Garden Notes

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 290, 5 September 1942, Page 4

Garden Notes

THE FLOWER GARDEN Work For September SOIL CONDITIONS FOR POPULAR PLANTS (By “The Hoe”)

“For some time past you have given us much valuable advice on the growing of food plants, to the exclusion of flowers, and rightly so, considering the times, but we would" appreciate an occasional column devoted to the fascinating hobby of growing flowers,” write “Two Neighbours,” of Palmerston North. Well, this week we leave the vegetable grower to his own devices and offer a few hints for flower lovers. As the busy planting season is now upon us, the questions of soil preferences and manures are of particular interest and our remarks are mainly .concerned with those subjects. • All herbaceous perennials can now be planted. Hardy annuals can be sown, gladioli can be planted, and there is still time to plant the later flowering trees and shrubs.

Timely Topics A little leaf-mould around the roots of fuchsias ensures larger, lovelier flowers. These plants do equally, well in or partial shade. African and French Marigolds succeed perfectly in fairly dense shade. They like a rich soil and the African group are well worth disbudding. * » * Stocks are great lovers of cow manure, which should be mixed freely with both spits when digging 2ft. deep. The roots enjoy firm planting and good drainage, and full sunshine is essential. * * « Nicotianas should always be planted in the shade. Set them, at least 15in. apart. i ■ Provide a sunny spot for nemesias and mix plenty of soot with a moderately manured soil. * Spent hot-bed manure is a fine thing for petunias, which like a sunny and sheltered situation. If they show a tendency to straggle, pinch them regularly. For asters make the soil very rich, and mix in some lime rubble to harden growth against wilt disease. Equally good results follow planting in sun or shade. i ■ v » o Geraniums do best in a firm, rattier poor soil. The flowering kinds need full sun, but foliage sorts succeed in partial shade. 0 ♦ » Snapdragons are lime-lovers, and must have firm, good soil. Sunshine is vital to them. i « # ' Keep in mind the value of Shallow cultivation. specially for perennial beds. Deep cultivation is harmful because it destroys many plant roots. The soil will take up just as much air if only its surface is stirred as it will if it is stirred to a considerable depth. Germinating weed seeds arc exposed to the air ana 'sunlight bv a frequent stirring of the surface soil and thereby killed. Soil Requirements Of Popular Flowers Achillea:. Abundant sunshine, good drainage, plenty of bpnemedl. . . Aconitinn i ’Partial shaue, and plenty 01 leaf-mould in the soil. Alstromeria: bunny situation, deep ri Anchusa:’ Sheltered spot, and deep rich soil. _ . . f Autumn anemone: . Bone-meal, leaimould, and a shady site. _ . . 4 Astilbe and spiraea: Rich, moist soil. Campanula : A limy, rich soil, heeding with lime water. . . Delphinium: Deep, rich soil and abundant sunshine. ■" Dianthus: Moderately rich soil with plenty of lime rubble. Echinops and eryngium: Deep, firm soil with plenty of lime rubble. Erigeron: Fairly rich soil and sunny situation. .... •> Gentian: Fairly, rich, limy soil. Gypsophila: Sunny, rich, limy, nrm Hemerocallis: Rich soil and partially shaded situation. . ■ Hollyhock: Deep, rich soil, and sunny situation. . , _ , Bearded iris: Sunny site, and moderately rich limy soil. . Kniphofia: Deep, rich soil, with plenty of leaf-mould. ' . Lupin: Deep, rich soil and sunny situaLobelia cardinalis: A dampish, rich soil, and full sun. , Michaelmas daisy: Deep, rich soil, and full sun. . , Paeony: Deep, rich soil, and plenty ot bone-meal. , .. Oriental poppy: Deep, rich, limy sou, and sunny situation. . , t Phlox: Deep, rich soil, plenty of leafmould and potash, i . .. Pyrethrum: Rich soil, sunny situation, and plenty of bone-meal. Dahlia: Deep, rich soil, abundant sunshine. , . , Border carnation: Sunny, moderately rich raised site, plenty of lime.