Evening star., 1949-02-06
Plan Important
In Landscaping
Small Gardens
By W. n. Younomon

visualize the paintings when we are
looking away from the house. BY SO
doing we are likely to see the shrub
and flower borders in such a way
that the house is not a part Of the
whole. While this is not all bad, still
we should try to make our paintings
fit the house and ground as a unit
Therefore, 1t is desirable to step
figuratively speaking, to the outer
edges of the property and look to-
ward the house. BY SO doing we
can arrange the paintings so that
they "tie" the house to the rest of
the garden.
This is particularly important on
the average-sized city lot. Instead
of planning the landscape paintings
to hide the foundation and to accent
q few important features of the
building, let us first decide what use
is to be made Of each section of the
yard. Then we may fit the against
the house paintings" and other
paintings into a unit that will in
clude the house. This will enable
us to make an appropriate selection
and arrangement Of shrubs and
flowers.
Such paintings sometimes make
use Of shrub hedges that will carry
from the walk to the end of flower
border. Or, If the area is to be made
into a rose garden, few wires may
be attached to the side of the house
and climbing roses trained to them,
Perhaps there Is terrace entrance
and an outdoor living room. These
features are easily made part of
the garden plan, plan that I'M
cludes the house as an integral part
Of the whole landscaping.
Planning Comes First.
This may sound complicated to
the home owner faced with the
problem of doing something to trans
form a bare expanse of clay in the
middle of which is the home he has
recently purchased. There is the
pressing problem of a driveway, the
necessary walks, a lawn and flower
beds. Before starting it will pay to
sit down and do bit of planning.
Landscaping costs money, and
while no one will object to spend
ing a reasonable amount to make
the new home attractive, it is high
ly desirable that the end results
justify the expense. If we plan the
use of the yard first and then select
shrubs and flowers that will give
the desired results then that is
something worth working for.
However, too often the planting
materials are bought without evalu-
ating their usefulness for particu-
lar spot. That baby forest tree looked
most attractive when it was growing
in the nursery row; but how will it
look In the yard, 5, 10, or Is years
hence? Will it overshadow the
house, taking up an undue portion
of the yard? 1t is better to make
plans in the beginning and avoid
unwise expenditures.
One way to do this is to make a
plan Of the yard. A pad OF graph
paper will help to make the plan
ming of the yard easy. Try sketch
ing in various arrangements and
paintings until one that seems to
meet the desires of the family is
achieved. Don't hesitate to make a
dozen or more sketches. When the
one plan that seems to be most &C
ceptable is finally drawn, then the
location of drive, walk and flower
beds can be staked out. Before 60
ing further, however, 1t is well to
view them from every angle, an
ticipating future developments and
changing requirements as far as
possible.
The plan once on paper is a
handy guide. 1t will be useful in
appraising each shrub, each flower
bed, tree or other addition that may
be contemplated. Always ask, do
they fit into the plan. are they the
right size, shape, color, ETC.? In
stead of Just buying something for
the yard you will be buying some
thing which is going to help COM
plete q definite picture. There will
not be the problem Of where shall
plant th1s?"
Grading Is Important.
After the location of walks and
q driveway is settled, the usual first
step Is to make certain that the
grading Is as you want 1t. Too often
we rush to get trees and shrubs in
and then think about the lay-of-the
land. II a part Of the yard Is to
be raised or lowered to permit some
future development the lifting and
moving of shrubs and trees can be-
come q herculean task. Why, do
such things happen? Sometimes 1t
Is q case Of taking care Of the run
of from neighboring lots, or, 1t
might be than a sunken garden or
a raised terrace Is desired. Anyway,
If we plan for such features in the
beginning they are achieved with less
trouble and expense.
When the final grade is decided
on the next step should be the loca-
ton OF tree OF trees. 1Ile average
sized city lot will accommodate but
one large-growing tree or two me-
dunn sized growers. However, the
ultimate size Is not the only con-
sideration. The shape Of the tree
may mean much to the final effect.
An upright grower tends to push"
a low spreading type Of house into
the ground. Similarly, low round
ed type of tree makes a tall narrow
house seem taller.
With the trees selected and plant
ed, the next step might well be the
planting of the lawn because, after
all, a well-grown lawn adds great
deal to the appearance of the home.
The lawn that all desire Is one
that Is green, weed free and Wig
orous in growth, but we should not
expect to achieve such results if 1t
is planted in subsoil clay without
some preparation.
In narrow spaces, especially be-
tween the house and the property
line, it is important that the selec-
ton Of shrubs be such that they
will not soon oyergroW the area and