Evening star., 1943-10-03

'A'NiAidoW DohCS arc frequently
Rft in place throughout the win
Ter. All too often the dead plants
are not removed. This can hardly
be considered good practice. The
dead plants only add to the dreari-
ness of winter. While it is doubt
full If this neglect of the box greatly
shortens it's life, the better thing
would be to take it down to clean
and store ready for next springs
use. Still better is the planting of
the box with baby evergreens and
bulbs.
The use of small-sized evergreens
In the winter window box is not
new. Some local gardeners make a
regular practice of it. The growing
Of bulbs in such boxes for early
spring bloom is entirely feasible
The main consideration being that
the evergreens and bulbs should be
planted early enough in the fall to
become we'll established before cold
weather puts stop to root growth.
The removal of the present plant
ings in the box is not, in most cases.
a serious loss. Most of the plants
still alive are more or less spent.
If they are to be kept they might
be left in the box if they do not
interfere with the placing of the
evergreens. However, it is probably
better to discard them.
The preparation of the soil for
the winter window box is not
greatly different from that followed
in the spring. If anything, heavier
soil may be employed although con-
siderable quantities of peat moss
should be mixed in to hold moisture.
We do not enjoy opening the WIN
dow to water the box when outside
temperatures are we'll below freez-
ing. So it is wise to give the soil its
maximum water holding capacity as
the first step.
Peat moss is the best material for
this purpose. Metal boxes with
watering devices should not be used
AS there is too much risk of water
accumulating in the reservoir and
freezing, thus running the box VIM
dow boxes that are designed to hold
plants in pots and which do not
provide ample protection for the
base of the pot are also hardly
feasible for winter use.
Many nurseries specialize in the
growing of baby evergreens and
their selection is largely a matter of
preference. One might use three
arborvitaes 1912 inches tall for the
background and a half dozen trail
ing juniper for the forward edge,
With 6-8-inch retinospora in be-
tween the arborvitaes. Other USE
full baby evergreens are the spruce.
yew. hemlock, pine, and fir. The
yeW and hemlock are probably most
satisfactory for northern exposure,
although nearly all of these will do
If the situation is not too windy.
BoXwood, evergreen honeysuckle.
evergreen barberry, and similar
trees and shrubs, while adding in
terestlng variation to the window
box. need to be reserved for the
more protected situations, preferably
eastern exposures. They require
more attention. especially as to
watering. Almost all of these plants
should be handled with as little dis
turbance to the roots as possible.
Well-rooted English ivy may be
used as ground cover or as trail
Ing plants to cover the front edge
OF the box. Vinca minor or PERI
wlnkle, an excellent ground cover
may also be used, although the fol-
lage of young plants is rather sparse.
Almost all of the hardy, early,
spring Towering bulbs may be
planted in the winter window box.
Daffodils. tulips, crocus, hyacinths,
snoWdrops etc, may be expected to
grow and flower in a well-prepared
window box. However, they need
to be planted early so that they are
we'll rooted before winter tempera-
lures stop plant growth. They should
not be permitted to dry out at any
time during the winter or their vi
tality will be greatly reduced. Freez-