GARDEN NOTES

Chronicle (Levin), 24 April 1946, Page 7

GARDEN NOTES

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Several utilitarian liedges were Tucutioned recently and . .these . . shbuld be given every consideration 'in- .plalining the winter , planting, but a point of ten overlooked is the value of a.hedge from the decorative point of vi,exy. To divide the flower garden from ,th^ vegetables . is an obvious, use, but there are often. Other plaees in the .garden where au omamental hedge will screen an corner which may be used . for sitting out oi for outdoor meals in the' summer. Look round the garden and see if, sucli pleasant places could' be made with the addition of some hedge plants. Ilydrangeaa can be used for this purpose provided the very dwarf varieties are excluded; japonica is another aiul the small flowgred hedge fuchsia has bright colour for most of the ypar and is iVorth. more consideration than il gets. The old fashioned monthly rosc or China rose. is in bloom practically continuously and some of .the polyantha roses sucli as Orange Trium[>i] look v^ery well as a low hedge. Agapanthus, both blue and white, can . be used as a hedge particularly. where thcy can be seen across .au expanse ot , grass; in fact there are many plants which lend themseives to the purpose ot I forming breaks in the garden. althoiigh • they may not usually be used for that , purpose. • Probably roses are the , Iirst tliing ; that comes to miixd when tlie planting season begins and preparation •should be , made to receive any newconicrs. ; Dig over any new rose, bpds planneu and work.in plenty of good food in the,' form of nianure if possible, .otherwise" ( grass clippings, ompcost, etc, It is. often ' Lhought that roses like elay, but there • is very little uourishment in it and they reason the roses are sux»poaed to like it is that they are mucli happier if tlre\ ' have a very iirm root-hpld, and a cer tain amount of clay in' tlie soil 'enables : tlieiu to enjoy this. In light or t sandy - soils, it is an advantage to add'soxne j clay for root'-liolding purposes, bui ' where tlie ground is naturally heav\ there is 110 need to incorporate it. New roses wlien they come l'rym tlie ; nurserviuan are cut back for eonvem ence iu handliug but are not xiruned :- and should be earefully gone over aboul six wecks after [ilauting, ■ • : . Places for trees and shrubs must also be prepared and it niust be proper.lv done to give tliem a good start. Dig tlie holes very mucli larger tliun seems necessary so that when ro.ot growtll be gius there is broken gropnd to make il easy for .tlie roots to travol , rapid'ly , Cood drainago is also , -uecessary^-sen that no plants are put iuto^ waterdbgged holes. . • : ; • :