The Home Garden

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 17, 29 May 1939, Page 2

The Home Garden

I • o .. [ WORK FOR THE WEEK FLOWERS The recent rains have put Hie soil in a fit condition for planting. Such plants as polyanthus, aubrctia, wall flowers, pansies and other spring bedding plants should be planted without delay. < Those who intend planting carnations should do so as soon as possible. If planted now they will get a root hold before the soil gets cold. The planting of shrubs and roses may be undertaken as soon as the subsoil is moist. Early planting has much to commend it. If the plants are got in during the next few weeks, While the soil is yet they will start root growth and become established before the cold, wet weather-*arrives. Push on with the cleaning up of all beds and and remember that mainy shrubs hate deep cultivation. Rhododendrons, azaleas, heaths, boronias lilacs, are surface rooted and should be given shallow cultivation only. Disturbing their root systems at the present time is most detrimental to their health and also to their future flower crop. The same applies to all early flowering subjects. These are now maturing their flower buds and if their roots are disturbed the flower crop must suffer in consequence. Top dressing at present would do more good than spading around any surface rooting planls. Leaf mould, well decayed vegetable matter, stack bottom, or rotted manure will give the condition that sui face root plaints en-joy. At this time, when people are tidying their gardens, they are tempted to prune their shrubs with the object of improving them. Before undertaking this work know exactly what effect the pruning will have on the plants and also on the future flower crop. The pruning of shrubs a very important factor in their cultivation yet one which is very often only partially understood. Many shrubs require no pruning, while others are improved and stimulated by correct methods. No hard and fastrules can be laid down. Each in. dividual family must be treated according to its habits and requirements and these can only be learned by practical experience and observation. Watch closely when and how a plant flowers, as these are the chief guides in pruning. Thp question frequently arises about which shrubs need to be pruned in winter, as it often happens that those with little kuowledge o[ their subjects have pruned away wood in winter which a, month or i two later would have borne flowers ; had it been untouched. On the other hand shrubs may have been left uu. j pruned, and had the pruning knife i hee n used it may have given dis_ i tinctly better results. As a rule, for | those shrubs that flower in early win- ; ter spring and up to November, al' ] necessary pruning should be done as soon a s the flowers fade. They will then have time to make and mature new wood during the summer, and it is this wood that will bear the flow ers in the following season. Most shrubs that flower after November produce their flowers On young wood . matured during the spring, and consequently any pruning required rnajf r be carried out during the winter. ' When pruning shrubs the objeel . should be to improve their general 1 appearance and to encourage greater 1 freedom of blossom without destroying their natural character.. Too of- , v ten one sees trees and shrubs cut and distorted into shapes which are hideous. Quite a safe way of improving many plants is thinning out. This _ means cutting out all the weakly, crowded and useless growths, and '.he removal if necessary, of a portion of the stronger ones. Many of the plants that resent having their leaders stopped may be improved this way and kept in a vigorous and healthy condition. Philadelphus forsyth!a, clentzias and spireas often develop a dense mass of twiggy growth and judicious thinning out not only promotes the development of a clean, er stronger growth and consequently finer flowers, but it often gives a more graceful appearance to the plants. The thinning out style of pruning may be applied more or tess to nearly all flowering shrubs. The winter is the best time to carry out this work. Thinning out need not b:< nn unusual operation; but how often and how much must be left, to the pruner's judgment. VEGETABLES Dig over deeply »U vacant plots. Tf the soil lacks humus dig in plenty if stable manure or any green stuff Plant cabbage and cauliflowers for early supplies. If the land is heavy these are best planted on ridges, as

wet" land is often the cause of root rot. Sow in a sheltered place early peas and broad beans. Although September is the month to plant asparagus, it is a wise plan to prepare the bed for these now. Dig deeply and work in at the same Lime plenty of well decayed manure. If the land is heavy, drainage must 1 be given. A well drained, gritty loam a suits asparagus best. Make the bed 1 in a sheltered position in full sun _ and away from the influence of tree . roots. Established beds of asparagus will need attention now. As soon ps - the tops are brown cut them off close t 0 the ground. Clea,n the beds of all l weeds and rubbish and top dress , with some light litter. Old decayed ? stack bottom is good. 5 It is a common practice in manv ) gardens to top dress heavily aspara. 1 gus beds with wet manure during tiv> ? winter, with a view of improving t the crop next season. This is a mis- _ take in more ways than one. In the first place, where the soil is heavy I and naturally cold, .a coating of heavy [ farmyard manure tends to keep the sun's rays from the bed, and the crop . is much later in consequence. Again, j the roots are not active during the ( and therefore they cannot 3 assimilate the manure. Consequently it is mostly lost. It is a far better practice to en- . courage top growth by applying the , manure after cutting is finished, say . at the end of November or Decem- . ber. It is then that the roots need assistance, and the stimulation re- , ceived by the roots throughout the f summer is bound to have a effect on the next crop. Staking or , tying up the growths to protect them from being blown about or broken off by the wind is very im_ I portant. After cutting is finished the! bed should be given attention in the j way of root moisture, and liquid ma_ . nure during periods of dry weather.