1/2 



IRISH GARDENING 



Shrubs. 



Bv J. W. P.KSANI. 



This Flaming Si;.\so\. 



FOR llie gi-eat majority of shrubs, and lierbaL-eoiis 

 plants autumn planting is best. The reason is 

 readily seen when plants are lifted at this time. 

 On examination of the roots a multitude of tine, white, 

 hair-like rootlets will be noticed growing from the 

 older roots, particularly near the points. These can be 

 seen on herbaceous plants after the shoots have died 

 down, and on trees and shrubs after the leaves have 

 fallen. These tiny rootlets become firmly attached to 

 the soil particles during autumn while the soil is yet 

 warm, and are most freely producetl during showery 

 weather, when the soil is moist. Obviously then the 

 lifting of such plants in spring, although fiom various 

 causes often unavoidable, must result in the destruction 

 of vast numbers of the tiny rootlets formed in autumn, 

 and which in spring, if not destroyed, become the real 

 workers in collecting food material for transmission 

 through the older roots to the shoots and leaves. 

 Ao-ain, aulunm planting is an advantage inasmuch as 

 there is usually much less work in other depart- 

 ments of the garden at that lime, anil the plants, 

 whether they be shrubby or herbaceous, having be- 

 come to a great extent established in the soil, are much 

 better fortified to withstand the often dry and windy 

 weather of March. The difference betweer, an autumn 

 planted shrub and one planted in spring is frequently 

 most marked during the following summer. 



Evergreens are usually dealt with in early autumn, 

 experience showing that the production of rootlets is 

 most active then, say. in .August and September. 

 However, it very often happens that spring planting 

 must be resorted to especially where a great deal of 

 preparation lias to be done. When planting on a large 

 scale is to be carried out, obviously the work of pre- 

 paration would have to be done in summer, and in very 

 few gardens can the time be spared for this, hence 

 autumn and winter are devoted to getting ready, while 

 the planting is deferred till spring. M this season the 

 order of things is reversed, deciduous shrubs being 

 planted first since they present no leaf surface to the 

 destructive influence of hot sun and drying wind Ever- 

 greens should be left till .April, when the weather 

 conditions may be expected to become kinder. In the 

 foregoing remarks it isassumed that no very great bulk 

 of soil will be moved with the shrubs. Where matters 

 can be arranged so that a considerable "ball" of soil 

 can be moved, thereby keeping most of the roots intact, 

 the time of planting is not so important. This, however, 

 entails a good deal of time and skilled labour, neither 

 of which are usually at the disposal of the amateur or 

 owner of a small garden. 



The condition of the soil is important when planting 

 is about to be undertaken. If possible operations 

 should be commenced when the soil is comfortably 

 moisl from warm autumn rains. Olteu, however, the 

 work must be got through, dry or i^oi. In this case a 

 good w.itering is an .idvanlage, giving one good soak- 



ing when the hole in which the shrub has been placed is 

 half filled with soil, and another on finislnng off. In all 

 cases the soil should be well worked in among the roots 

 and made quite firm by treading or otherwise. 



If a shrubbery large or small is being dealt with the 

 site should be trenched two feet deep, working in new 

 soil, decayed manure, or garden refuse as the work 

 proceeds, that is if the staple soil is poor, which can 

 only be determined on the spot, and by noting the 

 condition of any vegetation in the vicinity. 



Where isolated specimens are to be planted holes 

 must be opened sufficiently large to take the plants 

 comfortably, allowing space for the roots to extend, 

 and have the soil well worked through them. They 

 should be broken up eighteen inches to two feet deep, 

 according to the quality of the sub-soil, but nine inches 

 to .'i foot will be deep enough to recei\e the mass oi' 

 roots. 



An important point is the depth to which the roots 

 should be covered. Roots, like the leaves and stems, 

 i-equire air. though in less proportion; consequently, if 

 buried too deepl}", growth is i-etarded and quicklv 

 causes a sicklv. unhealthy appearance. Some subjects, 

 such as Rhododendrons and kindred genera, Kio not 

 thrive at all if the roots are more than an inch or so 

 below the surface of the soil. This, however, does not 

 prevent them being mulched several inches thick with 

 loose, half decayed leaves, through which air can 

 percolate freely. In fact there is no better stimulant 

 for Rhododendrons and other shrubs which show signs 

 o^ starvation than a good mulch of leaves put on In 

 spring. By autumn these will have decayed to an inch 

 or so in depth, but that inch will be a mass of root 

 fibres, and the plants will show their appreciation by 

 increased growth and the dark green, healthy appear- 

 ance of the foliage. .Mulching is important in the case 

 of spring-planted shrubs, since, for reasons given 

 • ibove, the plants have a greater struggle to become 

 established. .A good mulch of leaves or decayed 

 manure keeps the soil naturally moist and prevents 

 cracking of the surface and consequent destruction oi 

 valuable roots. If the topmost roots are covered by 

 a couple of inches of soil, e.xcept in the case of Rhodo- 

 dendrons and their allies, and this is followed by a 

 comfortable mulch, success is praclicall)- assured, even 

 although spring planting may have been necessary. 

 In the case o( rare or doubtfully-hardy shrubs spring 

 planting may be considered safest, since whatever 

 merit there may be, and certainly is, in most cases in 

 autumn planting, yet it is useless if the plants are killed 

 outright by a hard winter. In this case spring plaming 

 and careful after-treatment gives the choice and tender 

 plant a chance to become established and hardened, 

 so as to Ih'Ium- withstand the rigours of winter than if 

 planted in autumn, and almost immedialely called upon 

 to face severe weather without previous preparation by 

 exposure to the sun and air ofsummer. 



It is not necessary now to go into the c|uesilon ol 

 what to plant, since in the previous issues for this and 

 several years b.ick copious lists have been given 

 nearly every month, and a visit to a good g.ardeii or 

 nursery where shrubs ai-e wi-li grown will sa\ e tinu' and 

 trouble. 



