Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-15
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES 6. TRAcERELL.

such case it is choice between two
evils.
Another common fault Of foundation
paintings which may be rectified at
this time of year lies in specimens
which have grown too large for the
position they occupy.
Specimen privet bushes are the main
offenders. Planted one on either side
of the walk, in five or six years they
grow to be to 10 feet tall and very
broad completely blocking the way.
The usual thing, then, is to cut them
down, but usually not enough. They
are permitted to remain 5 or feet
tall when they should be cut back to 3
feet or feet at the most This latter
height is necessary for the appearance
Of things, and not because any expert"
advises it. All one has to do to under
stand is to pass any home with two
of these huge, overgrown privets in
front. The necessity for their lesSening
is there en- their face.
Owing to its sturdiness, the privet
has become the mainstay of home
owners whose more costly shrubs have
died When the privet outgrowS its
situation, however, it should be taken
in hand and cut back. The trouble
comes when this operation has been
plant is left '1eggy," which means that
it is bare of leaves near the base. There
is a height for every plant in relation
to the house which 1t is attemptira - -
adorn--a height which almost any
can determine by little study. TIL.
is nothing very difficult about it.
Mostly it is a matter for common sense
to decide. If privet bushes or any other
shrubs hide the windows and block out
Is~f.N 81. asYN
Another mistake OF home owners in
regard to foundation planting is to keep
in place DID, sEriveled evergreens which
are turning brown. Plants, after all,
are not dogs or cats, and scarcely de-
serve to be treated sentimentally When
they begin to spoil the appearance of a
place, even though it be the owners
fault, they should be removed. But
many home grounds harbor brown ever
green's as If there were something sacred
about them. Every house will look bet
ter for the removal of such plants.
X X \
And this brings us to the considera-
ton of the tall. upright pines and
spruces, so often misplaced. These tall
growing things are correctly planted to
give height to a wide, low house. Often
one on either side of a doorway provides
the exact note of beauty.
But too often they are to be seen in
front Of house which already is too
tall and narrow. Especially when the
home is placed on an elevation, such
as provided by a terrace, the owner
should be vety sparing in the planting
of any shrub material over 4 feet high
The upright lines of tall evergreens
in the case of a tall house accent the
upright lines of the house and make
the home appear narrower than it really
Is, whereas the incorporation of low
growing plants tends to pull the sides
Of the house in the mind of the be-
holder farther apart.
All shrubs stuck in front yard tend
to detract from the appearance of the
house. Two rows of plants down the
front walk will foreshorten lawn and
make it shorter than ever. If such
plants are removed and hedge planted
across the yard. the lawn will be broad
ened Accent shrubs may be placed at
the extreme corner, but not more than
one at each corner.
These are matters Of taste, 1t is true,
but matters upon which there is little
divergence of opinion among those who
have made even an amateur study Of
the matter. The Autumn is splendid
time for renewed consideration of them,
because great deal of the garden work
has lessened. But let no one stop
watering trees and shrubs at this time.
They perhaps need water more now
than ever in this peculiar year.