Evening star., 1945-06-17

washington mas many terrace
difficult to keep covered with grass.
on level ground, but when planted
Is to the south or west, it requires
in good condition. Add to this Gu
grass cut and we have sufficient IT
the place of bluegrass on terraces.
In heavy shade, especially, If there
Is competition with tree roots. grass
seldom provides effective ground
cover.
There are many trailing vines and
few perennials that may be used
to cover terrace. However, some
of them are too strong growing for
the small yard. The honeysuckles
do very well in this area, but they
are best used on fairly large banks.
The same is true of the trailing
roses, but now that the Japanese
beetles are so troublesome, few will
want to use them. Spurge and ivy
are best adapted to shady situations.
Periwinkle does very well in light
shade but is not so satisfactory in
full sun. However. it will do fairly
we'll if given care at the start.
Spurge, ivy and periwinkle are
easily trained. of low growth, and
are suited to the small terrace. The
periwinkle, has the added advantage
of attractive flowers in the early
spring.
For the hot, dry terrace the
honeysuckle is most likely to sue
ceed. If the expense is not too great
one might use either the Savin
juniper or the creeping juniper (J.
horizontalis). The jumpers are
probably the best adapted to hot dry
places of any of the evergreens, al
though too much must not be ex-
pected of them. The jumpers
should be protected from uncon-
trolled dogs.
The cotoneasters are useful on
sunny terraces where the soil is not
too impoverished. Both the rock
spray" &C. microphylla) and the
spreading &C. horizontalis) coton-
casters are attractive in fruit, al
though their flowers are incon-
spicuous.
Candytuft 1beris) is a shrubby
perennial which succeeds very well
in fairly good soil in full sun. How
ever, one may have difficulty with
them if slugs are too numerous.
These pests are easily controlled
with coating of sharp cinders,
Thyme is another useful low-grow-
/ ing perennial with attractive flowers
in the spring. Thyme needs moist
ure and a well-prepared soil to
thrive. 1t, too, may be subject to
injury by the slugs.
Iris may be used as a cover for
terraces and lin a reasonably good
soil they do very well However
they are subject to attack by the
iris borer and diseases usually fol-
low that pest. Then, too, unless
the iris are lifted and the soil en-
riched every four or five years the
blooms become small and the plants
lack vigor, hence tend to be un-
attractive
Other perennials suitable for use
as ground covers in small areas are
the sedums. veronica, and for shady
places, mazus. Even the hardy
begonia may be used in a moist
situation, while the lily of -the-val.
ley is an excellent ground cover II
a soil that has been well enriched
with leaf mold or compost.
No mention has been made herr
of the anonymous. which is Otter
recommended, because in this area
at least, it is commonly attacked
by the anonymous scale, q difncul
pest to control.
difficult to plant on terraces if the
soil Is first enriched and then GOV.
cred with old burlap bagging. The
plants should be set out in holes
cut in the burlap. BY the time
the new shoots of those that take
root along their runners are ready
to spread, the bagging will have
rotted.
! If burlap is not available for hold
ing the soil until the newly set out
plants become well rooted one NAV
| use compost and brush or straw
| However, the straw is apt to intro
duce weed seeds and cause extra
work.
The gardener should not hesitate
to keep a ground cover pruned ano
within bounds. If allowed to grow
uncontrolled they look unkempt anc
detract from rather than improve
! the appearance Of the yard.
/ X X X X
1t is time to make sowings OF
broccoli and celery seed for the fal
crop. Seed are most easily handled
it sown in small fiat or pot thai
may, be shifted around as need be
Broccoli is comparatively new
vegetable that deserves to be more
widely grown. However, it has the
most desirable flavor when grown
in the cool of the fall. 1t is relative.
ly hardy and will Withstand frost
If started early long cutting sea
son should be possible.
| X x Y
The bean beetles are beginning te
appear in many gardens and the
beans need to be protected with
cryolite or rotenone. Dust or SPRAY
the undersides of the leaves as tina
is where the beetle spends his en-.
tire life cycle.
| X y
The bagging of grapes is a time.
consuming chore, but one that pay.
big dividends. Three or four poune
bags are the most easily handled
but now are difficult to procure
Fasten them to the stems with {
small sharp nail as strong pins art
not available for this purpose.
portable nqner Storler is iSool fo,