Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-15

Evergreens and shrubs of all sorts
need water more now than at any time
of the present year.
They have besn growing, in effect, in
vast tub, owing to the abnormal ex-
tent of the drought
Just because Autumn is here, accord
ing to the calendar, is no reason for
withholding water from lawn and
garden.
| October and November normally are
| the dryeSt months of the year. 1t Is
difficult to see how the two at hand can
! be any dryer than August and Septem-
! Der, but it may be that they will. In
that event plenty of water applied with
the hose Is even more necessary.
Shrubs and evergreens fool a great
many amateur gardeners by reason OF
their apparent strength and toughneSS
1t is true that they are tough, and 1t is
certain that they are strong.
These qualities, however, do not mean
that such things do not need water
Every one knows that small evergreenS
planted in tubs in the Fall will ole
during the Winter II they are not kept
properly Watered.
Some ascribe the failure TO the cold
but it is simply lack of moisture. The
continued drought, which now gives
signs of extending until next Spring, is
making the entire earth large tub
in which growing plants struggle for
existence.
Those who delight in the prolonga-
ton of the gardening season will find
much to do this Autumn. If the warm
weather keeps up, even the grass which
Il 70 tIIr hive "a q
to turn green again by proper watering.
Application Of fertilizers on growing
plants this late in the season is mis-
take, with the exception of bone meal
to the grass. A liberal application OF
this ola standard will result in no
change at this time, but will be helpful
next season. 1t is doubtful if any of
the fertilizing elements are really lost
although snow-and should we say
rain? -may seem to wash them away.
This is a good time Of the year to
look over the foundation planting
around ones home and see how it may
be bettered. Most such planting is en-
| tirely haphaZard. Even So-called land
scape gardeners" know little about it.
Usually they stick in bushes where they
have no place or nut the tall, upright
specimens where low-growing ones
would be better.
Ii IlCNeI DC lOi SOltCI bAlae
foundation planting, as it is called, is
| for the benefit of the house and scarcely
ever 10 display the plants themselves
| The object of putting small evergreens
shrubs, and even such things as tulips
close to a house is TO hide part OF
the foundation, "tie" the house to its
setting, and soften down the general
effect of the one on the other.
The most common mistake one sees is
| the complete smothering CT the founda-
/ tons in a mat of shrubbery. 1t is
evident at first glance. One does not
| have to be a landscape architect to
realize tnis-that too close planting
completely takes away the foundation
a necessary substratum which every
house must have.
As one locks at such home 1t ap-
pears to have no foundations whatever
They are hid behind fancy, tall pines
often of the blue color, which is So
what shall one say?-apparent that II
attracts the eye Immediately away from
the house, which at all times should be
the center Of interest
Too massed a planting gives the be-
holder an uneasy feeling. which would
entirely disappear If half the shrubs
were taken away, permitting gaps In
the planting. through which the founoa-
ton could be seen. A solid bank OF
shrubbery from side to side Of house
is bad planting. although seen so often
In some cases 1t must be endured IN
order to get privacy on a porch. In