Evening star., 1943-08-15
What Size Shrub Is Best to Buy?

The average gardener likes to buy
the largest sized shrub or tree that
the nurseryman offers. II 1t is de-
ecribed rs extra large, supers1ze.
superstrain, or any OF the other
superlative terms that modern sales
manship prescribes, so much the
better. There are other considers-
tions, however, that the gardener
should note in. buying If he is to
have the success desired when those
shrubs are planted in his yard.
that determine how well shrubs and
trees grow after being planted. In
the first place 1t takes large root
system to feed = large top. In dig
ging, these roots are bound to be
more or less injured, especially as
they increase in size and stiffness
and 1t follows that the more injury
the large root systems receive the
more the top must be cut back to
nurserymen go to considerable
lengths to protect the roots in dig
.ging and packing, but the larger
they are the more injury Is to be
expected.
To attain extra size and develop
ment a tree or shrub has to be grown
longer In the nursery. This involves
extra work and handling and con-
sequently greater cost. We normally
overlook this increased cost because
1t will make bigger and earlier
showing when planted. However,
II the plant is at all injured the
big top will receive insufficient
nourishment from the roots and will
die back somewhat and consequently
will make slower growth and lack
health and vigor. 1t will be more
subject to attack by insects and
diseases than a healthy, vigorous
growing one. Thus, in the msjority
of cases much of the advantage OF
large size may be lost.
We want to make a showing by
buying large-sized plants because
they seem like more for our money"
However, to get large-size plants we
oftentimes buy the less desirable
ones from the standpoint Of long
time investment. Large sized low
cost plants are, in the majority Of
cases, rapid growers and usually
shorter lived. They do not stay
put" They outgrow their situations
ina comparatively few years. five
would be content; with buying
smaller sizes of the more desirable
kinds we would be making
more permanent and lonser-lasting
investment. The slower growing
shrubs and trees obviously take
longer to grow. The nurseryman
has to cultivate them longer,
transplant and root-prune them
more times and keep them protected
from insects and diseases; thus it
costs more to produce these often
more desirable Kinds.
When we buy according to the
size OF the top, If we are to get full
value, We should also expect to re-
ceive a larger, bushier root system.
Unfortunately, the average buyer
looks only at the top in making a
purchase and neglects the all-im-
portant root system. He assumes
af@1 tAic P1dht i1AS Eli ti1db ID llSCeS-
sary. A number of our local rose
fans turned Gown the plants OF q
nurseryman because the tops of his
rose bushes were too small. II they
had looked at the roots they would
have found them to be exceptionally
thick and fibrous.
When buying psckaged roses it is
next to impossible to see what the
package contains. Sometimes there
are hardly any roots on the plants.
Reputable nurserymen nearly al
ways root-prune their shrubs and
trees to stimulate bushy, compact
root systems. This desirable meth
Cd OF handling costs money and we |
must expect to pay, for it In the |
purchase price.
Another factor to be considered
when buying large -siEed shrubs and |
trees is that the storing and handling |
entails more risk than for the small |
er sizes. A. large plant Is not 50
easily handled. hence is more apt to