Evening star., 1942-11-07

trees. including birch, tulip poplar
and sweet gum are best tranSplanted
In the spring.
Shrub planting follows tree plant
ing in the order Of consideration.
Shrubs are available In such . va
xiety of sizes, forms and types OF
growth that 1t is almost impossible
to more than suggest major consld-
erations. Evergreen shrubs are
widely used in this area, since they
serve the year around. However,
this is hardly the time Of year to
move them. It can be done by a
skilled nurseryman and If kept wa
tered and protected from sun and
wind they will most likely grow.
Dormant Shrubs
Should be Planted.
Dormant shrubs, such as spireas
and forsythia, are best planted at
this season, but there are hundreds
of others from which we may select.
Buy those whose height and spread
at maturity will fill the space for
which they are intended Many
yards are ruined by diversified
shrubs. When making selection
do not resitate to ask about the
size when mature. 1t is SO easy to
buy small spruce. They are really
attractive, but let's remember that
they grow to 20 to 80 feet in this
area and are not suitable for foun-
dation paintings.
A spirea Van Houetti is a wide
spreading shrub. The spread Is
oftentimes greater than its height
and for a narrow space one might
better choose the bridal wreath
(spirea prunifolia), or spirea bill
lardi. For foundation paintings it Is
well to select those kinds of shrubs
that are dwarf-whose height at
maturity are less than 3 feet. There
are a considerable number of such
plants, but since they are slow grow
ing and it takes considerable time
for them to reach marketable size
they tend to be more costly than
rapid, and taller growers.
If the yard is shady it is desirable
to 20 to considerable lengths to OBJ
tain kinds of shrubs that thrive un-
der such conditions. Sun loving
shrubs may live, but they will not
thrive in shade. OF course there Is
a variation in shade, the greater the
density the fewer the plants that
will thrive in it. On the other hand
most plants, if they can have few
hours of morning sunlight can stand
considerable shade the rest Of the
day and thrive.
A heavy wet soil is equally limit
ing as to the number of shrubs that
will thrive on it. Dry sandy soils
are another type, although there are
few yards. in this area SO afflicted,
that demand special care in select
ing shrubbery. However, there are
shrubs that are at home under such
conditions and we should make a
point of getting them rather than
buy what is offered to us. Yes, the
illustrations and descriptions are
enticing but woe-begone sickly
plant is not.
Roses AlUayS
Popular.
Roses are always wanted and al
most every one looks at the pictures
in making their selections, although
out of the thousands of varieties and
kinds offered for sale only a few
dozen can be depended upon to dc
we'll in this area without consider
able care. If you do not care to
devote time to spraying and culture
1t will be we'll to stick to the dozen
or so varieties recommended by the
Potomac Rose Society. Some of the
shrub roses are even more resistant
to disease troubles and are well
worth considering even though thelr
Towering season may be restricted
to a few weeks in the spring.
But, regardless of what kind OF
how many trees, shrubs and roses
you intend to plant it is well to DC
the Job in such manner that they
will improve in size and produc-
tiyeness for years to come. Tree ano
shrub planting. especially, is ordi-
narily done but once in a lifetime
We do not dig them up every few
wears and rework the soil. All such
work is done before the planting ano
1t should be thoroughly done.
A we'll prepared bed for trees
shrubs or roses should be dug deeply
humus incorporated into the SOIL anc
some of the slower acting fertilizers
such as bone meal. If the roots are
to penetrate the soil deeply ano
widely it is important that the sol
be loosened to good depth anc
quantities of humus (decayed vege-
table matter mixed into 1t. Humus
stores moisture and is protection
against periods of drought. Humus
ia decaying, liberates some OF thf
koil materials that are insoluble II
water. thus it makes available the
soils plant foods. The digging O.
any kind of decayed vegetable mat
ter into the soil is Of paramount
Importance to the health and vigol
of plants. The amount to be dug in
An that is available. Fifty per cen'
is considered the optimum by ou
research friends. ....
Be Sure Plants
Are Not Dry.
In buying the dormant shrubs
make certain that they have no
or do not dry out. Drying reduces
their vitality-keep them cool ant
moist until they are In the ground
More plants die before they ar'
nianted than afterward. Careles
displaying in a store Or an overloni
trip by train will greatly reduc'
their vitality. If, upon receipt, 1t ]
evident that they have dried GU
to any degree, it is well to soak then
for several hours In a tub OF water
II they cannot be planted for sew
eral days, it is better to place then
in q trench and cover them ttop
as well as roots) with soil than Z
soak them In tub. ~
Usually, shrubs shipped irom
distance have been prliped sum
ciently to compensate TOR loss Q