SHRUBS FOR DRY BANKS

Evening Star, Issue 22572, 13 February 1937, Page 24

SHRUBS FOR DRY BANKS

The furnishing of dry banks of soil, fully exposed to the sun, is a common problem. If these are planted with suitable shrubs they can be converted into a feature .of permanent interest, and will require a minimum of time and labour spent on them in upkeep. Before putting in the shrubs the soil must be dug well, then made firm,, and if a few rocks can be placed here and there to break the_ slope_ and to assist in holding the soil in position they will improve the appearance of the bank. Hclianthemums and cistus, or rock rose, are ideal for planting on sunny banks, as they are naturally sun-lovers. Both are available in many lovely varieties; they are evergreen and flower profusely in early summer. . The great of brooms (Cytisus and Genista) provides many brightlyflowered low-growing shrubs, in addition to the richly-coloured varieties of the common broom (Cytisus scopanus). All these will flourish on a dry, sunny bank. , „ .. Of the dwarf, prostrate brooms, Cytisus Ardonii (yellow), decumbens (yellow), hirsutus (buff), and kewensis (cream) are specially recommended. The Spanish' broom (Genista hispanica) will form a dense spiny mound smothered in spring with golden-yellow flowers. This, incidentally, grows well on chalky soil. The Dyer’s greenwood (Genista tinctoria) is also a fine dry bank plant. , . , Plants closely allied to the brooms, also suitable for this purpose, are Coronilla Emerus, a dwarf spreading bush that bears yellow, brown-tinted flowers from May to October; and Donncuim hirsutum, a small bush with silvery clover leaves and white, pink-tinted pea flowers from June till September. All are familiar with the scarletfruited Cotoneaster horizontahs, and equally valuable for furnishing banks is the low-growing, small-leaved C. microphylla, or its even smaller-leaved variety thymifolia. Lavender is one of the best shrubs for the purpose, and several of the dwarf evergreen veronicas can also be recommended. Two of the best of the latter are pimeleoides and pmguifoha, with waxy-grey leaves and lavender flowers. —‘ Popular Gardening, • London,