30 THE COMPLETE GARDEN 



large overgrown shrubs. Many people feel that an immediate effect is 

 desirable and therefore the larger the shrubs that are used the more 

 quickly the effect will be produced. The author has had considerable 

 experience with both types of plantings. The nursery shrub will re- 

 quire anywhere from two to four years under normal spacing before 

 it will develop sufficiently to produce the desired effect in the mass 

 planting. On the other hand, the large, overgrown shrub which will 

 produce an immediate effect generally requires severe pruning and 

 cutting back in order to produce any growth which will fill the plant 

 at the bottom and the top. This renovating process requires from two 

 to three years. Therefore at the end of this period the general effect 

 of the plantation is about the same whether large, overgrown shrubs 

 are used or whether the smaller nursery specimens are used. 



The correct method to adopt in general planting work is to allow 

 sufficient space between plants for the normal development of each. 

 Planting too close, although providing a more finished appearance 

 during the first one or two seasons, is far more undesirable than liberal 

 spacing. It is not practicable to lay down a well-defined rule for 

 spacing plants. The planter can best be guided by the knowledge 

 that he is seeking an immediate mass effect of foliage, requiring close 

 spacing, or that he will wait during a proper period before expecting 

 to see the plantation well developed. See list re "Spacing of Plants" 

 which follows. 



SPACING OF PLANTS 



THE FOLLOWING IS A TABLE OF DISTANCES AS A GUIDE IN TRANSPLANTING 



