GARDEN NOTES

Chronicle (Levin), 1 May 1946, Page 7

GARDEN NOTES

Tliere is still plenty of colour left in the autumn garden and those who group their colours well sliould be rewardcd by a good late display. For iiowering at tlie pre.sent time see tliat you havc a good supply of lielcniuius, suuflowers both aniiual and percnnial, blue salvia, marigolds of seArerai varieties such as Erench and African, using some of the tall Freneh as well as the dwarf- A perennial plant wliich gives a clieerful note to. the season is the Kaflir lily of shizostylis whiclir has llowers of 'an ixia tyjie and can be had in bright scarlet or soft. satiny pink. The red oue in particplar is very useful for picking. and mixing wifli autuiim leaves and ziimias; the slendm" flower spikes add lightuess to the ratlier stodgy rouud headed floAvers. The. pink one blends very, well with tlie last of tlie roses or anv other late sumnier flowers. Wchizostylis is quite casy to grow and small clumps'can oe obtained from the nurseryman later. Plenty of sunshine is uccessary but tliis plant does not liko to be too dry iu the summer, but if given water Avhen necessary will respond with a good crop of bloom iu tlie autumn over a pcriod of several ■ weeks right into the winter. If not cut for use indoors, the dead tiowers sliould be removed to tlie base of the plants to encourage fresh growtli. It increases very quickly and sliould be lifted and divided every second or third year to keep u^i the quality of the blooms. Chrysanthemums liold pride of jilace in tlie autumn garden and are now in full bloom. Help them to give of their best by seeing tliat they are properly tied up and made secure agaiust possibie gaies which iO ofteii come alohg just wli'en they are at their best. t Look over your garden carefully just ■ uow and see if your autumn display ciuj be improved upon for uext season. Cutting back of percnnials such as yiicliaeliuas daisics wliich have Iinished flowcriiig will be tlie next thing to do, and it sliould be done soon so tliat any spuces wliich can be used for spring plantiiig will be made availablo without dolay. It is gettiiig late now for bulbs tq bc put in. April is considered the best nionth for hyaciiitlis and May, which is alniost liere, 'for tulips. A last planting of ranunculi cau also be made next montli and as those plants bloom so i'rcely over a long pcriod they are oue of the uiost valuaule of tlie later spring blooming flowers. fSee that you liave plenty of them aud give them a good posilion wliere it is vycil drainod and I suiiiiv. They will take more feediug I thau anemoues so try to give tliem somotliiug good such as dld covv maiiure 1 oi' grass clippiiigs ahd compost aud blood and bonc; a dusting' of lime oit 1 the surface occasionally after tlie jilauts | are through will lielp tliem," aud k0o]» i Ihe soil pricked up rbund tliem alJ j through tlie winter as they greatly dis- ' likc uct i'eet, aud the leaves will tuni, i yeliow and. the plants become unlieaUliy if tliey remain iu closcly packed dainp soil. _ ' , Pricking up the soil should rcmind . gardeiicrs of Ihe necessity to be equipped with a small fork mounted on a long' hamlle for tliis.pti'i;posc. Hce that 'fours is'.i'u good ordcr, (or obtaiu oue if necessary as so niuch w'ork caa be done witii this tool during the. winter without stepping from tlie gardeu path.