Landscaping with the burning bush of the Celastraceae family is quite easy but it is important to know that the plant is toxic to pets, especially cats and dogs. This is mainly because of the cardiac glycosides that the plant contains.
Therefore, you need to exercise extreme caution with this plant if you decide to benefit from its amazing decorating acumen. This article will unleash various ways – such as hedges – through which you can use the burning bush to beautify your spaces.
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Plenty Way for Landscaping With Burning Bush
Please note that the botanical name of the burning bush is Euonymus alatus and other common names include burning tree, burning euonymus, winged spindle-tree, winged burning bush, and winged wahoo. The name probably comes from a story in the Christian bible about a bush that was not affected by flames.
1. As a Lawn Highlighter
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This landscaping design requires more attention in terms of maintaining it. If the lawn or burning bush loses its bright green and red colors, respectively, the appearance won’t be that great anymore.
You can include some pebbles at the bottom of the burning bush if you feel you need a more complicated outlook.
2. As a Hedge
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The burning bush is naturally a fast-growing plant, which is why it is regarded as invasive in some parts of the world. Therefore, it won’t take much time before the plant forms the hedgy and red look that you desire.
Another advantage of this landscaping method is that apart from the decorative properties involved, it also enhances privacy by shielding the fence line. Such a shield might also be protective.
3. Create a Mixed Shrub Border
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There is a wide variety of burning bush companion plants that you can consider in his case. The alpine currant and dwarf European cranberry are some of the best picks that you could consider.
These two plants are relatively drought resistant though moderate watering is recommended for them. The dwarf European cranberry is especially sensitive to overwatering so do everything possible to avoid waterlogged conditions.
4. As a Single Focal Point on Your Front Yard
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The idea here is to create an elegant spot that any pair of eyes will never miss. One of the plants that you consider growing under your burning bush is the Japanese cryptomeria.
This plant prevents the growth of weeds, in addition to preserving the moisture for the burning bush. Other plants that you can consider including are the columbine, bleeding heart, monkey puzzle tree, and the dark knight Caryopteris.
5. As a Foundation Plant
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At one point or another, you will need to prune your burning bush so you are more likely to use any of the four methods that exist. You could do light pruning if your aim is to just shape the plant and maintain its good appearance.
Another option is routine pruning, which is done to enhance new growth, usually during early spring or late winter. When your plant has been either neglected or high;y neglected, that’s when you engage in heavy and severe pruning, respectively.
6. Close to a Water Feature
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Although we do not recommend that you include plants to this look, pebbles would be a great addition to the overall appearance. You can place the rocks in such a way that they create the transition from the burning bush to the water feature.
Generally, the pebbles would be like stepping stones directing you from the water feature to the burning bush, a scenario that creates that relaxing look.
7. As a Screen for an Unappealing Site
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To enhance the nutritional capacity of the soil for your burning bush, you can use organic fertilizers such as organic matter or manure. If commercially available fertilizers are your best choice, consider mixes like the 20-10-10, 21-7-14, and 16-10-9.
Please, remember never to use clay soils when growing the burning bush. Waterlogged conditions will also greatly hamper the growth of the plant.
8. Burning Bush Behind a Hedge
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You can do this design along the pathways in your home. Alternatively, you can start from the entryways to create a more welcoming atmosphere.
Conclusion
The burning bush can be used for amazing landscaping designs, as you might have noticed as you read through this article. Now, let’s seal what you know by summarizing the main highlights from the article:
- You can grow the burning bush alone or in combination with other plants.
- You can add an extra touch of nature in some designs by including pebbles and water features.
- The burning bush is a fast-growing plant that needs to be monitored by constantly pruning it.
- You can grow the burning bush as a hedge, foundation plant, lawn highlighter, or as part of a mixed border.
If one of the questions that you had was, “Are burning bushes poisonous to humans?” the answer is a resounding yes. You just need to exercise caution around the plant while you enjoy your red-burning beauty!