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Sherman Nursery Company, Charles City, Iowa 
Hedges 
A hedge is a living fence. There is such a 
wide variety of hedging that a type can be found 
for every need. To the nurseryman the word 
“hedge” has meant any row of plant material, 
from a row of low growing perennials to a 
windbreak forty feet high. 
However, in popular landscape talk, the aver¬ 
age person when he says “hedge” is thinking 
of a single row of one variety of shrub of an 
average height. Such a hedge is usually placed 
to identify property lines, screen the vegetable 
garden and service yard, form a background 
for a rose garden or perennial garden, or to 
prevent trespassing. 
Planting and Caring for the Hedge 
In order to obtain dense growth, all hedge 
plants should be set deep enough so the lower 
branches leave the stem just below the surface 
of the ground, and they should be trimmed 
back heavily as soon as set. This will force 
the plants to branch freely and will keep them 
dense close to the ground. 
When trimming a hedge, trim so the bottom 
is wider than the top, as shown in the drawing. 
This will permit the sunlight to reach every 
branch and keep it healthy. 
ALPINE CURRANT —The best of all low grow¬ 
ing hedges. Distinctive and artistic in ap¬ 
pearance. May be trimmed to any desired 
shape and height from 12 inches to 36 inches. 
Very dense foliage, not affected by insects or 
other pests. Holds branches close to ground. 
Extremely hardy. Alpine is one of the ear¬ 
liest shrubs to break leaf in the spring and 
holds its leaves late in the fall. We recom¬ 
mend it very highly. 
ARBOR VITAE, AMERICAN (Thuya Occi- 
dentalis, or White Cedar) —This is a thrifty 
growing tree with bright green foliage, hardy 
anywhere. It is especially recommended for 
screens, hedges or windbreaks, as it responds 
well to trimming. 
BARBERRY THUNBERGII (Japanese Bar¬ 
berry)- —This variety is very unique, and 
forms a compact, round-headed shrub about 
3 to 3% feet high. Branches very thorny. 
It is greatly admired. Not a wheat rust 
carrier. One of the finest plants for clipped 
hedges or specimen plants. Leaves are very 
fine in their fall color and in winter plants 
are thickly strewn with scarlet berries. 
BOX BARBERRY- —A dwarf type of the above, 
attaining about one-half its size in its final 
growth. Leaves small and very dense, allow¬ 
ing of close clipping. Particularly useful 
for edgings around formal flower beds, mar¬ 
gins of plantings and along walks. Can easily 
be kept to 6 to 8 inches in height or diameter. 
Also in our cold region used to take the place 
of the Boxwood of the sunnier climes. 
Clipped as single specimens either round or 
pyramidal, it is very effective. 
How to Trim Hedges 
BUCKTHORN (4 to 6 feet) June-July—One 
of the best plants for ornamental hedges. 
The ovate, dark green leaves are attractive 
throughout the seasons. Flowers small and 
inconspicuous. Branches are thorny. The 
black fruits are about the size of a pea. It 
stands shearing well and is easily kept 
trimmed to any desired height and form. 
CARAGANA (Siberian Pea Tree) —A tall 
growing hedge, very adapted to semi-arid 
sections of the Northwest. Extremely hardy 
and drought-resisting. Sometimes used as a 
snow-catch or low windbreak. Has numer¬ 
ous yellow, tapering twigs and very small 
pinnate leaves of golden-green color. Small 
yellow flowers. A fine shrub for low screens. 
No plant has gained such a rapid popularity 
as the Caragana, especially through the semi- 
arid sections of the Northwest. It seems to 
thrive in dry seasons, and therefore used 
quite extensively throughout the West as a 
snow-catch or low windbreak. It is the one 
tree which is absolutely impervious to the 
hot winds or extreme droughts of Montana 
and Western Dakota. 
LILAC, PURPLE —Plant highly recommended 
by many for use as an ornamental hedge. 
PRIVET, AMOOR RIVER (North)— One of 
the finest for ornamental hedges south of 
Central Iowa. It holds its leaves until severe¬ 
ly cold weather arrives. When grown un¬ 
trimmed, it is very beautiful, as it blooms 
freely, producing a profusion of small pan¬ 
icles of white flowers followed by purplish 
berries that hang on all winter. 
PRIVET—CALIFORNIA —A vigorous variety, 
with fine habit and foliage. Not hardy north 
of Des Moines, Iowa. 
RUSSIAN OLIVE (Eleagnus Angustifolia)— 
The foliage is covered with white down, 
which gives the tree a white appearance 
when in full leaf. The blossoms are small 
and very fragrant. The berries are light 
silvery, dotted thickly with fine brown 
specks. This tree should be clipped for 
hedge purposes, as it grows to a moderate¬ 
sized tree if given its own course. 
SALIX URALENSIS— We are offering some¬ 
thing new in hedges—Salix Uralensis. This 
