FLOWER GARDEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 189, 27 August 1937, Page 14

FLOWER GARDEN

Winter lias nearly passed. Spring, •with her most congenial weather, offers greater encouragement and opportunity to the gardener, who has, during latter weeks, experienced a very trying time. Wet, cold weather has played havoc with the home and garden plots, and many call for a lot of attention before tliey regain their beauty and charm vvhich has temporarily been deuied them. ■», The last planting of roses and shrubs should be made at once to give them a fair chance before the wet weather sets in. The hoo should be constantly run through the flower-beds to keep down tho hosts of spring weeds showing through. Slugs and snails are now taking toll of the choice annuals and vegetables. Wherever weeds and tall grass grows slugs abound. Moral, keep down the weeds and so reduce the slugs. Tobacco dust and lime should be freely sprinkled under the hedges and about the rockery where the pests are breeding. The former stands the wet weather better than the lime. Creepers should be set at once if the benefit of the spring growth is wanted. Planted now they will establish themselves quicker and shoot ahead. Chrysanthemum cuttings may be struclc now in sandy soil. Cut away good sturdy tips showing three pairs of ido buds. . Keep sheltored until rooted. Plant now summer flowering sweet peas, Dig and prepare a 'deep trench filling ( with wcll-rotted manure and vegctation. Mix blood and bone and super with the soil.. before filling in, and sow at once. Now a timely word of warning: Don't be tempted to buy cheap seed that may be offered at a reduced price. After spending your energy in preparing a trench plant only the best Spencer Waved. varieties.. The following seeds may be planted now in boxes: Phlox, French and African marigolds, stock, carriation/verbena, larkspur, pansy, viola, delphinium, linaria, lob'elia, and Penstemo'n. " ■ Tho following may be sown in , an open border: Mignonette, alyssum, Virginian stock, eschecholitizia, candytuft,, linus and dwrarf nasturtium.