:

Dwarf Oleander
Cassia Desert Shrub
Germander Border Plant
Nandina
Regal Mist
Jasmine Shrub
Golden Bamboo

For more landscape and home maintenance ideas, check out these blog posts:

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