Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1909-08-28
SEASIDE RETIREMENT
Hints on Beautifying Homes With
Trees and Shrubs.
BE SURE TO PLANT CLOSE

Thorough Preparation of the Soil Very
Important-Cut All Plants Back Sc
vereIy Except Everereens-Suitabl
Trees and Shrubs to Plant.
1t is natural that people living by
the seaside should be as interested In
identifying their homes with trees and
shrubs as those who live inland. On
attempting to grow plants near the
salt water many seaside dwcllers have
been much disappointed to find their
efforts vain; have seen their carefully
planted trees and shrubs die. killed by
the salt spray and fOSs, blown to
pieces by heavy winds, torn by flying
sand or shriveled up In the sterile soil.
The problem Of seaside planting Is one
which should be given special consid-
Grafton by landscape architects, gar
deners and those interested In beauti-
flying the home grounds. The writer
has had nm opportunity to study sea
shore conditions governing plant
growth on the COASTS of Maine and
Massachusetts, in landscape work on
Long Island with Mr.. Henry Hicks, an
authority on this subject. and in assist
ing to make landscape report on
BlackweIl's island. New York city.
Some Of the most important re
Quirements for seaside planting are:
a. The choice Of plants that are hardy
under seashore conditions: (2) n thor
ouch preparation Of the soil which
usually Is sand and should be mixed
with one half to threc-fOurthS per cent
of we'll rotted bnrnyard manure or
else should he removed altogether and
fine. rich loan substituted the depth
of preparation being about three feet:
(3> close planting, so that the trees and
shrubs may afford each other mutual
rotcction-isolatcd or scattered plants
are almost sure to fail; "a plant more
hardy things in exposed spots, less
i hardy in more sheltered positions; 60
sometimes m artificial shelter Of
boughs or planks may be needed to
give the plants start; 60 provide
good winter protection of strawy ma
nure and in some cases leaves or
evergreen bouChs.
For holding banks near the sea and
to prevent sand drifting Mr.. Henry
Hicks recommends pitch pine and red
cedar. Beach grass and red onk are
also found In nature serving these pur
poses in n most satisfactory way. 1t
Is often possible to fill in later after
these plants are established. with 9th
er very hardy trees and shrubs. This
should at least be tried. since thick
planting Is the key TO success. Mr.
Hicks says plant thick and cut back
severely" EvergrecnS, OF course, must
not be cut back. He also mentions in
n recent letter that he has seen brush
used to fill In a depression caused by
the wind blowing out the sand, the
brush being carefully staked down.
The result Of this was that the sand
drifted about In the brush and nearly
filled the hollow again. This treat
ment, combined with judiCious plant
Ing, would probably bring the drifting
sand under complete control.
Following IS list Of trees and
shrubs suitable for seaside planting:
Very Bayberry, beach plum
sea buckthorn, yucca, woodbine or Vir-
ginia creeper, wild cherry, tamarisk,
American holly (hardy as far north as
Long Island, many Of the willows,
red cedar, pitch pine, black spruce les
pecially near ocean marshes), black
oak, post oak. chokeberry, beach
grass, bearberry, black huckleberry,
false heather and shining sumac.
Less hardy-Scrub oak, scarlet oak,
chestnut oak, Norway maple, red ma
pie, American white birch, horse chest
nut, western catalpa, plane tree, honey
locust, white spruce. Austrian pine,
mugho pine, sweet bay, juniper, Euro
pean barbeN:y, Hercules club, Califor-
MIA privet, marsh elder, purple fringe,
upright honeysuclle, cockspur thorn,
high bush BURBERRY. sassafras, pep
peridge bitterswcet and blackberry.
All of these are hardy as for north as
Long Island and the majority to Maine.