HOME GARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 76, 11 April 1949, Page 6

HOME GARDENS

(By J. W. Geodwin, N.D.H. (N.Z.), F.R.H.S., Massey Agricultural College.) SMALL TREES AND SHRUBS Owners of small gardens are frequently faced with the problem of selecting shrubs which will not grow too large for the garden. Similarly, others may find it difficult to select suitable plants for the rock garden or perhaps the foreground of the border. The appearance of young plants, in a friend’s garden or a nursery, may be very misleading. Tall forest trtes may resemble bushy shrubs when young, and a comparison of the ultimate size is impossible unless one knows the species or variety. There are rhododendrons which grow only six to eight inches high, and whilst most pins are tall trees there are pygmy pine. The tree and shrub group is large and varied. It includes all woodystemmed plants, and these may be deciduous or evergreen. The growth of plants will vary considerably according to the particular soil conditions. Shelter and varying climatic 'Conditions will also affect the rate of growth and ultimate height. This is the reason why medium shrubs may be described as growing six to eight feet high. Occasionally, with larger trees; the height may be given as 40 to 60 or even 80 feet. With the former the difference is small and unlikely to present difficulties. With the latter it would be necessary to study the conditions and compare them with those existing in the plants’ natural habitat, or perhaps other specimens growing in your neighbourhood. Fortyfeet is the average height, sixty would be in good conditions and eighty would be in ideal conditions. We can learn a great deal by reading about plants in their native homes and in the gardens •of other countries. This knowledge, along with observations on specimens growing in our own district, will help us to understand our “living” plants. Roomto Spread When selecting plants for - the small garden the ultimate width or spread is equally important, and in some cases more so that height. I have previously mentioned the use of small trees which carry their branches high enough to permit a drive or path to pass under them. They may also overhang a lawn or low fence without taking up t:oo much room in the border. Columnear subjects are those which grow upright with very little spread to the sides. The Irish yew is an example, whilst the Lombardy poplar is a much larger one. Procumbent forms may grow only a few feet in height but may be many feet, even yards, across, e.g., juniperus procumbens.

From these remarks it will be seen that the small deciduous tree requires headroom. The small evergreen tree, is usually furnished with branches or foliage to the ground and must be given room to spread according to its habit. Quite a number of these, and some of the evergreen shruubs may be kept in bounds by trimming or, in some cases, by pruning after flowering. The columnear subject does not take up a great deal of room in proportion to its size. The procumbent types, if vigorous, may require more ground-room than tfie small garden can spare.

Dwarf shrubs are too small for general garden purposes, as they may be buried by perennial or annual plants. Dwarf ericas, lavender’ and similar types may be used for edging. Others may be used. in the bulb border to furnish the area in the off-season or to give a ground cover. The true dwarfs or miniatures are most suited to the rock garden. They are less likely to be damaged or lost and will furnish the rock garden without robbing the soil or outgrowing the position. These include the wdarf ericas, the small daphnes, cytisus, hebes and many similar plants.

Shrubs for the small garden may be classed according to the positions they prefer. The plants for the moisture-retentive soils and semishady parts of the garden include several large groups. The first are the azaleas, of which the evergreen varieties are low-growing and frequently twice as wide as they are high. The double-flowered varieties are the smallest growing. The deciduous abaleas take a long time to reach six feet in height, particularly the larger-flowered hybrids. Similarly fuchsias and hydrangeas have some varieties which may reach six feet, but the majority are smaller in stature, particularly the newer varieties. Most of the fuchsias and evergreen azaleas may be checked by heavy frosts and should have a little shelter in really cold districts particularly when young.