Historical gardening article from April 1976; period plant recommendations and disease claims are preserved, not offered as current advice.
One of our Historic District’s great assets is the abundance of mature shade trees. In the 20’s and early 30’s, city trees had a very rough time surviving in the heavy smoke and sulphur fumes that resulted from the use of soft coal for heat and industry. The most common and hardiest street trees were Elm, Sycamore, some Oaks, soft Maples and Ailanthus (Tree of Heaven or Brooklyn Tree).
Times have changed, as have the types of pollution and diseases that affect our trees. Most of the older Elms have died due to Dutch Elm disease; however, the remaining Elms may be spared by the prompt removal of any infected or dying Elm to halt the spread of the disease. The other varieties of street trees have survived reasonably well and have been joined by many pollution-resistant strains of shade trees. Hardy Cypress is appearing more frequently but needs careful culture and a regular watering schedule to get it established. The unique Ginkgo with its fan shaped leaves has proven its ability to resist any disease. Only the male of this species should be selected for use near the home, as the female bears an unpleasant smelling fruit.
Several decorative and unusual varieties of smaller trees are being used effectively in landscaping design – blossoming Crabapples, Red Bud, Cherry and Dogwood welcome Spring with a burst of color along parkways and residential streets. A colorful harvest of leaves might include multi-colored Sweetgum, flaming apricot hues of Hard or Sugar Maple, golden-yellow Ginkgo and purple leaf Plum and Maple trees while the golden Larch needles just disappear in the grass. Evergreens such as Pines, Holly and the Magnolia Grandiflora (which requires some protection in Winter) add green areas to an otherwise drab Winter season.
Shrubs
When our area was developed, the favorite hardy shrubs were Privet Hedges, Spirea Vanhouttei, Deutzia, Snowball, the upright Honeysuckle bush. Viburnum, Forsythia, Althea, Lilac and Hydrangeas. They continue as favorite choices even now, as reliable and easy-tocare-for perennials. Newer and improved varieties of these basic selections are available. More recent additions to the list of shrubs include evergreens as Yew, Holly, Junipers and Mahonia.
Today, the challenge of caring for the unusual-to-exotic shrub is taken in stride. Special beds are prepared to pamper hardy varieties of vivid blooming Azaleas and Rhododendrons. Hardy varieties of Bamboo have to be controlled with a root retaining wall if you don’t want them scampering away across the lawn in a few years, as they spread like some grasses via a root runner system.
A word of caution to new home owners: Don’t indiscriminately pull out plants unless you’re positive they are weeds. Also, don’t dig up garden plots during the first year of ownership as you may disturb or kill some very desirable, but dormant, bulbs and perennial plants such as Peonies. Do label shrubs and make a map of your yard with the location of all perennials such as Peonies, bulbs etc. and note the shaded areas in Spring, Summer and Fall as this information will help you determine what types of plants may be selected for these areas. Plan your landscaping design from the map, taking advantage of existing and desirable plants you want to retain and note location and variety of plants you wish to add. Then grab your shovel and proceed to follow your plans.
Flowers & Vegetables The climbing and tea Roses, Ivy, Ferns, bulbs or tubers such as Gladiolus, Cannas, Iris, Dahlias and a great variety of annuals such as Zinnias, Marigolds and Snapdragons from seed have not lost any of their popularity over the years. However, there have been many improvements through breeding for size, color, bloom and disease resistance.
Another major change_ has occurred in the garden’s overall plan – no longer only formal and symmetric, it is frequently asymmetric in design with the accent on informality. Colorful annual beds of Petunias may border a patio and barbeque pit or plots of Zinnias may be placed adjacent to a modern porch platform.
Even areas of the garden can be accented with elevated planters or with arranged collections of house plants vacationing in a semi-shaded area of the yard. Macrame planters hang from lower tree branches during the summer and return indoors to a sunny window for the Winter. An ever-increasing range of exotic house plants from all over the world find their way to overflowing window sills and have even taken over many enclosed porches as greenhouses during the Winter. These same plants can decorate your yard or porch when pleasantly displayed.
Shaded garden areas may be planted with Vinca or Ivy around cover, perennial selections such as Ferns, Hosta, Columbine or Azaleas and annuals such as vivid blooming Impatiens (Sultana).
Herbs and Vegetables are enjoying a resurgence in many city gardens and add a fresh gourmet touch to every meal – nothing tastes as delightful as fresh Asparagus from a carefully nurtured permanent bed or homegrown plump juicy Tomatoes and a crisp Lettuce salad garnished with a fresh herb dressing, only minutes from garden to table.
For limited garden space, try Lettuce edging around flower beds, grow Tomatoes in pots on the patio or porch and Pole Beans along the fence in semishaded areas.
Originally published in The Paper, April 1976.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1976_04.pdf, printed page(s) 8; PDF page(s) 8.
