The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-06-21
LAWN DECORATION
More Artistic Taste Can Be
Shown in MankatO.
Many Large Trees Should be Cut Down,
and Modern Ideas ia Landscape
Improvement Applied.

Some years ago this paper urged the
people of Mankato to set out trees and
beautify their lawns, keep the grass
moved, etc. The often repeated ad-
vice which it gave on this subject
had its effect, and the city now pre-
sents the appearance of forest, and
the lawns are generally well kept In
fact, the tree part of the business has
been overdone, and in many places the
trees are so large and SO close together
that their branches intermingle and
make so dense a shade that grass does
not thrive very we'll underneath. In
other places the branches are so low
that it is difficult to walk along with
an umbrella or parasol without strik
ing them.
The best landscape effects, accord
ing to men who have made this their
profession, are not secured by great
trees that stand close together and
overshadow everything else. The
modern plan for identifying residence
grounds is to have few trees of small
to moderate size, and some small
shrubbery and plants, with healthy
lawn. This lets in the sunlight and
pure, fresh air and the breezes, keeps
the mosquitoes and bugs down to a
minimum, and also has the effect of
setting off the residence to better ad-
vantage. Large trees have a tendency
to make the houses which they sur
round look smaller by contrast, while
small trees have the opposite tendency.
Vines and porch screens are used a
good deal in cities for house shade,
while trees are not planted very close
to the houses, to prevent dampness.
The time has come when good
many of our citizens should cut out at
least half of the large trees in front of
or around their property and commence
a more artistic and beneficial scheme
Of lawn decorations. Advances are
being made in this as in all other
lines, and what answered for twenty
or thirty years ago is not quite as good
and slightly as present ideas produce.
Some of our citizens have adopted the
new methods of landscape decorations
with very pleasing results. A number
of large trees have also been cut down
this spring, but the axe should not be
stayed until the forest in which the
city is enveloped and hidden has been
thinned out. Not all the big trees
should be cut, as a few stately trees
do not detract from the general effect
of city, but they should be well
trimmed up from underneath to allow
a free circulation of air.
Another change that should be made
is the cutting out Of the cottonwood
and soft maple trees They are rapid
growers but do not make pleasing
trees, and the soft naples are especially
apt to be broken by wind storms.
Elms and hard naples make handsome
trees and are hardy growers in this
climate Cottonwoods are nuisance
besides lacking in beauty. 1t would
be we'll if our people would diversity
their trees. Birch, mountain ash, and
a number of other decorative trees do
we'll here and add greatly to the sur
roundings. Several varieties of bushes
and vines and Towering shrubs can be
procured that thrive in this climate.
If our people will abandon the one
idea plan of big tree cultivation and
adopt the ideas now being followed in
other cities they will find wonderfully
changed appearance within year or
two and it Will be for the better in
eve ; way.
In planting shrubbery, it should be
borne in mind that the only plan that
is followed by landscape gardeners is to
plant them in groups rather than scat
tered about. In lots of the size of the
average Mankats lot, one or two small
groups would be sufficient. In larger
lots, seve al groups of different sizes
can be p snted, leaving broad lawn
spaces wi "A a few medium sized trees
here and there.
Let the good work begin this season.
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