OVERGROWN GARDENS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21988, 24 June 1933, Page 7

OVERGROWN GARDENS

Many an old garden, cleverly designed and planted 50, 60, or more years ago. has since endured neglect, with the result that what should now be magnificent specimen trees and shrubs are maimed cripples elbowed out of symmetry and natural form by common brushwood that originally served useful purpose, but should have disappeared long ago. There are other old gardens which were never planted wisely, for there was a pci md when house owners were disposed to adopt the easiest way of getting their gardens furnished. That way was to tell a contractor to bring' enough trees and shrubs to form a belt around the plot of ground, the chief aim being to secure, as quickly as possible, a dense screen from the prying eyes of overlookers. The Victorian shrubbery was, for the most part, a dull, dreadfully monotonous affair of common laurels, privets, elders, and mock orarge, interspersed with conifers at regular intervals and backed by elms, poplars, or horscchestnuts. For years some such gardens have been spoiled by the crowd ol weak, half hare limbs of the scrub beneath the few big trees that managed to get well above the thicket and flung out their arms to the free air and daylight. _ There are few things so maddening to a real horticulturist as the sight of a man with saw, and ,axe ruthlessly and unnecessarily distorting or destroying a noble tree or a fine specimen shrub. It ig just as pitiful, however, to see what might be fine examples of arboriculture quite spoiled for lack of space and an, which should have been provided by the simple process of grubbing out a valueless neighbour, which steals ground and air space without contributing to tne beauty of the garden. Wanton destruction of trees betrays an unhealthy attitude of .mind toward the beauties of Nature, but often the sparing of overcrowding shrubs is due to a mistaken notion that the use of saw and axe nuct invariably be the act of vandalism. Nervousness on the part of a newcomer to an old, fully-stocked garden lest, by cutting down and hauling out of uees and shrubs, irreparable damage may be done may be well understood. But U should be remembered that in the original planting scheme it was, probably, the intention of the designer that certain Mudisposed subjects should occupy the whom space. When these were planted in appropriate positions, much intervening space remained bare, and this was quite reasonably filled with less important/ shrubs to be looked upon as temporary fillers. Time’s changes often mean tnat the original planter has no opportunity to maintain the care of the shrubbery right through to its attainment of lull development, and thus _ rampant shrubs are left longer than it was intended they should be. When this is realised the new owner will have no compunction in making a judicious clearance which will be to the advantage of the really important specimens. Laurels are among the most frequent offenders, and it is well to bear in mind that, even though it may be undesirable to sacrifice these entirely, laurels are shrubs that may be drastically pruned or even cut right down, for they will break into new growth from the base, and this can be kept within bounds by periodical tipping of growths with the knife. Old rhododendrons are sometimes gaunt and bare at the base, with all their foliage and flower buds pushing into the growths of neighbouring conifers. Heavy pruning may spoil old rhododendrons, or, at any rate, destroy their chance of flowering for years. If any straggling branches can be bent to touch the ground, they may be pegged down, and will probably root and make new growths to hide the old trunks. Other boughs may be bent and tied to reduce their height and fill in gaps. Yews that have become ungainly may often be restored to symmetry by bending and tying in spreading branches and doing a little clipping of tips in October or November, and again in January or early February. Some patience must be exercised in repairing the shape of a yew or other conifer that_ has been overcrowded for years, but choice specimens are valuable and worth a deal of trouble to redeem. > , . ~ Perhaps the most perplexing problems arise when a large tree has been allowed to develop too near the house. Skilful lopping of big limbs may be an actual necessity, in which case the unexperienced amateur will be well advised to entrust the work to a really qualified woodman. Damage to persons and property may prove to be the costly result of using unskilled labour for such work. Big elms, sycamores, and poplars should be removed if their branches touch guttering and their roots undermine drains and foundations. It may sound very fine .to say that a big tree is a noble sight whereev'er it may stand,' but there are places where the best of timber giants become a menace and nuisance. Elms are shallow rooting and become top-heavy, and a falling tree in a gale is not a pretty sight when it crashes on the roof of a bungalow. —Amateur Gardening.