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reasons. In the first place, the rhododendron foliage itself providesconsiderable shade at the base of the plant, and the nature of therhododendron plant requires shade for its successful growth. Con-sequently, these ground-cover plants should be such as are adapted tothe general conditions of woodland shade. It is inadvisable to culti-vate the soil around the base of rhododendrons and azaleas. Theseplants ought to be such that when once planted they will require nofurther cultivation other than the addition of a small amount of leafmold from year to year, to provide the necessary food supply. The last and one of the interesting types of ground cover is thatused in the development of rose gardens, to provide a mat of foliage orflowers between the rose bushes. Plants used for this purpose, suchas the tufted pansy, the common verbena, and rose moss, ought to beshallow-rooted types, with low, spreading characteristics. Thereason why a ground cover is desired in a rose garden is that during aportion of the summer months the ground is often bare. There is anargument, however, against the use of any ground cover throughout therose garden in that the constant cultivation which is the best aid tothe good development of roses cannot be done. Many of the success-ful English rose gardens are filled with these ground-cover plants.Where plants of this kind are used the roses should be well cultivatedin the early spring and should be well cultivated again in the early orlate fall, and they should be well fertilized also to insure sufficient foodin the soil to provide for both the growth of the ground-cover plantsand the roses. These plants, all of which are interesting for theirflowering habits, provide an interesting group of colour at a seasonof the year when most of the roses have passed the height of theirbloom. |
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