Evening star., 1926-04-03
PIONEERING SHRUBS

After the bulbs, there are no plants
So intimately connected with the idea
Of Spring as shrubs. Forsythia,
Spirea. jasmine. almond. lilac. mock
ora ange, weigelia are all part of the
pageant of the first months with
their masses of fragrant flowers that
vie with the fvuit trees themselves
In heauty.
The successful use of these pla nts
in the garden depends upon many
things. but chiefly upon the correcJ
selection of varities in the first place
and thir proper care afterward.
The most frequent error in the
choice of shrubs is failure of
realization of the ultimate size of
he plant with the result that the
shrub when planted never developes
into a decent plant or shows what il
can do in Towering. The most use
ful fact to keep n mind IN deter
mining the distances between shrubs
Is that shrubs which spread by suck
ering form thickets may be planted
close together: shrubs which form
mass of canes from a sins.e crown
require greater space accor ing as
they are upright OF spread nS in
their carriage. Some of the old
fashioned roses. like Harrison
Yellow or the Hundredleaf. the
Indian currant. and the old fashioned
lilacs are examples of shrubs that
sucker and grow into close thickets
The common Nan Fouts bridal
wreath is an eN7 mD:a q The spread
ing type, while the althea is a good
example of the erect growing plant.
For the first group, one sets just
I. n n
hasten the formation Of the close
mass: in the second one must know
the ultimate spread of the particular
MIA nj. but might safely allow not less
than FIVE feet between the bases or
plants.
II is interesting TO study also the
habit of growth of the shrub ia deter
mine how much it will suffer by
crowding. Plants with erect or some
what overarChing growth may be
combined more succesSfuu| IMAM
those with more horizontal branching,
The Jananese snowfall with its beau,
tifulIv spreading branches. Mack's
honeysuckle with is spreading sail
like branches. Or tue horizontal
ouince berry with .S branches
almost like fern fIonds. lose
all their characteristic beauties when
they are planted so closely that the
branches interlace. On the other
hand. the shrubs like the Japanese
harberry. Van Hout's bridal wreath.
the common deutziaS and lilacs all
grow together into thicket-like masses
which are typical of their habit in the
wild and which increase the beauty of
the individual flowers by the increase
in number.
The care of the shrubs may he di
vided under two heads, feeding and
pruning When the shrub is first
planted. il should have large hole
with plenty of well-rotted manure or
bonemeal in the bottom of the hole:
This supply should be supplemented by
annual dressing applied about The
roofs late in the fall and dug in care
fully in the Spring In addition. water
must be given when the weather is
dry over long periods. This is par
ticuIarlv necessary for shrubs planted
about house foundat tons where the
natural drainage is away from the
house
Pruning should he considered from
two points OF view. that required for
The shaping Of the bush and that re.
quired 10 maintain ? mass of flower
lnc wood The pruning for correcting
The shape Of the bush may bo done 2
any time but the pruning 70" main
tanning aowerins wood must be done
imnedia tely after Towering for Spring
blooming shrubs and before the deNel-
opn7ent of the leaves in Spring for the
summer and Fall blooming varieties.
II should consist mainly of the com
nlete removal Of the wood older than
three wears SO that new vigorous
shoots will rise from the base. Shear
ing should never be practiced except
on hedges; il is ineXcusable in shrub
berries. And the times given above
should he faithfully observed. as any
deviation from them will result in the
loss of flowers which would be cut off
in the pruning. Treat your shrubs
right and they will give you ample re
turns.
TAKOMA HORTICULTURAL CLUB.