

CASHMAN NURSERIES, INC., 
OWATONNA, MINNESOTA 

Landscape Department 
The aim of landscape design is to produce the 
maximum of beauty consistent with utility. To 
attain this result, it is usually best to secure the 
services of an experienced landscape architect, 
whose assistance will not only serve to avoid er- 
rors but will also save expense and time. It is 
not necessary to carry out the complete plan at 
one time, but before beginning, in all cases, there 
should be a plan, the ultimate development of 
which is to be the aim of all work done on the 
property. We maintain a landscape service de- 
partment which will gladly aid you in every way 
and will draw plans if you will furnish us with 
a complete sketch of the property, drawn to scale, 
showing all measurements, location of buildings, 
walks, drives, trees and shrubbery already plant- 
ed, together with photographs of the grounds and 
buildings. This service is entirely free where we 
furnish the stock for the planting and our cus- 
tomers are invited to avail themselves of it at any 
time. In case you wish to make a plan for your- 
self, the following suggestions may prove of 
value. 
There are two types of gardens, the formal and 
the informal, neither of which need be antagonis- 
tic to the other. In fact, in large developments, 
both types are commonly used with harmonious 
results. A general rule to follow is that the 
grounds immediately surrounding a house are us- 
ually best developed formally, merging into in- 
formal arrangements farther away and then into 
the naturalistic if there is sufficient area. Of 
course this depends upon the type of building: 
for instance, Italian, French, Spanish and, to a 
less extent ,English manor-houses require formal 
treatment, while the rambling type of building, 
such as the English cottage, is more happily 
treated in an informal manner. . 
The location of buildings is an important con- 
sideration, for each one must be located so as 
best to serve its purpose and all mustibe related 

to each other so as to create a unit. Wherever 
possible, the house should be set far enough back 
from the street or road to provide a setting for 
it and should be placed on a slight elevation, par- 
tially to provide drainage and partially to pre- 
sent it most effectively, for which purpose it is 
often possible to use terraces to good advantage. 
To afford privacy the house may be screened 
from the street, but this should be done in such 
a manner that while shutting out the view of the 
public, it does- not create a feeling of imprison- 
ment to those within. The foundation planting 
requires careful study so as to accent the best 
qualities of the building and hide or draw the at- 
tention from the bad features, if there are any, 
while, at the same time making the structure ap- 
pear to be a part of the landscape. As a general 
rule, and particularly in the case of small houses, 
avoid large plants which will dwarf the house or 
cover windows. Unless the foundation is un- 
pleasant to the sight, do not hide all of it but al- 
low enough to show to tie the building to the 
ground. A judicious use of evergreens will cre- 
ate year-around beauty, bit avoid the use of too 
many stiff and regular shapes or trees that will 
eventually grow too large. Vines are best used 
sparingly for they tend to give an impression of 
weakness to the house if they cover too much of 
the wall surface. Avoid trees near the building 
unless they serve a definite purpose, for they will 
shut off the air and sunlight. 
Paths and drives should, first of all, be utili- 
tarian: they must provide a safe, easy and reason- 
ably rapid means of communication. Next the 
pictures along the way should be considered, the 
grouping of trees, shrubs and possibly perennials. 
Attempt to create points of interest, particularly 
at the end of walks or drives or at turns. When- 
ever possible follow the contours of the ground 
to provide easy transportation. Always avoid 
meaningless curves or sharp turns and, unless 







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Example of Sketch Showing Measurements and Indications Necessary for Plot Development by Our Landscape Department. 
Page Four 
