Should you use manure, be careful not to let it touch roots of plants. The problems of color should be kept in mind when planning flower borders and beds, so that while there is sufficient contrast in texture and color of flowers, there is at same time an attractive blending.

A plan for a bed of annuals, for example, might be designed to stress zinnias, with contrast provided by such softer flowers as chrysanthemum, scabiosa, nasturtium, cosmos and candytuft. Siting of flower bed is important. Ideally, it should be close to house, facing south or south west.

Any location that gets good sun, however, will produce well. The border should be located away from trees or shrubs. These plants absorb more than their share of moisture and nutrients from soil and, because of their strength, can overpower more delicate flowering plants.

A good background such as a stone wall or a fence adds to beauty of a flower bed or border, and evergreen shrubs make a pleasing backdrop. Edgings need not be restricted, as they so often are, to one color (e.g., white of alyssum).

Coral bells, whose lovely foliage makes a handsome edge, are an all-season flowering plant, and they provide unusual cut flowers. Baby pansies, violas, portulaca, ageratum, dwarf double nasturtium and dwarf marigolds are multi-colored flowers.

Hedge shrubs must be planted in same manner as any other shrub, with soil preparation all-important to continued life of plant. The main consideration here is spacing and planning of plants in relationship to each other.

One way to get a straight hedge is to dig a trench length of your intended hedge, with one side straight and your plants set against this straight wall. The depth of plant depends on what you are planting, but privet may be set 3 inches deeper than it was before being transplanted.

How far apart hedge shrubs are set again depends on what shrub it is, as some hedging materials are spreading and bushy. Privet is usually set 1 foot apart; barberry, 9 inches to 1 foot; larger shrubs, 2 to 4 feet.

The way hedges are trimmed has much to do with their health. While a flat top is neat looking, it is easily damaged by snow and ice accumulating on top. A rounded top is better, therefore, for northern winters. And hedges should be trimmed to slop outward from top to bottom so that leaves on bottom also get sun.