Great Woody Plants for Your Region

Although trees and shrubs take up a larger footprint than your average perennials, if you use woodies with an array of different forms in a designated area, you’ll naturally get a layered effect. Additionally, when woodies are the primary players in your garden, you get a robust, low-maintenance landscape that will look great in all four seasons. If you’re looking for some beautiful trees or shrubs, it can be an overwhelming search. There are almost endless possibilities.

So how do you find a great woody plant that will do well in your garden and offer that little something extra (or at least give you interest with minimal effort from you)? It can be hard sorting through the many options available, so we had some regional experts do it for you. Find your region below, and discover four different woody plants that our experts have tried and tested.

To learn more about designing with woody plants, check out Good Design Is Worth the Wait.

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Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
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Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Pruning Simplified shows you exactly how to do it. This must-have guide offers expert advice on the best tools for the job, specific details on when to prune, and clear instructions on how to prune. Profiles of the 50 most popular trees and shrubs—including azaleas, camellias, clematis, hydrangeas, and more—include illustrated, easy-to-follow instructions that will ensure you make the right cut the first time.

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DeWalt Variable-Speed Cordless Reciprocating Saw

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

You can fit a variety of blades to this saw to cut fallen branches or prune larger limbs from trees in a pinch. It’s fast, tough, easy to use, and extremely versatile.
- 18.31 x 6.13 x 4 inches
- 1-1/8-inch stroke length
- Variable speed trigger with 0-3000 spm

Buy at Amazon