Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-06
THIS AND THAT


| Why evergreens go wrong Is sub.
| iect which may we'll be considered BY
every home owner who takes an inter.
est in the exterior appearance OF his
house and grounds.
| Probably few househOlders but have
bewailed the loss of some priced ever
green. dead before its time In a most
incxplicable fashion.
| Yet there are many very good rea-
sons why eVergrcens go wrong, and per-
haps nowhere will the average amateur
planter find them better summed up
than IN Leonard H. Johnson's book
| Foundation Planting.s recently re-
/ viewed in this column.
| In the chapter devoted to coniferous
evergreen paintings this author gives
eight reasons Why Evergreens Die,
many of which will never have &C.
Cured to the man who has not made
evergrcens his business.
THE writer has had considerable ex-
pericncc through talking with home
owners who have spent considerable
money for evergreens that in year OF
so after planting had died out" writes
Mr. johnson. In most cases the cause
was due to one or more of the follow
| ing reasons:
~. Injury by Dogs. Especially In
| the cities. small varieties of arborvitaes
and retinosporas are killed by injuries
received from dogs. causing the lower
branches to turn black. Placing wire
screens about them will keep the dogs
away from the branches. tNote--Yes
and spoil the appearance OF the ever
green's. This seems to be a cause that
! is difficult to combatD
"2 Summer Drought. the
owner has gone away for a month or so
on vacation and left the newly planted
stock to the care OF the elements and
| they received no water to speak Of 1t
| Is quite important to keep plants moist
especially the first year after planting
tNote-This is a point most persons
| overlook, and then wonder why their
evcrgrcens die Instead OF applying
a hose for few minutes several times
week it would be better to give them
thorough soaking probably once OF
twice a week. Better still, make three
deep holes with a crowbar around each
plant. pour water down these holes
until they will take no more. then cover
tops of holes lightly with soil. One or
two such applications will carry them
through safely.
SO Deep Planting--A lady in the
suburbs OF Philadelphia had the writer
examine a planting OF evergreens that
had been set out the previous season:
about 10 per cent Of them were dead.
Upon examination 1t was found that
the earth about the roots as received
from the nurserymen had either been
taken off or the balls SO badly handled
that the dirt was out OF contact with
the roots. These plants were also placed
at least 4 to 6 inches deeper than they
had stood In the nursery. After re-
placements had been made land prop
erly planted) only out OF 50 plants
died. which Is q reasonable percentage
OF loss TO expect.
II. Drying Out In Winter Due to Dry
ing Winds.--This applies especially to
certain varieties Of evergreens that seem
more or less sensitive TO drying winds.
the hemlock being particularly liable
to be injured. Such plants should be
placed In a sheltered location. All
evergreens should be protected from
the winds during the first year after
transplanting TO insure best results.
IS. Root system. deprived of too many
fibrous roots when received from the
nursery: consequently. the tops do not
get enough moisture to supply that
which Is lost by the plant through tran
spiration.
"6. insufficient Drainage.-If no at