The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1933-04-13
The Garden


0NPoI I'LL Viz
edited by Ferdinand ]. Wiener
Of the Wiener Nursery.
BY a garden is meant mystically,
a place of spiritual repose, stiffness,
peace, refreshment and delight.
Cardinal Newman.
Pruning Evergreens
In the evergreens, we have been
given material that changes but lit
tie with the seasons. They are good
to look at at all times of the year.
The evergreen is also a symbol Of
Immortality, because of its change
less color.
Intelligent trimming is necessary
to maintain evergreens in land
scape planting in a natural state
of growth, to restrain form and
growth. It is often necessary to
do so, in order to maintain the
landscape design, in which they
form a part.
Intelligent trimming also appears
to accentuate their natural beauty
and symmetry with such forms as
spruces and pines, while others,
sorts such as the arborvitaes, red
cedars, etc., they can be kept to a
certain height and form, even to
fine, dense hedges which may be
sheared and trimmed, and green
the entire year.
We trim for shape, to remove de-
formed or dead branches, to check
growth to maintain porportionate
sizes and to control height, to 1e-
juvenate old plants and to produce
trained specimens. A good sharp
pocket knife and pair of pruning
shears, will take care of ordinary
work.
American Arborvitaes (also called
white CEDAR play an important part
in planting in northern states. The
beautiful pyramidal form is main
tanned by light, uniform trimming
on all sides, before the growth
starts. This is done by pinching off
the tips Of the little branches with
a knife or shear. The main re-
quisite in this form is the dense
growth. By trimming the trees
lightly in spring before the growth
starts, this dense growth will be
stimulated. Trim this form of ever
green so that it will form gently
tapering form or pyramid, avoiding
to great a width at the bottom or
too sharp a point at the top. For
general planting, do not get your
30 81; fNy-yool 1nnlxino
This might be of place for speci-
mems in tubs or urns.
Branches near the ground should
not be cut off, but rather encourage
growth at the base so that the tree
will appear as solid shaft OF
green resting on the lawn.
If Arborvitaes are found growing
too tall or too thinly branched, this
condition can often be overcome by
removing the terminal bud or lead
er. Run down your fingers until
the first important side branch is
encountered, then cut out the center
stem, just above this side branch.
This will check upward growth and
produce a denser growth in remain
der of plant.
After the terminal is removed, it
is sometimes necessary to train a
new leader in it's place after a well
shaped and dense specimen has
been attained. This can be done by
selecting a vigorous, well-centered
top branch and binding it to YER
tical position, using a stake to hold
in place. Use fairly heavy cotton
cord and tie with loose knot. This
branch will soon assume the verti-
cal position and the cord be re-
moved.
Spruces and other sorts often
make a new terminal shoot of their
own accord, but as in the case of
the Arborvitaes, the tree may also
be aided in this.
With spruces and pines not so
much trimming is necessary, except
to keep the trees in uniform shape
and growth. Sometimes 1t Is nee
essary to aid the tree in attaining
a new terminal or leader, this can
DE done by stalking and training, to-
gether with trimming. Often cut
ting off the top of spruce will tend
to increase denser growth, and OF
course, afterwards a new leader
should be trained.
Entire branches should never be
removed from an evergreen tree,
unless it is absolutely dead. Never
trim to deeply into the foliage, as
this will result in exposure of the
central area which is sometimes
bare or appears dead, and it will
take some time for the new growth
to hide this again.
Intelligent pruning Of evergreens
requires careful workmanship and
an ideal before the work is started.
It is more than a mere matter of
pruning off the tips at intervale,
but one must realize the natural
habit Of growth Of the tree being
trimmed.
Look, think, plan thing again be
fore trimming. Be sure you are
right before you apply the knife.
Prune evergreens in April, just
before or as soon signs Of growth
are to show.
wv