Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-17
Landscape Planning
For the Home Owner
BY ROSE GREEDY.
Landacana Architect.

The question often arises. what are
ground covers? The world IL most ex.
pressive because 1t says just what II
means. Al ground cover Is anything
that covers the ground. The word Is
usually applied to growing plants.
but is also applicable to covering OF
gravel or paving stone or brick. We
viii therefore consider the sub1ect
in two parts: first, mineral ground
covers, and second, vegetable ground
covers. Each has q worthwhile place
TO I'LL.
In these days when covered porches
are largely giving way to paved ter
races, tha value of some permanent
paving material which will stand
hard wear is well known. Under Ger
tain conditions there Is nothing more
attractive than a grass terrace; the
cool green is restful to the eyes, the
welI-cut turf is comfortable to walk
on, and it blends into the landscape
without a note of Formally. But,
unfortunately there are disadvan-
tages on the other side Of the ledger.
Comfortable as the grass terrace u
under the proper conditions, It is not
always in perfect condition. After a
rain it is slow to dry, while the
masonry terrace rapidly becomes
disable. And dry weather is quite
as disastrous as wet. since the grass
dries out and needs constant atten-
ton to enable it to keep Its fresh
ness and beauty.
It is not surprising that for the
much used terrace, the terrace that
must take the place of a porch, the
first choice usually goes TO paving
of some sort. Whether brick or stone
is chosen is generally a matter OF EN-
- lNaa1 rnnnlV III
there is a brick chimney to the house.
O. brick terrace, may be needed 70
emphasize the same material. u the
terrace is to be wide and in front
of q large house, an even bluestone
Tagging may be used. And II the
house is small and an Informal char
aeter il desired, irregular paytng
stone laid at random 10 an excellent
choice. This random paving may be
laid in q terrace with straight edge
or may be used most Internally IN
the grass or to carpet q much used
spot in the woods. When brick or
the even bluestone Tagging - used
it win be laid in concrete or In sand,
with Joints. softened sometimes with
creeping moses. either accidental or
introduced.
With the irregular stene paving one
has greater leeway in the use Of plant
materials to soften its edges. The In
dividual plants for this use will Be
taken UP next week, but q word may.
be said here in regard to their use on
the paved terrace. They take the
place of decoration, which adds In.
terest TO the paving. but must BE- 90
placed that 1t does not In any way
interfere with its use. This means
that the plants chosen must either be
~. (Av~k rSHAv wr
or that they must be kept cut Of the
center of the area, so that they are
net in the way, and serve only to
trim the edges.
When the paving Is so informal the
interest is usually concentrated on its
planting. When 1t IL more formal
there may be more interest in the Paw
ing itself. Careful attention win have
to be given to the character of the
material, whether stone or brick, In
which the paving is carried out.
There are various kinds of brick suit
able for the purpose, but a general
suggestion may be made. Select brick
which is not too mechanical in sur
face, nodded. rather than wire-cut
brick, wherever II can be procured,
and lay IL with some variation Of
color, letting the difference appear ir
regularly unless q definite pattern Is
desired. 1t is possible to work out
amusing patterns by using brick of
different colors or by combining brick
and tile or brick and stone. In select
ing stone. the same attention should
be given to texture and to color, for
not all stone is beautiful. nor is all
stoneharmonious. Pattern and color
play such a large part in paving that
even concrete can be made beautiful
g - y re- cd with due regard for tex