The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-09-06
GROUNDS MAKE
MOST HOMES
ATTRACTIVE
Proper re aagement of Shrub
berry, WaNs, Flowers, etc.,
Helps Beautify

When planning the smaller home
Arounas one should stress con.
siderably the treatment Of the front
lawn, or public area, as it is some.
times termed by landscape de-
eigners.
Many homes have been developed
with the idea lin mind that the en-
tire property should be screened
from public view with hedges or
other boundary lines OF trees or
shrubs.
In cases Of this kind a pedestrian
passing along the street or walk
would get little or no conception
Of the interior arrangement or
beauty or the landscape.
Privacy In every home IL to be
encouraged, but we believe 1t IL
best to set aside the rear yard for
that purpose.
This may also include the area
at each side of the house. That
portion in the foreground lying be-
tween the house and front walk
should be treated as a public area.
It is necessary to find some way
Of separating the public area from
the more private portion in the rear.
This Is generally done at each
side Of the house by the right use
Of a hedge, irregular groupings of
= vine.covered lattice fence built
with an arched opening connecting
the front with the rear yard.
There must always be q connect
ing passageway provided through
this screen, but where possible 1t
should be arranged in q way to
shut out g view into the rear yard
from the street in front.
1t is advisable to treat the public
area mainly as an open lawn. A
foundation planting Of shrubs
should be made at the base of the
house.
Shrubs can be placed in groups
at intervals along the property line
at each side of the yard, especially
ct the point where the property
line intercepts the front walk.
Then again a small clump Of
shrubs may also be planted on
either side of the walk or drive
entrance.
If properly handled the public
area should present the appearance
Of an open lawn only partially sur
rounded by irregular groups of
shrubs.
No flower beds or borders should
be introduced into the lawn, and
where it is small no shade trees
or garden features should be placed
therein.
The idea is to make it just as
attractive and inviting as possible
and leave it open for the passing
public to admire. That is the rea-
son for terming it a public area.
Trees belong in the parking strip
and to the side or in the rear Of
the dwelling.
Where residence is built within
thirty feet of the frontwalk, it is
generally advisable to introduce a
straight entrance walk to the front
porch.
In the larger suburban homes.
where the house has a setback
line Of more than thirty feet, it Is
much better form to attempt to
enter the property on a curve for
both the walk and driveway, rather
than bisect the open front lawn
with a straight entrance.
The curve should start and end
at right angles, thus making the
curve between. 1t should not enter
directly at the corner of the prop
erty. Leave a space Of a few feet
for group of well.placed shrubs
on each side.
The walk should not be made
any wider than actually needed. A
brick walk or one with the surface
coat of cement colored so as to
harmonic more pleasingly with the
grass and decorative colorings OF
the house Is much to be preferred
over the usual glazing color Of a
regular cement walk or drive.