Milford chronicle., 1921-04-01
BANKING The HOUSE WITH SHRUBS
By Edward Irving Harrington
Editor, Author, Lecturer

II houses were DullL WITHOUT IOuu-
dations there would be no need of
plants around the base to tie them to
the ground The average house, how
ever, needs a massing of shrubs to un-
ify it with the turf and make-it appear
like a permanent structure and not
something which has simply been
dropped there for a temporary stay.
1t is easy enough to test the correct
ness of this statement by looking first
at house which is devoid of planting
and then comparing it with another
which has been banked with shrub
berry, especially if the planting has
been well done.
Admitting. then, that planting
around the base of house helps to
make a home homelike, and adds to
the joy OF the owner, let us see what
shrubs are available for the purpose.
The list, as any nurseryman's cata-
logue will show us, is long one, but
it is easy to see that a first choice
will include those kinds which are re-
fined in character and not too rank in
growth, for we will have them as our
intimate companions the year round.
Some people think, unfortunately,
that they are doing the correct thing
when they buy a mixed lot of ever
greens and set them out at regular
intervals across the front of the
house. These evergreen plants may
look pretty enough at first, but in
the course of a few years they are
bound to grow much too large for
their location. Yet there is a distinct
advantage in using eVergreens for
banking the house, because of their
beauty in winter as well as in sum-
mer. 1t may be said in passing that
the evergreens cost rather more than
deciduous shrubs, but that fact may
be offset by their value as year round
specimens.
Among the good kinds to use are
the Japanese Yew, the low growing
JUMPERS. rhododendrons, Mahonias,
LeucOthOe Cataesbaei, Retinosperas
Japanese Cypress), Mountain Laurel,
Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata), and the
Inkberry. Very likely you will not
need all of these plants because most
oil the make spreading growth and
soon cover a wide area. The Retinos-
peras are different. They make mar
row, upright growth and so may be
used as accents for the planting
scheme. They grow particularly well
between windows, and harmonize
with almost any evergreen planting.
The YeWs if left to themselves may
grow too tall, but can be kept cut
back and are to be used when foliage
about six feet high is desired. There
is also a dwarf Japanese Yew, Known
as TaXus breVifOlia, which is almost
as handsome as BoXWood, and grows
very slowly. For a specimen at each
side of the entrance, or perhaps at
the corners of the house, you can use
MughO Pine, an interesting lOw-groW-
ing round evergreen that looks like a
big pin cushion.
Finally you will need the running
plant known as Pachysandra, which
will eventually carpet the ground un-
der the shrubs and which keeps it's
leaves all the year round. The. use of
Pachysandra should not be confined
to evergreen paintings, either In fact
it can often be used to even better
advantage where deciduous shrubs
are employed, adding much to their
winter effect
Suppose, however, that the house is
to be banked with shrubs which lose
their leaves in winter. 1t doesn't fol- |
low because of that fact that the |
planting need be without charm dur
ing the cold months, for if care is |
taken to choose such kinds as have |
attractive foliage in the fall and |
bright berries through the winter, |
his planting will be a delight the |
year through. 1t is pleasant, too, to
nave a succession of flowers through
)ut the summer, although the mistake
should be avoided of using shrubs in
90 great variety, for if that is done
spOtty or hOdge-podge effect is pro-
luced
If the house is a small one, a dou-
Die row of shrubs may be sufficient.
With larger house it may be better
o have three rows. They shouldn't be
planted in a set, stilted way, and nei-
her should they be graded exactly
rom the back to the front Naturally
he back row will include the taller
shrubs, but the outline should be more
n less broken up. 1t is especially i'm
1ortant that the front row should
lot be planted in straight lin. Base
PLANTING should always be sinous, ex-
ending out at the corners and reced-
ng towards the house occasionally.
indeed, 1T is often a good plan to give
IN occasional glimpse of the founda-
ion itself. Often heavy massing can
'e made at the corners, with perhaps
me particularly good specimen stand
ng slightly away from the others.
Among the taller shrubs which can
'e recommended are Spiraea Van
Iouttei, the Mock Orange and the va
ieties of Philadelphus known as Le-
nOinei and Pride of Rochester, the
White Kerria, Regel's Privet Hy-
rangea paniculata, Comedian cherry,
siberian Red Osier, and High Bush
For lower growing shrubs
ou can include Spifaea Anthony Wa
erer, Japanese Barberry, Deutzia gra-
ills, Forsythia suspense, Azalea Mol
is, Daphne Mezereum, Weigelas Eva
Iathke and Rosea, Cotoneasters mi
rophylla and Simonsii, Coralberry,
'rairfe Rose and Stephanandra. OF
curse this list might be greatly eX-
ended, but far too many have been
AIMED already for use in any one col
ection. The list is simply given so
hat a choice may be made to in
lude those whoch give long series
bloom and carry attractive fruits