GARDEN NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24902, 15 June 1946, Page 5

GARDEN NOTES

(Specially Written for “The Press.”) [By T. D. LENNIE, F.1.H.. N.Z.I ’ THE FLOWER GARDEN Rake off or dig in all fallen leaves. Trim spent foliage off border perennials. Dig between plants or shrubs to have the border tidy. Chrysanthemums have about finished their course. Growths should be cut off to allow basal shoots to progress, as these will later furnish propagating divisions or cuttings. Lilies may be planted, preferably tn clumps of three or five bulbs. Semi shade during summer is most desirable for these. They should have a well-culti-vated, deep soil, and be set on a stratum of sand. . This is a good time to carry out repairs or alterations to paths and stone edgings The latter may need relaying. This should be done before early growth begins. Weeds on the path may be killed by an application of an arsenic preparation, or sulphate of ammonia. Cid edgings of dwarf box may be renovated by, lifting and pulling short-rooted side pieces to plant close together, say five or six to the foot of row. These old box edgings are favoured haunts of snails. < Clumps of violets should be trimmed by removing runners and giving waterings of liquid manure to ’ improve the flowers. Roses and shrubs can be planted. Good supplies of manure or compost should be available for digging in round the roots. Pansy, polyanthus, Iceland poppy, Canterbury bells, sweet peas, etc., can be planted; also some spring bulbs. Autumn-flowering bulbs such as nerines. Belladonna, and Scarborough lilies, are now due for lifting if necessary. All these flower best when well established. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Vacant ground should be turned over roughly. This will bury weeds and get the benefit of winter frosts. Bottom yellowing leaves should be removed from cabbages, lettuce, and brussels sprouts. Sowings of early peas and broad beans can be made. It is best to sow these in broad rows. It is wise to give a look at the mint patch. This plant may easily become a nuisance if not confined to a limited area. Watch for leal spot on spinach or silver beet. If noticed on the older leaves, remove these and burn, as spraying is not always effective, though lime sulphur would be helpful. THE FRUIT GARDEN Strawberries can be planted in rows two to two and a half feet apart and 12 inches between plants 1 . Dig in a liberal supply of animal manure or compost. Take advantage of frosty weather to prune -the fruit trees. Gather and burn the prunings. The pruning of bush fruits should be first undertaken. Then attention can be given the larger tree ones. THE GREENHOUSE Avoid over-watering, and ventilate as freely as possible. This is the month to take stock of material and prepare for a busy repotting time in the early spring. Washing pots, mixing -soil, and the other details required are good jobs for a rainy day. Growing primulas and cyclamen will benefit from weekly waterings of liquid manure. LABELLING PLANTS It Is the exception to find much attention given to the naming of plants, as most people are content to possess variety without worrying to remember Its identity. In mpst cases the flower is sufficient reward; but as the garden fills and varieties increase, a good deal of the charm of growing them fails wjien the names are lost or forgotten. Painted woo-dem or zinc labels can easily be made from home material, and the name printed on with pencil, and will last two or three seasons. If one is growing a collection of narcissi, gladioli, or dahlias, the practice becomes a necessity. PRUNING OF CLIMBING PLANTS Roses and some other plants flower on shoots made in the spring, therefore pruning should aim at removing the old prickly stems which do not produce the best, leaving the more vigorous younger rods. These should be shortened when high enough. Solanum Jesminoides, wistaria, sinensis, Bouganvillia, and clematis, which flower somewhat similarly from the older 1 growths, should be shortened and thinned ' out to give room. With Passaflora, honeysuckle, and bignonia, a thinning out of i branches i* best to prevent the mass becoming too rampant. Clematis Jackmani J can be cut down to the ground each wini ter. In common with the practice followed > in pruning early flowering shrubs, such > as brooms, cherries, and camellias, any t pruning of climbers that flower in the spring should be done then, to allow of • the production of growths to carry the next display. Cydonias, jasmine, honey- . suckle, and bignonia come into this class. I ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT “Olearia” writes: “My young olearia Foster! hedge has suffered from the 5 severe frosts, the young growth being • browned and wilted. It was pruned about • two months ago. Should it now be pruned • again and the wilted growths removed?" 1 “Yes. You made a mistake .pruning ; so early in the winter to expose soft 1 growths on a plant that is not frost I proof. Go over the hedge again in ’ August to remove damaged portions." r