'Carissa' hollies (Ilex cornuta 'Carissa') planted across the front of the house create a low sweep of green. We placed 13 on one side of the walk and 23 on the other. These evergreen shrubs will grow 3 to 4 feet high in time. They don't produce berries like many hollies, but their durability and size make them a nice choice for the foundation plantings. Their leaves have one soft spine, so they aren't difficult to work with, like some of the spiky hollies. They need full to partial sun to maintain a full shape.

Baby's breath spiraea (Spiraea thunbergii) provides lots of early-spring color. A group of three produces sprays of tiny white blooms; the flowers look like lace lining the long, slender stems. It isn't evergreen but can have nice fall color, turning yellow to reddish brown. This old-fashioned shrub grows around 5 feet tall and wide and likes sunny sites but will take a little shade.

Nandina (Nandina domestica) is another old-fashioned shrub used in this front yard. It usually grows 5 to 6 feet tall, but old, established plants can stretch up to 8 feet in height. An upright growth habit makes it a nice choice for a narrow spot. This durable landscape shrub produces clusters of red berries in the autumn and winter. It will grow in either sun or shade.

Before you buy shrubs or trees for your yard, know what you're growing and the plants' ultimate sizes. The 2-foot-tall plant you buy now may reach 20 feet someday.