Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question focuses on the definition, establishment, and maintenance of a hedge in landscape gardening.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us evaluate both statements:
Assertion (A): "Shrubs or trees planted at an irregular interval to form a discontinuous screen is known as hedge."
This statement is incorrect.
A hedge is defined as a continuous, dense line of shrubs or small trees planted close together at regular intervals.
When pruned regularly, they form a solid, living green barrier, wall, or screen.
An irregular, discontinuous screen is called an informal screen or border, not a hedge.
Because of this definition error, Assertion (A) is false.
Reason (R): "An ideal hedge is having uniform dense growth from base to top and it can be achieved by getting more or less uniform supply of water, essential elements and proper sunshine."
This statement is correct.
To maintain its function as a solid screen, a hedge must have dense foliage from its base to its top.
This uniform growth is achieved through:
- Regular, systematic pruning (trimming the top narrower than the base so sunlight can reach the lower branches).
- Providing uniform water, nutrients, and sunlight to prevent lower branches from losing their leaves and becoming bare.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Assertion (A) is incorrect, but Reason (R) is correct.
This corresponds to Option (D).