Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-13
The Back Yard Garden.

The approach TO the average Wash
ingt OH house gives a favorable impress
sion. IriVet hedge along the side
walk, a stretch Of clipped lawn, ana
English ivy against warm, red br1ck
help to soften the hard lines of even
the monotonouS row house. The
house puts its best foot forward. But
IT the casual visitor expects TO ma
he back yard as attractive as the
front he is disappointed. All too fire.
quently he looks out upon bare earth,
clothes poles and high board fences.
81 place given over to laundry and
midnight cats. 1t is a vivid example
of the expressive phrase, "a Queen
Anne front and Il Mary Anne back.
Perhaps the householder is SkeptiCal
OF the possibility of developing his
back yard. Perhaps he has tried his
hand at il and failed. He soWed
grass and it died out in patches: he
planted hollyhocks against the fence
and they disappeared, Springing up in
stead in the sunny center OF the
garden: he set out a. Christmas rose
bush and il was covered in the
Spring, not with buds but with small
green aphiS. Such an experience Is
dishedrteninC, and it is frequent, he
"auSe the city garden demands a Spe-
"ial treatment that it rarely receives.
IF it is planted with no more thought
han the suburban plot which is
pen TO sun and air. failure will be
he result
City Plants Handicapped.
Plants grown in the city have much
contend against. Smoke and dust
nat settle on their leaves. lack of
unlight and sometimes lack of the
oil elements that they demand They
luSt be chosen for their resistance to
leSe conditions, and it is well to
lake the rule in the beginning that,
} matter how attractive the offerings
nursery catalogues. all selections
i'll be made from the ''ironcIad"
ass. ANY nursery from which
ants are to be ordered will be glad
advise YOU as to the proper
rietieS TO withstand existing condi-
pns of smoke and shade. But if the
anting is TO he permanent. it will
- necessary also TO adjust the soil
(" meet the needs of the plants. In Il
ady yard YOU will find, almost in
riably, that the soil is acid, unfit
I grow grass until il has been sweet.
ed with lime. There are, however.
tain low-creepinG plants, which can
Ell be used instead of grass as q
)und cover, and which do not object
shade or to acid soil. Ground myrtle
inca minorl is =, familiar example
d the aCidlty. SO damaging TO some
-nts, is welcomed by others. Rhode
ldrons, azaleaS. mountain laurel and
Ter broadleafed everGreenS belong
this class, which require. even in
naturally acid soil. careful prepara-
n with wood loan, sand and peat
. t once they are properly planted
" will he found invaluable in the
hepanGn r-iy in
shade, and because OF their beau
II evergreen foliage and effective
ring bloom.
Study Plan for Garden.
owing TO the difficult conditions
der which the plants grow, the
rden should not depend for its
ct solely on its planting. 1t should
SO designed that it is interesting
outline from the windows of the
use at any time of the year, in
ON and out Of bloom. 1t is well,
'refore, to study its design on paper
ore laying 1t out on the ground.
1Sider not only the flowers, but the
portions OF the beds which will
ltain them. Consider the garden
a whole, where it needs flowers for
If color and detail where it should
open to give a feeling of space and
tfuness, and where focal spots Of
hitectural interest are required.
Other Ground Covers.
having mapped out the general
n of the garden, study the mate
s in which it may be carried out.
tead of grass. SO difficult to achieve
the small city garden, why not
some other green ground-cover,
perhaps, pave the center with
stone, making it doubly useful