Evergreen trees and shrubs are more expensive in general than deciduous trees (trees that drop their leaves in winter). But they are worth their cost because of their year-round beauty, hardiness and longevity, and go very well with garden statuary. Evergreens range from the broadleaved shrubs like rhododendron and laurel to the tall-needled cone-bearing pines and stately spruces. The giant spruces and firs are most effective as windscreens.

The spreading evergreen shrubs are widely used not only because of their attractiveness but also because they can be shaped and trimmed and do well in the shade (such as for foundation planting).

Pine is the most commonly known of the evergreens. White pine is noted for its long, soft, light silvery-green needles and rapid attainment of its 60 to 80-foot maturity. Red pine, as well as white pine, is splendid for backgrounds and windbreaks.

Ponderosa pine, a broad, compact tree, is used for protection and ornamental screens. Austrian pine (black pine) with its rich, green color and spreading branches has great favor in the Midwest. Globe mugho pine is a small, rounded tree for ornamental planting. Norway spruce is probably the most widely planted evergreen to be used as a windbreak. It is quick growing and hardy and with its green needles it is compact and shaped like a pyramid.

Black Hills spruce is also a popularly planted evergreen that is drought-resistant. A slow grower, it can remain in close quarters for many years. White spruce has short, thick, light blue-green needles. It matures at 60 to 70 feet and is good for landscaping and screens. Colorado blue spruce is a good specimen tree and hardy, too, but it suffers in heat and drought. Of the cedars, red cedar is a fine ornamental evergreen for hedges and windbreaks.

It withstands dry weather and the thick green foliage has a bronze in winter. Douglas fir is the best fir for windbreaks and screening. Hardy, healthy, drought-resisting, it grows quickly and compactly, and its lofty pyramid makes a good lawn specimen. Balsam fir, the Christmas tree, is noted for its fragrance and lustrous foliage. White fir, a specimen, has an attractive silvery color. Arbor vitae, like cedar, furnishes the flat evergreen branch that can cling without aid to concrete, brick, and stone.

Include Chinese trumpet creeper, English ivy, Lowe ivy and Virginia creeper, sometimes called woodbine or American ivy. Virginia creeper is the ivy that twines around trees and covers the ground in woodlands. While it does make good building cover, it does become quite heavy and required regular thinning as it grows older. Virginia creeper is also very effective in providing shade. Other shade producing vines include Dutchman's pipe and silver vine.

Many vines which are not self- supporting can be trellis-trained, and can add color and beauty to a house. Among the more showy varieties are:

• Wisteria, with its clusters of white to purple blossoms
• Clematis, which has a large flower appearing from early summer until fall
• Trumpet creeper, with its tropical-looking clusters of big scarlet and orange flowers during late summer

There is also trumpet honeysuckle, which has clusters of red and yellow perfumed flowers; and climbing hydrangea, with its large white clusters. Some of the annual vines, such as the hyacinth bean which grows on strings and has many flowers, or the scarlet runner bean which has showy flowers, are good for shade, too.

For covering banks and ground where you have difficulty with grass, you might try periwinkle (also called running myrtle), an evergreen which has blue flowers all summer. Another evergreen is pachysandra, and there is moneywort, which flattens against the ground. Some attractive and fragrant blossoming annuals that you might also consider are:

• Nasturtium
• Balloon vine, which is good to cover fences
• Cypress vine, with a large number of small star-shaped flow ers in orange, red, and white
• The familiar morning-glory
• Moonflower plants