GARDEN NOTES

Chronicle (Levin), 18 May 1946, Page 6

GARDEN NOTES

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This is a good time to undertake any alteiations needed in the garden. W'hiie the pust season 's defects are still well reiuembered it is as well to cheek up and mako notes for improvemeiits to be carried out now or when piailting time comes in the spring. • .'-ytructural alterations should be earried out as soon as possible before bad weather and spggy ground makes such things difficult. Try to view the garden as though you had never seen it before and criticise it as though it belonged to some one else. The lirst thing to remember is that because a howerbed, a tree, a shrub, a patlnvay or a grass ]ilot has always been in a certain spot, is no reason for it to reinain there indelinitcly and if any of these tliings are in unsuitablc placcs — well, see that they are transferred elseAvhere. Provided they are carefully handled, 1 many trees and shrubs of quitc a good j size and age can be successfully moved. j P'rcparations for moving such tliings! sliould be begun now. Take a sharp ! Bpade and cut a circle right roun'd the i .plant lo be moved, the distance from | | tlie stom yarying vtith the size of Ihe I plaut and ranging from a foot to eigli- | ■tceii iuches for small plants to a much i widcr circle for large ones. Slide the spade or shovej lqght under the plant and sec that all' roots are severed. I Doii't' move tlie plant at all at this j stage, but leave it for at least six i weoks. During tliis period fresh librous' roots Avill form at the eut ends and Avlieu iiiiallv moved to its neA\' position these young roots Avill help to establisli tlie plant in its neAv home. Prepa ration of the position should be gone on Avitli Avhile AA-aiting for. the six Aveeks to elapse. So many people do not dig a sutticiently large liole or break up the ground over a large enough area. It should be made as ea&y as possible for a newly planted tree or shrub to pusli its Avay into the the soil. Make your liole much larger than the size of the ■ plant and break up tlie subsoil well, leaA'ing t'he bottom spit of soil still at tlie bottom of the liole. hlix soiiie manure or good food stuff with tlie soil aiul iill in tlieliolo again witliout consolidating the ground — tli.is is done to prevent watet lying in tlie holes. If drainage" seems neeessary it should be attended to. When tlie time for moA'ing comes, Ti f t the plant carefully Avitli as much soil as possible on to a piece of scrim or saeking and coiiA'ey it to the preparerl site. Open up the hole to a sufficient dcpth to take tlie plant, till in, and stamp down the ground firmly. Tf you are moving or planting fruit trecs or Englisli trees, it is as well to make a small mouifiLat the bottom of hole and arrange the roots carefully over it, tilling in gentlv with fine soil and pressing it down lightly from time to time as the hole is fdled np. This will preA-ent water lodging among the roots. Plants with a large ball of fibrous roofs such as nhododendrons do not need this treatment but it is advisable for rose-bushes.