A Heath Garden Can Be Lovely

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 14 (Supplement)

A Heath Garden Can Be Lovely

Garden Notes

j lime-free soil permits a a soil containing lime, but the heaths j ft heath garden may form an t ' t> not to - erdte lime. It" the soil is clayey. , interesting and beautiful feature w ' 01 * in a , ver - v liberal supply of leaf- „£ .l * """* aul ", feature mould, sun.lv peat, and coarse srhiv ! J , en <|Uite as distinctive sand to a depth of 12 to 18 inchesr j *nd attractive in its way as such lbe bed should be trodden firm and features as the rock garden or the left to for a few week* bewild nrJm U " e !'' antl »?- -The plants are beet ' _ planted in October, or March and April. Ericas and their associates, Callunas An annual dressing of leaf-mould during and Paboeciau. furnish a remarkably c ' le g row 'ing season will be beneficial, wide choice of subjects, particularly from It is desirable that there should be ta ,| » I I f • " nothing formal about the heath garden, the tall-growing, tree-like Erica carnea. T he heaths should be planted in broad lalluna vulgaris, and Daboecia polifoia. ma-ses. irregular in shape and with Many of them furnish blooms at a time goodly numbers of plants of the same when other flowers are scarce. All those species or variety grouped together, ui the following list are hardy, although Plants blooming over the same "period srbores, E. au&tralis and E. lusi- should be associated, and in grouping tanica are not suitable for planting in place next to one another kinds flowercold districts. i"g at different times. An enclosed Careful selection will secure a con- position is useless for the heath tinuity of lowers almost the whole year 2 ar< len. though the tall species benefit through, many species blooming for three 'belter from winds, except in the |or four months on end. They are gen- climates. erslly neat in growth, and "furnish a The ideal site for the dwarf hardy | rofus-on of tiny globular or cylindrical tv I HV '* an elevated slope exposed to flowers, usually purple, mauve, red, pink t^e tu " * un - * f " *be ? rou nd is undulating or white in colour. alK | broken occasionally by a natural The heath garden should be a far r-x-k. so miwh the better Let more popular feature than it is at pre- f ff" a rugg ' w,ld and un ~ sent. « the plants are of quite easv :l F'P^ranee. culture, their chief requirements bein'c . J 1 "* T spac ® Wlll not permit one to * peaty or sandy soil, with a cool, moist Tf ° l ° *£* foundation; on dry, sandy banks thev j r t \ bo^? er °J * will soon perish. Pest, however, is not £*1* of having Ericas essential, and a soil to which s dressing . * etc - 19 of leaf-mould and .and has been added dis tU rbanVe ,° r will answer admirably. disturbance about the roots, and for I . . . _ *eason they should be planted , • o r,*y° •P ecle *> « uc h ,s E. carnea where there is no need for disturbing sad E. Mediterrsnea, will do quite well the roots. °