PLANTS IN TUBS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 307, 28 December 1935, Page 6 (Supplement)

PLANTS IN TUBS.

Tubs filled with plants and stood at corners of walks or verandahs give a distinctive appearance to a garden. Of course, it should not be overdone and what are used and filled should be Well attended to. A tub with a well-cared-for plant is an object of beauty, but one where the plant is starving, drowning or half dead and obviously a rest home for slugs and snails is a disgrace and should be considered a public disgrace. Any tubs can be used, but plenty of holes should be bored in the bottom. The

inside should be given a coat of ,tar or tar oil. If left for a few days after painting or tarring before putting in the soil the lar will not harm the plants. The outsides should also be cleaned and stained or painted, especially the hoops. Put a good layer of rubble as drainage in the bottom and on top of this some sods with the grass side downwards. On this can be put any compost thai: may be suitable for the plants that arc to be grown. Watering must be carefully done and when the tub is first filled do not give too heavy soakings or you will get a sodden, sour soil before the roots have a chance to get hold of it, and this is often the reason why plants in tub do so little good and look unhealthy. If soil is moist and plant is no£ showing signs of distress let the watering alone. A tub holds a large mass of soil and it takes some time for it to become very dry.