GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 54, 26 November 1921, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By

"Kowhai.")

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. “P.H.8.” (KhandaUah) — Camellias scarcely need pruning beyond a little trimming into Hhape. Weak shoots may be cut out. The wd'rk should be done a.s soon as the flowering season is over. MULCHING. In many gardens the need for mulching is already apparent. Pansies, especially, are looking very unhappy, for they have an intense dislike ‘to the drying wind that has been &o prevalent during the past few weeks. A mulch properly applied is a wonderful protection for plants. It keeps the ground cool and moist, keeps out hot drying winds and burning sunshine, admits moisture, but refuses to allow it to evaporate. Before a mulch is applied the ground should bo thoroughly saturated. It is wonderful how quickly plants respond once they begin to feel its effects. If horse manure is used it must be well rotted, because tho idea of a mulch is to keep the r(x>ts moist and cool, and fresh^,manure would ferment and make the roots warm, bare should be taken also in using freshlycut grass, as it becomes heated when damp. Well-decayed .vegetable irubbish that has been rotted down with washing water, eto, makes an excellent mulch, especially if wood-ashes and occasional dressings of lime have been added during the process. . . For certain plants a summer mulch is absolutely necessary; for many others it is advisable. Roses, dahlias, chrysanthemums, Illiums, azaleas, rhododendrons, newly planted shrubs and fruit trees will all be benefited by a light mulch. Pansies love a mulch of well-rotted manure, and in return for it produce quantities of long-stemmed flowers of good colour and substance. Another great advantage of a mulch is that we can syringe the leaves of plants on the evening of a not dusty day, comfortable in tho knowledge that it will not bo - necessary to rush out with the hoe early the next Jiiorning lest the soil cakes. Those £% T< yN} crfl who go away for a few weeks holiday, leaving their plants to care for “J? I *}* selves, will find the mulch, well applied’ a great boon. In districts sutyect to drought it is a good plan to mulch vegetable marrows, pumpkins. French beans, peas, and winter greens. Most gardeners can produce a mulch of some sort, in town it is not possible to store animal manure until it is fit for use as a n-ulon, but there are always grass dippings, weeds, vegetable rubbish, etc. In gardening not a thing need bo wasted. J.ven in the smallest garden weeds and vegetable rubbish can bo rotted down in a holo in some corner. Weeds that nave not gone to seed can be pulled up and placed round plants. Where decayed vegetable rubbish or grass c J lpf,lDf =®,„ u s® being used a. little Bonedust °?", E V a ’?° may first of all be lightly pricked in about the plants. . The best mulch for liliums is decayed cow manure. Dahlias like a mulch of half-rotted cow or pig manure. Chrysanthemums like decayed vegetable rubbish mixed with wood-ashes and a little cca r’° sand Rhododendrons and azaleas like a mulch of half-rotted stable mnye, but a little bonedunt pricked into the soil, and a mulch of decayed vegetable rubbish and leaves form a B°od substitute. Roses are not very particular about the form their mulch takes as long as their roots . aro kept cool ana lainy “Mulches should bo applied to ground that is damp and warm. They should never be too heavy, from one totwo Inches being thick enough. Tb ®y bo well and evenly spread over the roots, not packed round the stem of the plant. PLANTING OUT. At this time of the year “planting out” is almost a daily occupation. Al UW spring flowers fade and die their are filled with plants that are to during summer and autumn. Amateur gardeners are always advised to water in” their plants; also to plant- out n possible during showery weather. Some gardeners think that this last means that if they plant out duuni! showery weather they are saved the labour of watering in. But this is not, so. No matter what tho weather watering in, or "puddling" as some gardeners call it. is of vital importance. By watering In” wo mean pouring water into the hole with tho plant so that the root, become embedded in thick mud. This should be done with tho utmost care, especially where a ball 0 1, ,0 .'L I attached to the roots. If the rlaatheld firmly’in place with one hand, yajw may be so poured from a can without u, rose as to wash more earth gently on ♦a fhA rnatß As soon as tno Oliver hhm drained away tho top-roll may bo f pressed into place Plants stand far less chance of flagging when they are planted out in this way. Even though the eat tn bo damp, and even though it bo prosed ever so firmly about the. roots, plants aro apt to flag unless “watered in. STOCKS. Seedlings from tho spring sowing’ be ready to plant out now. Before planting in their flowering quarters cut off the long tap root with a sharp knife Plant tho seedlings very firmly In well-dug, well-enriched soil. Fork a little bonedust into the soil when planting out. Keep the soil about, the plants well stirred all through the summer, and supply water if necessary. A fui thor small sowing of stock seed may be made for a succession as soon as the last batch of seedlings is; planted outStocks in flower are a pleasure at any time,‘and with a little care one can have them all the year round. TOMATOES. Bush on with the planting out of tomaSileS. Don't plant on ground that is too rich, for food can be supplied to the plants from the surface when it is needed A rich bed at the start Produces rapid and luxuriant growth, but this is not what is wanted. Wo want strong, sturdy plants bearing plenty of fruit. The ground should bo thoroughly dug. and should be made firm again before the plants are put out After thormhIv digging, and before putting out J our plants, hoe over the surface, hoeing in a slight dressing of superphosphate. Wood-ashes or ashes from the rubbish fire should be worked into the roil. A strong stake should bo provided as sewn as the plants aro put in the ground. Two stems are quite enough to allow the plant . Bhb out all laterals and new growths from the roots, but do not denude the two main stems of their leaves. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about sowing seedsi of biennials, routine work, and vegetables.