PLANTS FOR HEDGES 123 



To these rules it might be added that, while a single row of plants is 

 often desirable, it does not take care of the contingency that arises 

 when one or more plants die. It is consequently preferable to plant 

 two or more staggered rows of plants which thus do not require to be 

 planted so closely and for that reason are more likely to survive a long 

 while and retain their lower branches. It is possible to gain a good 

 ornamental effect also by combining evergreen trees with harmonious 

 deciduous ones, such as hemlock or spruce with birches and maples. 

 This type of planting is often called a "shelter belt" and when a con- 

 siderable number of evergreen trees are used a pleasing effect is secured 

 the year round, and large numbers of birds will be found to be attracted 

 and held, not only through the nesting season but sometimes all the year. 



Still another use for hedges is that of providing privacy. Most of the 

 shrubs used in this group should be of the tall types, exceeding five 

 feet in height, and should have a compact, heavy foliage. The 

 natural growth of the shrubs should be close and they should hold their 

 foHage during the late summer and early fall. Some of the shrubs 

 which are best adapted for this purpose are the rose of Sharon, common 

 buckthorn, and the European beech, the foliage of which does not 

 develop until the latter part of the spring. 



It is often desirable to select plants which will serve as hedges in the 

 bleak exposures of lake fronts and ocean shores, and also in the Cana- 

 dian northwest. These plants should be hardy under all severe cli- 

 matic conditions of the northeast and the Canadian northwest. Most 

 of the plants which have been suggested for this group have been 

 found growing normally under the most severe conditions of climate 

 and exposure. 



LIST OF PLANTS FOR HEDGES 



A. Barriers. This group consists of types of plants which are 

 compact in their habit of growth and some of which are thorny. They 

 are excellent as barriers for two reasons: either because of their 

 thorny character or because of their extremely close habit of growth. 

 The first list (a) contains plants which hold their leaves during the 

 winter months, and the second list (b) contains plants which do not 

 hold their leaves during the winter months. 



a. Holding leaves during winter: 



Chamaecyparis pisifera plumosa Fagus sylvatica 



Plume-like Cypress European Beech 



