Garden Notes In The Flower Garden

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 159, 6 July 1940, Page 7 (Supplement)

Garden Notes In The Flower Garden

T H l E »l Wea i her haS im Proved a little during the past few weeks, sufficiently anyway to allow those who have been dealmg with hght soil, to get a little work done O n heavy and badlydrained soil, however, it will be better to wait a few weeks. Where work .s possible in the Hower garden, annuals and spring owering plants such as nemesias, stocks, antirrhinums, forget-me-no j calendulas, cornflowers, candytuft, delphiniums are among those that can be planted' now. the ground has become weedv between rows,of plants the best method of dealing with it is to skim it with a d| gg«g fork, turning the sod over and burying the weeds. The rows can be hand weeded at the same time, and the weeds buried. <$> -

i Herbaceous borders should be dug and r C \ U^P 3 of plants which have not been divided for a year or so should be divided. Pull off two or three pieces from the outside of the clumps and plant > them in a triangle, allowing about a . foot between -each piece. This. applies , the strong growing varieties; in dealing with the weaker growers more care must be exercised and the dividing must i not be ao severe. f The narcissi are through the ground , a nd skimming with the fork is the best . means of dealing with the weeds. Anemones and ranunculi have suffered > from the bad weather, but should come ! on fast with improved conditions. Hand weeding is the only means of dealing 7 with these plants. In the rose garden there is plenty to do in the way of digging and topi dressing. Pruning is best left till the 1 end of July, just before the plants comg mence to grow. Climbing roses can be thinned out and trained to their 8 supports. In dealing with vigorous ramblers all old wood should be cut out.

It is a mistake to let them get into a thick tangled mass which cannot be handled. With other climbers of the H.P. and H'.T. types all that is required is to cut out dead wood and the removal of weak laterals, and, of course, keeping the plant within its bounds. Planting of new roaes and shrubs can be done when the soil is in condition, but better to wait a week or so than plant in sodden ground. II the plants are on order and arrive but cannot be planted at once, open the bundle and lay the roots in a shallow trench, covering them with soil; choose a fairly dry position where you are sure that no water will accumulate in the trench. This is a good time for the overhaulin" and general cleaning of tools, mowing machines, and so on. Clean, sharp tools ready to hand make a job & lot easier. Well clean and grease all metal parts; vaseline is as good as anything. All wooden handles should have a coating of linseed oil. A little attention in this way will save a lot of work later on and make work a pleasure instead of a labour.