HOME GARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 95, 15 September 1948, Page 6

HOME GARDENS

(By J. W. Goodwin, N.D.H. (N.Z.), lege.)

EVERGREENS FOR SPRING Last week’s notes, on deciduous trees and shrubs, have brought forward several requests for evergreen subjects which flower in the spring and early summer. One of the most popular evergreen subjects is the rhododendron. Generally speaking, “Rhodos” require fairly deep moisture-retentive soil. Humus-forming materials such as leaf moulcl and peat are useful soil improvers and assist the establishment of the plant. The majority are lime-haters, though there are a. few which do not mind a little lime. Shelter is probably the most important of all conditions and the amount required may vary greatly from one district to another: Many rhododendrons have a high annual rainfall in their native homes and the atmosphere is always moist. This humidity is the greatest problem with large-leaved plants during the dry months of late summer and early autumn. This is the crucial time, as the plant is maturing its growth and developing the next season’s flower buds. Shelter must be provided to protect the plaints from the parching effects of drying winds. They naturally grow in a close association where each plant protects its neighbour from drying winds or fierce sun on the roots. In gardens, this association should comprise groups of rhododendrons intermixed and sheltered by deciduous trees and shrubs. A loose sur-face-mulch of leaves, old stack-bot-tom or similar material, will keep the soil cool and conserve moisture. Sawdust is also useful for this purpose and is valuable when dug in to improve stiff soils. In dry areas an overhead watering system which may be turned on in the evening is of great benefit, particularly to young plants. The humidity is increased, and the moisture absorbed by a mulch will create more humid conditions during the following day. Rhodoendrons have a compact fib-rous-rooting system and may be shifted when quite large. Pruning consists of shortening back unduly - long growths, until a compact bush is formed, and the removal of the dead flower-heads to prevent seed developing. The development of seed takes a great deal of energy and hinders the development of new growth. The evergreen azaleas are very showy dwarf shrubs. “Rhodos” and their many forms, their likes and dislikes, would fill many coloumns.

Other evergreens requiring good soil conditions are the well-known camellias. Some of these varieties are very hardy subjects and all will do well except in dry or, limy soils. Remember that, though of slow growth, the darriellia will grow to 10ft high and sometimes 20ft. Pieris bear panicles of white flowers and are commonly known as “Lily of the Valley” shrubs. They are slowgrowing and reach from 6 to 10ft in height. Most of them have brightred young growths, particularly P. formosana. Kalmia latifolia, the “Calico-bush,” grows 6 to 8 feet and has beautiful rich pink flowers. There is a dwarfed species, K. angustifolia, which thrives in most positions. Ayara microphylla has small, fragrant, yellow flowers which give this plant the common name of “Vanilla” or “Chocolate” tree. It is a tall shrub, or small tree, of attractive appearance. There is a newer species, A. lanceolata, which is of more open habit and bears the flowers in golden balls above the graceful, attractive foliage (10. feet). Embothrium coccineum, the “Chilean Firebush,” comes from the same ancestral home. This subject is brilliant but, like so many other members of the same family, it dislikes shifting. It requires a good deep well-drained soil and appreciates some leaf mould or peat mixed with the soil to start it off and may grow to 20 feet. Ribes speciosum, the “Fuchsia flowered Gooseberry,” bears a profusion of red flowers hanging from the underside of the gracefully arching branches (8 feet); Buddleia salvifolia is really hardy and will stand up to the severest conditions. Abutilons are well known and user ful early subjects in sheltered corners. They have a tendency to be j come leggy and should be placed behind other lower-growing shrubs and be shortened back after the first flowering. Many of the ceanothus produce their blue flowers in profusion during the, spripg and early summer. C. Edwardsii (lOSt) and C. Veitchianus (Bft) are but two of these neat, attractive subjects. They dislike wet feet but, once established, will stand very dry conditions. Pruning consists of shortening the longer growths back after flowering. Other subjects for dry conditions include Podolyria sericoa, “Satin bush,” with grey foliage and mauve flowers (4-6 ft). This is followed by P. grandifiora (Bft) and larger in leaf and flower.