FALL IS an excellent time
to plant evergreens, a
diverse group of trees and
shrubs with year-round ap-
peal. Evergreens can serve
as privacy screens, hedges,
foundation plantings or
alone to showcase especially
beautiful specimens — and
they’re easy to care for.
Garden centres now are ful-
ly stocked to meet the
demand.

There are two basic classes of
evergreens. Narrow-leaf types,
such as spruce and juniper. have
needle-like foliage in colors rang-
ing from deep green to golden
yellow to bright blue. Broad-leaf
types have spectacular flowers to
go along with handsome leaves in
various shapes and sizes. Some
broad-leaf evergreens, like Ameri-
can and English holly, feature
- colorful berries during fall and
winter,

Narrow-leaf’ evergreens can be

planted right up until the ground
freezes, Broad-leaf kinds are best
planted six to eight weeks prior to
first killing frosts.
__ Both classes can be divided into
five categories that are suggestive
for their landscape use: large
trees, small trees/large shrubs,
Medium-size shrubs and ground
covers.

Large trees, such as the blue

HOME & GARDEN
Autumn perfect time to plant evergreens

Atlas cedar and southern
Magnolia, are usually planted
singly so that their beauty and size
dominate a portion of the land-
scape.

Small trees and large shrubs, 10
to 20 feet tall, are often used to
create privacy, block wind and
screen unpleasant views and noise.
Chinese juniper and Japanese
black pine are good choices in
cold climates, Italian cypress and
cherry laurel in milder regions.

Most useful of ali are medium-
size shrubs. These attain an
ultimate height of eight to 10 feet.
Some make for attractive hedges
and screens. Others can be planted
along the base of a home to con-
ceal unsightly foundations. Many
of these evergreens also make fine
additions to garden beds and
borders. Rhododendron, Japanese
holly and yew are among the me-
dium-size shrubs that flourish in
various parts of the country.

Small shrubs under six fe-t tall
are frequently planted in front of
taller evergreens to create a
cascading effect. Cotoneaster and
spreading juniper work particular-
ly well. For an attractive low
hedge, consider evergreen
euonymus or wintergreen
barberry.

Evergreen ground covers are in-

‘valuable where lawn grass per-

forms poorly, such as under trees
or on steep slopes. Bearberry is a
broad-leaf creeper that does well
in both cold and moderate
climates, as does Wilson carpet

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juniper, a narrow-leaf evergreen.

Regardless of variety of land-
scape function, the key to having
beautiful evergreens is proper
planting. Given a good start,
evergreens will continue to
beautify the home landscape 12
months a year. Here are some tips
to help ensure success.

Dig a hole two ito three times
the width of the root ball and just
as deep. The planting hele should
have sloping sides. Use a garden
fork to loosen the soil at the bot-
tom of the hole for good drainage
and break up the sides to allow
for easier root penetration. On a
tarp, break up clumps of dug-out
earth, remove rocks and other
debris, and mix in one part peat
with two parts soil to increase ab-
sorption and air circulation, which
is vital to the expanding root
system. Encourage roots to stretch
anu grow laterally, away from the
plaxt, by preparing the top six in-
ctes of soil in a radius of three to
six feet around the planting hole
— break up the soil and amend it
with a two-inch layer of peat.

Peat has the advantage of im-
proving all kinds of garden earth.
It makes heavy clay soil more
vorous and light sandy soil more
water-retentive. In addition, peat
moss has a reliably acidic pH,
perfect for hollies, azaleas, pines
and other popular evergreens.

Evergreens come either in con-
tainers or with their root balls
wrapped in burlap. Container
plants must, of course, be remov-

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ed from their pots before being set
in place. If roots tightly encase the
potting soil, loasen them or cut
several slits through them directly
into the soil to encourage growth
of new roots.

Balled-and-burlapped plants can
be placed in the hole as is. Simply
fold back the top of the burlap
wrapping once the plant is firmly
in position.

After filling the hole halfway
with more of the amended soil,

water thoroughly. Finish filling in
and then create a_ saucer-like
depression around the plant, 18”
to 24’? across, to help hold in
water. Soak again. Staking trees
ensures they will grow straight.

To learn more about evergreens,
pay a visit to your loca! garden
centre. There you will find the
plant varieties that do best in your
area, along with peat moss and
other essential supplies.

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