Evening star., 1947-06-22

There are a number of points
worth keeping In mind when select
ing the shrub or tree for the hedge.
Soil, exposure, moisture and height
to be attained at maturity are some
of the more important ones. Too
often we select a shrub or tree SIM
ply because 1t Is attractive In the
nursery. We fail to weigh such Inn
portant points as It's adaptability to
the soil in which 1t must grow, mois-
ture, exposure and the height to
which 1t can be successfully kept.
Some kinds of trees and shrubs re-
quire clipping much more often than
others. This means that 1t takes
more work to keep them neat and
trim.
The use of plant material instead
of fences for making boundary lines
is not new. Green things are always
more attractive than board or wire
fences. Then, too, living fence is
more or less permanent. 1t does not
rot out, as so many kinds Of fences
70 in this area. A row of neatly
trimmed shrubs makes a useful
screen and adds to the privacy Of the
back yard. Flower borders need a
background and q healthy, vigorous
growing hedge is satisfactory for this
purpose. Hedges need not be costly
il we will be content to start with
small-sized plants.
Barberry and Privet california;
are the two shrubs most commonly
used for hedges. Both have excel
lent points that account for their
wide use. The California privet is
semieyergreen In this area and does
we'll in full sun. 1t has small leaves
and is an inexpensive, rapid grower
that Is seldom troubled by disease
or insects. However, it does not
thrive in shade. It requires rather
frequent pruning and needs care in
clipping so that it will not lose its
lower foliage.
Barberry a Better Barrier.
The japanese Barberry is next to
the California privet In Importance
as a hedge plant. 1t Is lower
growing shrub that has thorns and
hence is better barrier. But, like
the privet, 1t does not do well in
shade or In very poor soils. On the
other hand, the foliage Is attractive
in summer and the berries are highly
ornamental in winter. The barberry
is more informal plant than privet,
but it may be pruned to as smooth
an outline as any other shrub. In
most cases, it needs fewer clippings
each season.
There are several other types of
barberry that should be considered
for the low hedge. The patented
Truehedge Columberry and the
Mentor barberry are more upright
in growth and are more nearly ever
green. They need less pruning than
the Japanese. Box barberry is a
sman-leaved dwarf-growing species
that is ideal for hedges under Is
inches.
The Canadian hemlock is so at
tractive in foliage that it is being
used more widely as a hedge plant
today than formerly. Besides its
attractive appearance, adaptability
to sun or shade Is another factor in
its favor. Generally speaking the
henlock should not be used for a
hedge that is to be less than 5 feet
In height. It cannot be pruned to
as narrow a space as the privet and
many other shrubs. Hemlocks need
more moisture than do most other
kinds of hedge shrubs, but less prun-
ning-twice a year is the usual.
Tall-Growing Hedge.
Another tall-growing hedge plant
is the American arbor-vitae. 1t is
attractive in appearance, lasts we'll
and can be prumed to any desired
height from to 10 feet. 1t also can
be kept to comparatively narrow
width. With careful pruning the
branches can be kept green to the
ground. It's one weakness seems to be
the tendency to have several leaders
that may split apart in a heavy
snow, but this can be easily over
come by cutting back all but one
of them. The arbor vitae is adapted
to a warmer situation than the
hemlock, does not require as much
moisture and will withstand more
wind. 1t does not thrive in heavy
shade. The American Holly 1lex
opaca is another evergreen that
does we'll in this area. Like the hem
lock, the holly needs considerable
moisture and will thrive in either
sun or shade. Exposure to strong
winds may result in winter-burning,
although the hedges between the
Memorial Bridge and Arlington
Cemetery seem to be relatively free
from such injury. The holly is at
tractive both as to foliage and be1-
ries and its sharply pointed leaves
discourage trespass. 1t can be kept
as low as feet but does better al