Gardening Notes

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 1, 29 May 1930, Page 9

Gardening Notes

RHODODENDRONS AND

AZALEAS.

It has always been a matter of surprise to me that these beautiful and easily grown spring flowering shrubs are not more cultivated. There are cea.'--tainly some well-grown siioeiniens in the Wellington Botanical Gardens, tout, private gardens and suburban..public "gardens do not cultivate tfiem to any extent —a remarkable fact considering their usefulness in providing cut flowers for indoor decoration. Rhodendrons may justly be classed amongst the most bea-utiful and. attractive of evergreen flowering scrubs. Their foliage is very attractive, and their flower trusses are i usually borne in the greatest profusion. When t»he Roses, Carnations and Sweet Peas arc affected by thrip in the spring,. ,i you wild find your Rhodqs, and Azaleas, if properly looked after, quite free from this pest. In a good collection, tUhnost all shades of colour are" to be found, and branches of flowers (how delightfully refreshing to conjure up visionsof branches of flowers just now) slwnrM be available for cutting from thctoe--ginning of October tiintil the middle of

December. Some varieties 'come into flower even earlier than October.*

No doubt, one of t'ho reasons tiiiat they are not more frequently seen in private gardens is that very few of the best kinds can be procured under five or seven shillings each, but it must be borne in mind that the method of piopa-ga'tioh rcquirod' to turn out saleable 'plants-;, of good varieties, is coonparatively slow, consequently the price charged is nbt in any way excessive, and t-hey should certainly be inelud'ed in the list of anyone w1i:o devotes a regular amount of 'money to the upkee-p of a g-arden. June and July are suitab'i'e inantlis for making an Azalea or Ehododendron garden, and good drainage and suitable soil are two of the most important factors that make for success. They do well in any soil, save that which is of a calcareous nature-. Most of tie Hybrids and best Himalayan species thrive in a-peaty soil, such as can. be procured in the Hutt Valley. So that it fpUows that gardeners in this' district, would have no difficulty in •growing' ithodos and Azaleas in the

open. They love moisture at the roots at all times, and aaou'l'd a plant be allowed to flag or droop througih want of water, it wilf mean either death or weak growths; and no selling of flower buds' for flowering in spring. I consider that one of,- the main causes of .failure in growing these subjects planted .out is neglect : after. t!he floiwering period has passed.* We appreciate them greatly' whilst blooming, and then-they are allowed to take their chance. It is really after flowering that regular attention is necessary, in orde-r to promiote growth, and the attention required is no greater than is , experienced in watering the flower beds and bordeors, and si 'glance in passing will tell you whether they need water.

After having transplanted Rhododendrons here, that in the first'place were planted four feet apart, I recommend gettin'g:-plants •ab.axut. three - feet high, and planting at least six feet apart. I have lately planted lai-gc plants about ten-feet apart, and feel as if it is the proper distance. Such varieties as John Waterer and the Sun of Aus'tcrlitz could easily be pla-eed fifteen feet apart. The Indian Azaleas arc not so free growing, although, after, years, they;'make--large plants. They need not be given so much space as the Rhodos. I would sug gest planting them among the dwarfer Rdodos ,in the front line next.the walk. The other flowering subjects that may be planted in this garden are different varieties of Heath 'and Boronias, and some- of the best Clematis trained- oh arches over the Walks would ibe. effective.. I have had Iris Kaeiivpferi do splendidly betiwcojit'lie plants,■'■■unftil the Rhodos covered the spaces separating tiheni. I And planting the Ehodos and Azalaa family on mounds with, a border of rocks suiTOunding the mounds, and the sail round the base of the plants slightly cupped front t-ho stems of a diameter in keeiping with the size of the plants, so that in watering all parts of fhie roots -are saturated, gives the best results. . .• „

The Ehodos and Azaleas are surfa/co rooting plants,- the roots'- being of hairlike nature, radiating- from a few main roots from t'lte anain stem. Most of the

Primula,; family are at home as an undergrowth for Rhodos, and between the bordering rocks, plants hexe and there of the native Maidenhair Fern will be in keeping, and so will such dwarf flowering subjects as Hemehera, Sanguinea, and in varieties of white and pink. Lastly, a soutiher.ly aspect <with a ;brea]owind of manuka or other hedge, not too closely planted to the subjects will counteract the effect of winds, and prolong the period of flowering.

THE RUBBISH HEAP.

Every gardener has noticed haw ra,

ly rubbish.accumulates even in as

garden. It is a mistake, hoiweveT

look upon this as an intolerable

saruee,- for what is termed <tih.o rubbish heap generally .contains much valuable matter that" can ibo fused in many ways for various crops.; Every care should be taken for such materials, and the way, to .treat them during winter is to turn over, the lot that is" in a fit condition to decompose, and'get all well mixed up together, ad?ter first sprinkling'over the mass a dressing of lime, which will sweeten the whole, and help materially to render it fit for the roots of plants to feed on when it has been -dug into •the land. If it is intended to prepare ground for the planting of Asparagus, Seakale or Cabbages, a few bushels <xf salt will,be a valuable addition to the mixture, as those crops like it, and nothing suits the three better than the mixture from the rubbish theap, where, weeds are thrown, and all sorts of vegetable matter are brought together >to decay. In preparing for either of the crops referred to, the way is to txencli. the rubibis -heap stuff in, keeping it low doiwn, and leaving the top rough for the frost to act on. .'" In spring all shorald be in fine order for planting, a-nd those who so make use of their waste material will be surprised at *he hi'gthly beneficial results that will follow.