Shrubs can help provide privacy to your garden. Choose the height and type of shrub you want, making sure that your choices are suited to the planting site. Then try either of these planting methods: - Staggered rows will give you a quick privacy screen. Use stakes and string to mark a straight line (figure A), then stagger the individual planting holes on either side of the line. Mark the holes before planting to ensure even spacing.
- To plant a straight hedge, mark a line, and dig a trench along the line (two shovel widths will accommodate most plants sold in 1 gallon containers). Place the plants evenly side by side in the trench, and backfill. Straight-line planting makes pruning and watering easy.
- Give yourself a little insurance by planting a hedge made up of several kinds of plants. That way, if one dies it'll be easier to replace (figure B) -- you won't have to find one exactly like the others in the hedge.
Choosing Plants for a Hedge - Determine your goal, and buy shrubs accordingly. Evergreens offer year-round privacy, whereas deciduous shrubs create only a temporary divider.
- Consider the plants' mature size, and leave ample room between them.
- Don't forget the effort involved in maintaining a hedge. Flowering shrubs such as forsythia and lilac fill in quickly but must be pruned often. Many evergreens are easier to maintain but may grow more slowly.
- When making color choices, keep in mind that lighter flowers stand out in shady areas, and brilliant flowers work best in sunny spots.
RESOURCES :
for the American Horticultural Society's Practical Guide, Flowering Shrubs
DK Publishing - Main Office
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-213-4800
Fax: 212-213-5240
for the book A-Z of Evergreen Trees and Shrubs
Reader's Digest Association Inc.
Pleasantville, NY 10570
Phone: 800-431-1246 OR 914-
for the book Dirr's Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
Timber Press
Portland, OR 97204
Phone: 503-227-2878
for the book Taylor's Guide to Shrubs
Houghton Mifflin Co.
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-351-5000
Email: tradecustomerservice@hmco.com
Easy, Practical Pruning: Techniques for Training Trees, Shrubs, Vines, and Roses
Model: 0395815916
Author: Barbara Ellis
Houghton Mifflin Co.
Boston, MA 02116
Phone: 617-351-5000
Email: tradecustomerservice@hmco.com
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