When you make the proper selections, shrubs can help you work out a variety of landscaping challenges — and create a more peaceful environment in your yard. Here are some shrub varieties that help solve problems:

• Shrubs that are quick growing and tall work well to create a screen between you and noisy — or nosy — neighbors.

• Azaleas or rhododendrons or other blooming shrubs help dress up the front yard. They're also fragrant if you spend a lot of time on the front porch.

• To distance your home and yard from a busy street, gradually build a wall of shrubs. Start with low shrubs such as juniper, then phase in a row of something a little higher behind it — like holly. Last, work in some shrubs that grow higher still. But do make sure that you don't obscure your house so much that burglars can sneak in easily.

• Rounded shrubs, such as hydrangeas, work well for borders.

• Vertical shrubs work in front of windowless walls — but don't put one outside a window with a view!

• An arching shrub, such as forsythia, looks good in the yard by itself.

• For small gardens, select a very few spreading shrubs, but don't cover up all your soil.