Reminders For The Week

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 106, 7 May 1942, Page 9

Reminders For The Week

GARDEN NOTES

THERE is still much that can be shoukl ,hf ll ?° Ugh ew, y-dug soil | snoula at this time of the year be VEGETIBiva allowed at least a FOR SPRrvr k eek to settle - Cab " l run fsPRING bages and caull-; be stints 'pu flowers should not sprint li he y. w:111 mature in the i i n :. a ,5 en n ? th er vegetables are •no »fit ° n,on seed will germinv u-ie v el L7 OW - Choose a Reliable om l, dn l wv f rows - thinning: is mt'ih v r ' f cher L the onion bed : hnf ii 'he better, but it must he of lir't| r h« hould an °thcr sowing ! lettiifp tii^n- anh ' ° cress - endive, ! r, ~- t urni P s - mustard, earlv peas parsley, spinach and swedes. P '

I SIF 'S, violas, primulas, lupins violets, calendulas, ranunculi' anemones, tarnations, stocks, iceH ariiv t? ncl P°PPies are among Pi ,he .popular plants that IS can be set out now. Most r of these can be raispri from seed, but the use of sheets of glass over the boxes will be necesmost localities. Overhaul ■ tin '' k removing spent plants and cutting hack or dividing those that c inclined to straggle. Shallow ,(i s( ? n st ! on become denuded or plant food and should be replaced or strengthened with leaf mould. Dig these pockets as deeply as possible, cose and fruit trees, ornamental fees and shrubs, hedges, spring bulbs and herbaceous borders mav be planted.

THE grass grub has been active in Auckland, judging bv recent correspondence. This pest, which is

..... . . capable of ruining a C.KASS (iKl'B lawn. fortunately i> li.i\\ \S confines its atten-

. tions to fairly light soils, and it is usually those in the volcanic areas which suffer. Some protection can he secured hv rolling the lawns heavily during the flight "'.the beetles in the summer, but this is a hit-and-miss method. A fair degree of immunity can be secured by applying dry powdered arsenate of lead at the rate of lib to 200

square feet. Where a lawn has been j badly attacked and the turf destroyed | the only remedy is to dig out the ! effected patches and rcsow. !* * j is no reason why AuckI land's flower gardens should not ! be as beautiful next spring as in the past. There will be FLOWERS general agreement IX WARTIME that whereas vege- ! tables arc a necessity, flowers are a mere relaxation. \ Yet the pursuit of beauty has its i place even in a country tit war. | Gardens are inclined to raggedncss ! at this time of the year, and there j is a good deal of c-leaning-up to be | done. Most marigolds have outlived : their usefulness and should he rooted out. Dahlias are starting to die down, but should he left for a few weeks until the stalks turn | yellow before being lifted. The tops of herbaceous border plants should be cut down and lawn edges ! trimmed. When digging old and new | beds an attempt should be made to ! raise them to ensure good drainage.

THE highlight of gardening operations in these pre-winter days is still the humble task of digging and planting. Indeed, in IMG AXD May there is scope for I'LAXT a iot of digging and a lot of planting. In many Auckland gardens there are healthylooking rows of cabbages, cauliflowers. carrots, turnips, leeks and celery, for the autumn has been one of the best for many years. In other gardens there are the disease-ridden stalks of tomatoes, the rotting remains of pumpkin vines and a healthy crop of weeds—for 11 i_e autumn has been kind to them. too. Rut it is amazing what a transformation can be made in a short time. The litter of tomatoes, pumpkins. potatoes and the rest should be burned. What remains can tie dug in. If the weeds have got away too far. scoop them off and stack them in a corner of the garden. They will be useful later. Then take a firm grip on your spade and get to work.