Evening star., 1950-10-29
Time to Plant Shrubs, Trees
Choose Carefully With Eye to Size;
Dormant Types Can Be Set in Now
By w. H. Younemon
Gorden Editor

The fall planting of dormant
nursery stock is of more impor-
tance than usual this year. The
soil Is in good condition for plant
ing now that We have had a good
rain. We should improve our
yards and gardens, making them
as attractive as possible. If the
job Is ever going to be done we
should do it now so as to benefit
from the increased value of a
property well planted. Supplies
of desirable kinds of trees and
shrubs are fairly adequate: this
may not be true a few years
hence.
Tree planting should come first
in the new garden. Trees are
the backbone or framework of
the landscaping. Select those
that are of the right size for the
space which they are to occupy.
Resistance to injury by disease
and insects should be considered,
and it is we'll to avoid those kinds
which make the growing of grass
and shrubs difficult, such as elms
and naples. Some kinds Of
trees, including birch, holly, tulip
poplar and sweet gum transplant
in the spring with less risk.
Shrub planting follows tree
planting in the order of consider
alton. Shrubs are available in
such a variety of sizes. forms
and types of growth that it is
almost impossible to more than
suggest major considerations.
Evergreen shrubs are widely used
in this area, since they serve the
year around. However, this is
hardly the time of year to move
them. 1t can be done by a skilled
nurseryman and if kept watered
and protected from sun and wind
they will most likely grow.
Size Is Important.
Dormant shrubs, such as spireas
and forsythia, are best planted
at this season, but there are hum
dreds of others that we may select
from. Buy those whose height
and spread at maturity will fill
the space for which they are in
tended. Many yards are ruined
by overgrown shrubs. When max
ing a selection do not hesitate to
ask about the size when mature.
1t Is so easy to buy small spruce.
They are really attractive. but
let's remember that they grow
to 20 to 80 feet in this area and
are not suitable for foundation
paintings.
A spirea Van Houetti is wide
spreading shrub. The spread is
oftentimes greater than its height
and for a narrow space one might
better choose the Bridal wreath
(Spirea prunifolia). or Spirea
billardi. For foundation plant
ings it is well to select those kinds
of shrubs that are dwarf-whose
height at maturity is less than
3 feet. There are considerable
number of such plants, but since
they are slow growing and it takes
considerable time for them to
reach marketable size they tend
to be more costly than rapid
and taller growers.
If the yard is shady it is de-
sirable to go to considerable
lengths to obtain shrubs that
thrive under such conditions. Sun
loving shrubs may live but they
will not thrive in shade. OF
course, there is a variation in
shade, the greater the density the
fewer the plants that will thrive
in it. On the other hand most
plants, if they can have few
hours of morning sunlight can
stand considerable shade the rest
of the day and thrive.
Soil Limits Choice.
A heavy wet soil is equally
limiting as to the number of
shrubs that will thrive in it. Dry
shady soils are another type, al
though there are few yards in this
area so afflicted, that demands
special care in selecting shrub
berry. However, there are shrubs
that are at home under such con-
j
point of getting them rather than
buy what is offered to us.
Roses are always wanted and
most every one looks at the pic
lures in making his selections, al
though out of the thousands OF
varieties and kinds offered for sale
only a few dozen can be depended
upon to do we'll in this area with