12 
Hedge Lawn Nurseries, Inc., Roanoke, Virginia 
Deciduous Flowering Shrubs 
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I N diversity of form, variety of species, contrast of foliage and variation of blossom this group holds unusual 
interest and as a group they prove to be the finishing touches or tints of virtually all landscape plantings. 
With trees we have made our bolder outlines and shaded the grounds but to this group we come to soften the 
borders or edges of drives, walks and boundaries; to emphasize some lawn feature; to mellow rigid lines or 
sharp angles; to fill depressions; to screen objectionable views; to cover slopes or divide areas. From 
early spring, yes, even late winter, they unfold their wondrous bowers of yellow, pink, white and red flowers 
on backgrounds of purple, yellow, light and dark green foliage. The attractive fruits and berries often ad¬ 
here after autumn has spread its brilliant colors on the foliage. Proper selection as to height and careful 
choosing of varieties will insure the accomplishments mentioned and provide a source of indescribable pleas¬ 
ure to the home owner. 
There is always a tendency to overplant in the attempt of im¬ 
mediate effect. Don’t be impatient as it takes several years to grow 
mature plants. So, in 
planning your re¬ 
quirements, here is a 
general rule to apply 
-—on real good soil 
the spread of a shrub 
usually approximates 
the height, in other 
words, a five to six- 
foot shrub will just 
about spread that 
much. 
Althea. 
Dig holes and 
plant as deeply as 
they stood in the 
nursery row. 
Shake the plants so the soil will sift into the roots. S 
shrubs have great masses of fibrous roots 
that if the soil is merely thrown on top, 
they will surely die. Contact with 
root insures growth, so work the eart 
carefully through these masses. In prun 
ing take off about one-half the tops; at 
least a third. 
The pruning after development causes 
confusion. “Prune when the knife is 
sharp,” has long been a saying and no 
shrub was ever killed by pruning. 
However, one time is no better than 
another and, unless otherwise necessary, 
you will find that the best results are 
obtained by light pruning immediately 
after the blossoms fall. Heavy pruning 
at any time will cause the plants to put 
aside their blossom-forming buds and 
make wood growth and you lose or 
lessen the next season’s blossom. That 
is why light pruning is suggested an¬ 
nually or biennially. Pruning in the dor¬ 
mant stage is not injurious' and 
some plants can be so much better 
shaped when the branches are de¬ 
foliated. In all pruning do not 
bob off the tops and make hedges 
of your massed plants. This 
causes a new “break” or ugly off¬ 
set giving them a two-story effect. 
Shorten the canes to a side branch 
so that it will develop all the na¬ 
tural pendancy or other character¬ 
istics of the plant. To remove 
canes, cut close to the crowns as 
PLANTING SUGGESTIONS 
