Shrub Borders of New Woodland Plantings 



The borders of new woodland plantings should be set to shrubs 

 in a strip 15 to 20 feet wide. Many common shrubs and herbs will 

 seed in; therefore, a spacing of 5 by 5 feet or 6 by 6 feet is close enough 

 for planted species. Privet (Ligustrum amurense), shrubby lespedezas 

 (Lespedeza bicolor and L. cyrtobotrya) , and autumn elaeagnus (Elaeag- 

 nus umbellata) are exotics that appear to be useful in border plantings. 

 Native species may also be added. 



Though shrubby borders to newly planted woodlands will develop 

 in most places without planting, it is preferable to hasten the develop- 

 ment by adding desirable shrubs. To prevent crowding of the shrubs, 

 large-tree species must be removed from newly planted borders as 

 soon as they appear. 



Hedges 



A managed hedge gives a neat appearance to the farm landscape. 

 It serves as a travel lane, which permits the movement of insect- 

 pest destroyers through the fields. Hedges also provide nesting 

 sites for the familiar insectivorous birds of the farm. They contri- 

 bute to the summer and winter foods of these birds and of game and 

 provide them with needed shade and cover. (See fig. 4, A, B; oppo- 

 site page.) 



A hedge need not be allowed to go wild and spread unevenly into 

 the field or to attain sufficient height to injure crops. Trees should 

 be kept out (fig. 4, C, D), and even the shrubs that attain more than 

 moderate height may be removed or trimmed. 



Management of hedges is the same as that of woodland borders 

 except that the hedge should not be allowed to become more than a 

 few feet wide. Shrubby fence rows are a type of hedge and should be 

 developed and managed in the same way as a hedge. 



Marshes 



Marsh areas and poorly drained sinks, known by such local names 

 as pot holes, grady ponds, and wet-weather ponds, may be allowed 

 to grow up to shrubs. Borders next to fields should be kept free of 

 trees. 



Steep Slopes and Rocky Outcrops 



Steep slopes and rocky outcrops within or jutting into cultivated 

 fields are unsuited to crop or hay production. Shrubs can be used 

 to advantage on such areas, where they protect the land from erosion 

 and benefit wildlife (fig. 5, A). 



Slopes too steep for cultivation occasionally occur between bottom 

 land and first and second benches. An ample cover of shrubs on 

 these slopes will prevent damage to the land below and accomodate 

 run-off from the fields above. Trees should be confined to the central 

 part of the area. Only shrubs should be permitted to grow adjacent 

 to crops. 



Figure 4. — Hedges on farm boundaries A and contour fences B provide wildlife 

 with travel lanes and nesting sites and beautify farm landscapes. Removing 

 the trees in D released the shrubs. In C, in the places where the trees grew, 

 the shrubs are not so high or dense as in the rest of the hedge, where the shrubs 

 did not have to compete with trees. Removing the trees will permit the normal 

 development of the suppressed shrubs, and the hedge will take on a pleasing, 

 uniform appearance. 



