SHELTER FOR GARDENS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19660, 11 June 1927, Page 5 (Supplement)

SHELTER FOR GARDENS.

VALUE OF HEDGES, In connection with gardens and grounds, hedges are both useful and ornamental and may be planted for various purposes: To form the boundary fence, to provide shelter from the winds, for screens, for dividing one part of the garden from another, as well as adding to the privacy of the grounds. . Various trees and shrubs are available for the purpose of hedges according to the soil, situation, or special requirements for which the hedge is intended. These considerations must be taken into account in deciding the varieties to plant. Mixed hedges composed of different shrubs, climbing ■ and others, suitable roses, honeysuckles, etc., planted here and there indiscriminately throughout the hedgerow have a pleasing effect. Anything that is likely to take possession to tho detriment of the other plants must be avoided. Treating first with permanent break-wind hedges, the following varieties are specially adapted. SHELTER HEDGES. Cupressus macrocarpa forms an invaluable shelter or break-wind hedge ot most ornamental appearance; stands clipping to any form required; is close-growing and very hardy; succeeds in almost any soil or situation; grows well near the sea. Pinus insignis and pinus muricata are most useful shelter trees for tho country and with attention to an occasional side pruning and to topping when they have attained the required height will grow in any soil and and in the most exposed positions. Acmena Floribunda is an evergreen tree with handsome, glossy-green foliage; has become a general favourite not only as a. break-wind hedge but as an ornamental tree in and around our city and suburbs; unfortunately, it will not succeed where heavy frosts occur; is of permanent character and symmetrical form. Pittosporum crassifolium grows to a considerable atec, clips well, forms a dense hedge; grows well near the sea, and is very hardy. Ligustrum sinensis (the Chinese privet) is of rapid growth, bears clipping well, succeeds in almost any soil, and makes a beautiful, ornamental, evergreen hedge and a useful breakwind. BAMBOO HEDGES. Bambusa vulgaris, when belter known, is a bamboo that will become popular. It is of upright habit, attains a great height, does not sucker but stools out, and, when planted about 3ft. apart, in time becomes a close breakwind impervious to cattle, dogs and boys; does not harbour insects, and as an orchard hedge has no equal; it needs no clipping, but requires fairly good soil; stands the strongest winds. Arundinaria Japonica, syn. inetake, is another species of the bamboo family. For an ornamental shelter hedges and as a screen for shutting-out unsightly objects it is highly valuable; unsuitable for spa II gardens, owing to its propensity for suckering. It is of dense growth and provides suitable garden stakes of various sizes. OTHER SHELTER HEDGES. Cupressus Lawsoniana and C. Knightiana make very ornamental, close-grow-ing shelter hedges. They require to be properly trimmed annually. Elregnus Japonica, owing to its great hardiness, vigorous growth and adaptability to poor soils, is adapted for country districts. African box thorn, common and seedless barberry, also hakea saligna, and the little-known oxylobium are. all desirable hardy hedge or shelter plants. Albizzia tophauta, a species of acacia of very rapid growth and ornamental foliage, is a most useful temporary shelter tree. The black and silver wattles, once considered indispensable shelter trees, are now out of favour on account of their susceptibility to the fungus galls that disfigure and impair the vitality of the trees. *** ORNAMENTAL GARDEN HEDGES. Tecoma capensis is an extremely beautiful ornamental hedge, with dark, glossy, green foliage, and in the autumn is enlivened with a profusion of showy spikes of brilliant orange-scarlet blossoms; clips well and is of dense growth; is often trimmed too frequently; the most popular of our local garden hedge plants; will not succeed where heavy frosts occur. Abelia floribunda is an exceedingly ornamental, compact-growing and profuseflowering evergreen hlrdy hedge plant; should not be trimmed until after the plants have completed their flowering; a most valuable addition and change from the ordinary, hedga plants*