evergreens because they have the
wonderful but troublesome habit
of sending up numerous new
shoots from the ground each year.
Regular pruning is required to
keep them from getting out of
hand. This is work!
Hedges provide privacy and
form small, intimate outdoor rooms
but need pruning (more work).
However, with electric hedge
shears it doesn't take as much
time as in the past.

GROUND COVERS

Learn to use ground covers, live
and inert, in order to cut down on
weeding. Both also lend a neat,
finished look to the landscape,
which is why landscape architects
and professionals use ground
covers extensively.
What's a ground cover? Low
growing plants or a mulch that
covers the ground liked a carpet.
Both tend to discourage weeds;
organic covers like shredded bark
serve still another purpose, that of
preventing moisture from evapo-
rating from the soil too fast. This
cuts down on the need for fre-
quent watering.
Let's discuss the non-living
mulches first. Inert materials, such
as pebbles or gravel, are available
in different sizes. They can be
utilized in dry areas where plants
won't grow, such as under over-
hangs, but also in other low
maintenance areas and can dis-
guise small channels set up to run
water away from the house. Ar-
tificially colored stones, marble
chips, crushed brick and crushed
slate or field stone can also be
used. Crushed brick can be used
for color contrast and to create ar-
chitectural patterns and also does
well when utilized for paths or
walks.
Of the organic materials,
shredded or pebbled bark forms
particularly handsome covers
around areas close to patios or
houses where people will be view-
ing closely.
Wood chips (chopped up trees)
are often used in naturalistic set-
tings and prove especially good

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