Highlight a maple tree in your island bed
Complement the brilliant fall color of a tree like the Burgundy Belle® red maple (Acer rubrum) with an island bed that puts it in scale with its surroundings.
Add multiseason interest
But don’t just rely on color-changing foliage to add fall interest. Some shrubs, such as viburnum, form beautiful berries that draw in birds, too.
However, limit how many different plants you use. Too many colors and textures would be lost or blurred together in a bed that’s often viewed from a distance. And keep in mind that as the tree grows you’ll need to change some of the sun-loving plants to things that will tolerate more shade.
Get the look of the garden below:
- Instead of stone or plastic around the edge, a shallow trench is inexpensive, as well as easy to make and keep tidy.
- Tuck a few large rocks into the front edge of the bed for a natural look.
- If the viburnums begin to block your view, trim them right after they flower. You won’t get fruit that summer, but you will have flowers next spring.
Meet the plants
Look through the slideshow below to find out more about the viburnum and four other plants in this colorful fall island garden bed design!
