SPECIAL TOPICS 



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Just as the Spring growth is commencing is the time to 

 trim evergreens. This usually is in May. When trimmed 

 as shown here the density of their branches is increased 

 and in other ways their appearance improved. The stiff 

 "fresh hair-cut" aspect that is apparent right after the 

 trimming is quickly outgrown and the natural beauty 

 restored. 



About Trimming Evergreens 



All of the varieties endure pruning, and must be 

 so pruned if used in hedges, otherwise they will not 

 necessarily require it, excepting the Retinosporas, 

 whose colors are brightened and dense, compact 

 forms preserved by light shearings annually. 



The amount of trimming required depends upon 

 the motive in the trimming. If a formal specimen 

 is desired, it of course should be trimmed to one's 

 taste. If the trimming is done to preserve the shape 

 of the tree and to increase its density of foliage, about 

 one-half of the previous season's growth should be 

 clipped off. 



About Trimming Shrubbery 



Newly planted shrubbery should be cut back 

 severely at time of planting. This treatment reduces 

 the number of buds to be supplied with nourishment 

 and has a tendency to make the growth much more 

 vigorous than if it were not so pruned. Generally 

 from one-third to one-half of the top should be re- 

 moved. While this may seem to spoil the shrub, it 

 really is the making of it. The plant will be more 



Avoid the stiff, unnatural way of trimming shown on 

 the left, adopt the natural method shown on the right. 

 Then your shrubs will carry long, graceful, swaying 

 branches of bloom. Trim all Spring flowering shrubbery 

 right after blooming. Trim Summer flowering shrubbery 

 in Winter. 



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bushy and can be trained, as it grows, into the shaped 

 plant desired. 



When shrubbery is planted in the Spring this 

 trimming is perhaps most easily done before the 

 shrub is set in the ground. When planted in the 

 Autumn it is usually best to defer the trimming until 

 early the following Spring. 



Those shrubs that bloom before the middle of June 

 bear their flowers on twigs of the previous season's 

 growth. When these twigs are trimmed in Winter 

 the very branches that would have flowers the follow- 

 ing Spring are destroyed and the bloom sacrificed. 

 Trirn such shrubs, if they really need trimming, in- 

 mediately after they have finished blooming, by re- 

 moving dead twigs, cutting out short, weak ones, 

 and clipping back long, ungainly branches to pre- 

 serve the natural, graceful form of the plant. 



Shrubs like Hydrangeas and Altheas, which flower 

 after the middle of June, carry their bloom on twigs 

 of the same season's growth. This growth and the 

 number of branches that will bear flowers is increased 

 by pruning in Winter, the season of the year in which 

 all shrubs that flower after the middle of June should 

 be trimmed. 



When you water don't sprinkle to settle the dust, but 

 pour water about the roots, and only when ground is 

 dry; not necessarily daily. 



The Watering of Newly Planted 

 Nursery Stock 



If drought ensues, artificial watering should be 

 resorted to. This does not mean frequent sprink- 

 ling, but a thorough soaking once or twice a week 

 when the ground is dry. 



The maintenance of cultivated areas about each 

 of the plants stimulates growth and conserves mois- 

 ture. 



Mulching areas about the plants with grass clip- 

 pings, long manure or straw retains the moisture and 

 should be done if possible. 



