Fine Garden Can Be Made From Clay Soil

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 137, 12 June 1941, Page 17

Fine Garden Can Be Made From Clay Soil

OASSING reference waas made 1 last week to the immense possibilities of clay soil. And by clay we mean the variations from sandy clay to that close, sticky kind of soil through which water percolates slowly and with difficulty and which turns to concrete after a few days' sun. Most of the popular trees, shrubs and hardy flowering plants will flourish on clay soil provided this is cultivated correctly. In fact few types of soil respond better to cultivation and manuring. Most ground on which houses are built to-day has been drained, either naturally through the fall or by agricultural drains. But if it is heavy waterlogged puggy clay as, for instance, in a section that has been newly built up, it is worth while having it drained afresh. Should there be a fall in the ground to a ditch, draining will be fairly easy; otherwise the channel or drain can be sloped as required to suit the garden. An efficient and simple method is to dig channels 2ft to 2Jft deep, place field pipes in the bottom and fill in with 9in to 12in of broken bricks, clinkers or stones. A cheaper method is to substitute uneven stones for the pipes. Work in Grit

Much can be done to improve clay soils by working in gravel, coarsi , grit sand, fire ashes, straw manure, peat and leaf-mould. All the roughage from the garden can be dug in. and it is advisable to leave a trench open to accommodate the household rubbish, such as potato peelings, tea leaves and vegetable refuse. Another beneficial practice is to dig the ground deeply in autumn, leaving the surface lumpy throughout the winter. The frost and rain will work wonders with the top spit. Planting is best done during dry weather in early spring, working in plently of grit among the roots when setting the shrubs, trees and border T>lants. , , The best manures for heavy clay , soils are strawy horse manure and hop manure; lime. 6oz to 803: per , square yard, should be used for limeloving kinds such as roses, fruit trees and most herbaceous plants. Slag is among the best of artificial manures. After several years of such treatment clay soil will be transformed into rich garden mould suitable ior most kinds of shrubs, trees and plants. While lime is useful in helping to make heavy clay soil fertile, it must not be applied to ground where it is proposed to grow rhododendrons and azaleas. Hardy Varieties First When planting the perennial or mixed flower border in a new garden of clay soil, a beginning should be made with plants of vigorous growth, adding others as the soil improves under cultivation. Delphiniums are magnificent on clay soil. They go on from year to year, soon forming splendid clumps which the wise gardener will leave alone. Bush fruits do well on clay soil, particularly black currant and raspberry, which arc often a failure on light soil unless care is taken to keep the roots moist by manuring and topdressing. . Clematis, loveliest of the climbing plants, thrives on clay soil which has been prepared by deep digging and adding decayed manure and lime rubble, such as old mortar Care should be taken to shield the roots from strong sunshine. Most climbing plants, in fact, are a success on clay gl Say soil, too, makes a good lawn, provided the drainage is reasonably good, that occasional tqpdressings of fand or very sandy soil are put on and the turf is not rolled excessively when the ground is moist.

Prune Plums Lightly rllE surest way to prevent plum trees from bearing satisfactory crops of fruit is to prune the branches severely. Sometimes the trouble known as "gumming" follows severe pruning of plum trees; it is recognised by an exudation of gum-like substance from the branches. In time the tree is so weakened as to become useless. Plum trees should be pruned chiefiv by cutting out branches or shoots which cause overcrowding rather than bv shortening them severely. Unusually long side shoots which 'spoil the shape of the tree may be .shortened, but generally pruning should be reduced to a minimum. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Plant Peonies in June PEON' IKS are plants that will accommodate themselves to almost any soil or situation, if not too wet, and some will even flourish under the shade of trees. They thrive best, however, in deep, rich soil that is moderately moist during the summer season and in situations where they are partially shaded from the sun during the middle of the day. They are effective plants for mixed borders or shrubberies, and when planted in masses they have a magnificent appearance when in bloom, the flowers being conspicuous a considerable distance away. June is an ideal month for the planting of peonies.

Plant Shallots IT is an ancient custom among gardeners to plant shallots on the shortest day and lift, them on the longest day. Tho bulbs may be planted at any time during June on well drained soil. They are pressed into the soil until half buried and are set at seven or eight inches apart in rows ten inches fi - om each other. I '. I