Decorative Borders 
16 
Combine the Utility of Hedges with the Beauty of Gardens 
The briefest study of Border Planting 
shows that it is simply a way of building 
the walls of the outdoor home. It differs 
from a hedge only in height and design; 
the purpose is still to enclose the home 
space, to shut out troubling influences, 
and to enhance the beauty of what is 
within. 
A hedge does this, within limited 
height, with trim regularity; the border 
planting, as tall as you design it, does 
the same thing in a naturalistic fashion; 
- in bold lovely curves and colors. It 
gives you a sheltered, secluded feeling, 
safe from winds, from dust, from strangers’ 
eyes. 
And the border planting also gives an 
added grace, a heightened beauty to every 
single aspect of your outdoor life. The 
pretty gowns of women, the charming 
games of children, are still more charming 
against such an evergreen background. 
Tennis, tea, talk, all gain a zest from the 
becoming frame to their picture. Your 
garden and your lawn are twice lovely 
with such a background. 
Yes, a good border planting is a very 
beautiful finish for one’s grounds. And it 
is something you may have with ease and 
at no exorbitant cost. 
Evergreens are the mainstay of most 
borders because of their sheltering mass, 
their permanence, and their all-year-round 
beauty. To the evergreens are added, at 
the taste of the designer, flowering and 
bright barked trees and shrubs for con¬ 
trast and foreground. 
A border planting may vary in depth 
from two rows at the narrowest part to 
four or five at the widest. But when we 
say “rows” we do not mean regular lines; 
in all naturalistic planting one aims at a 
scattered effect. The curves of the border 
planting are a matter of topography and 
For profusion of colorful beauty from 
spring until late fall plant perennials 
in front of your evergreen borders. 
They glow with added charm against 
an evergreen background. See 
descriptions of Perennials on pages 
50 to 57. 
of taste. Indeed, there is scope for great 
freedom and individuality in planting a 
border. In general, however, the ever¬ 
greens should be set not closer than three 
and not further than eight feet apart. 
Shrubs are usually set closer together. 
Sometimes the border or a portion of it 
is designed to furnish a background for 
the garden, the lawn or some other por¬ 
tion of the home picture. White Pine and 
Red Pine are among the best simple back¬ 
grounds. The Spruces and Firs are verv 
fine. And a blended background is the 
most varied and interesting of all. Such 
a blended background must show the tall, 
fast-growing species at the back, the 
dense-growing species in the middle, and 
the low species in front. 
The following suggestions are intended 
to help you select the right material for 
your border. Larger or smaller sizes mav 
be used to fit your needs and the state of 
your pocketbook. If you hesitate to choose 
for yourself from the materials offered, 
drive out to Little Tree Farms on Pleasant 
Street, Route 30, Framingham Centre, and 
talk with one of our landscape men. 
Here a border divides a lawn f rom a vacant lot. Note the deep "bays" that add much to the artistic effect. I his border was designed, furnished and 
planted by Little Tree Farms. 
Prices on Evergreens are f.o.b. our nursery. Packing for rail shipment extra, at cost. 
