SHRUBS FOR SHADY SITUATIONS
The list of procumbent or carpeting shrubs that have been found to
succeed when planted beneath the shade and drip of forest trees is by
no means a long one, and as the clothing of such bare places is often
a point of the greatest importance, particularly in park or ornamental
grounds, the following notes may prove useful. By careful manipulation
much may be done to carpet such places with suitable shrubs, but the
task in some instances is by no means an easy one, and must be set
about in a common-sense and practical way. Evidently deciduous trees
have an advantage over evergreen kinds in that with the extra light and
greater amount of surface dampness undergrowth succeeds better beneath
their shade.
The =common Ivy= is probably the best evergreen carpet for shade
planting with which we are acquainted. It runs about and roots freely,
soon covering a large space of ground with its neat, deep-green
foliage. Propagation is brought about either by means of cuttings or
suckers, and is simple and inexpensive.
The =Periwinkles= (_Vinca major_ and _V. minor_) are well adapted for
planting beneath our larger trees, where, unless the shade is very
dense, they succeed admirably, soon forming large breadths of evergreen
carpet and producing their deep blue flowers in abundance. They are
readily increased by layering or subdivision, and when once established
soon spread about unheeded.
The =St. John’s Wort= (_Hypericum calycinum_) can confidently be
recommended for planting as a ground covering beneath our larger trees.
It increases readily, and if occasionally cut over, shoots out all
the more freely and thickly. For the showy yellow flowers it is also a
desirable shrubby plant.
The =Mezereon= and =Spurge Laurel= (_Daphne Mezereum_ and _D.
Laureola_) are excellent, medium-sized shrubs for planting in shady
positions, where they not only succeed well, but flower freely. They
are both increased by layering.
=Euonymus Radicans Variegata= is a useful, procumbent shrub for
planting in the shade, and succeeds well in smoky localities.
The =Butcher’s Broom= (_Ruscus aculeatus_) grows with great freedom
beneath the densest shade of our forest trees, and being an evergreen
is to be recommended for such situations.
=Gaultheria Shallon= and =G. Procumbens= may also be recommended for
planting where the shade is not too dense; they both flower and fruit
freely, and are of neat procumbent growth.
Amongst taller growing subjects for planting in the shade, mention
may be made of the holly and yew, both of which thrive beneath
the shade and drip of forest trees and where they often assume a
dwarf, procumbent habit of growth. Two at least of the recent shrubs
introduced from China have just claims to be included in the list
of suitable species for planting in the shade. These are _Sarcoccos
humile_ and _S. ruscifolia_. They are of particularly neat growth, with
persistent leaves and bear yellowish-white flowers.
The =Common Ling= or =Heather=, =Blackberry=, and =Andromeda Catesbœi=
all succeed well in the shade of trees, particularly if the soil be
inclined to peat.
It frequently happens that the soil beneath large trees is thoroughly
exhausted, and that the small, fibrous rootlets are so abundant as
to render planting almost impossible. Under such conditions it is
advisable to first gently loosen the soil, without disturbing the
larger roots, and add a top-dressing of, say, three or four inches of
good friable loam. This, thoroughly incorporated with the existing
soil, will give the young plants a start and allow of their becoming
strong and established before the encroaching roots rob the ground of
its nourishment.