GARDEN NOTES

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25300, 27 September 1947, Page 3

GARDEN NOTES

(Specially Written for “The Press.”) [By T. D. LENNIE, F.1.H., N.Z.] FLOWER GARDEN Spring bedding can now be undertaken with good prospects. So long as plants are well grown, and have been hardened off, the effects of chilly nights will not disturb them. The planting of border plants and shrubs is a labour of love with most people at this season, and individual tastes can be tested. Colour schemes are not so important as the habit and growth of the plants chosen. Under-size or overlarge spreading plants can make a border look ' rather out of focus, but plants, chosen with due regard to their ultimate spread will give a good effect. There is still time to add an ornamental of flowering shrub to fill a gap, especially one of the medium-sized “front of the shrubbery” class. Delphiniums and paeonies can be planted. These are top-notchers in ranks of border display. Yellow calceolaria, geraniums, pentstemon, and Iceland poppy are deservedly favoured for special positions. Otherwise the long list of bedding plants will provide plenty of choice for the planter. Hydrangeas can be planted. The position is important so far as colour effects are concerned. A dry, sunny aspect will mean pink shading mainly, whereas the same variety planted facing south or west will give a good leaven of blue-tinted flowers. This is due to the reduced sun heat and presence of ample moisture in the soil. Azaleas will benefit from the same formula. Gladiolus should be planted. If adding compost or fresh manure, see that it is well dug into and mixed with the soil. Violets can be planted. Qld clumps may be lifted, broken into several pieces, and replanted. Prepare ground for planting chrysanthemums next month by digging in manure or compost. Lawn-making can be pushed on. Seed sown now on ground carefully prepared should go ahead with vigour. On weedy, couch-ridden areas, the wise alternative is to put in a potato crop and sow the lawn down in April. Cultivation of the crop will eradicate most of the weeds dominant in the surface.

Early flowering shrubs should be pruned after flowering, when future shaping should follow. This applies to Forsythia, prunus. flowering apple, and, later on, cherry and brooms. VEGETABLE GARDEN The garden should now be filling up, and early-sown seeds germinating. Most kitchen vegetables can now be sown. First attention should be given to the essential root and leafage kinds, peas, carrot, onion, beet, parsnip, silver beet, radish, parsley, lettuce, and turnip. For second sowings of peas choose Greenfeast or Onward. In suitable positions sweet corn and celery can be sown, also marrow, pumpkin, cucumber and squash. Tomato plants may be put out provided some measure of protection be given on frosty nights. As a rule mid-October is early enough for outdoor planting. Seeds of leeks, cabbage and Brussels sprouts may be sown. These plants should be ready for planting out in December. Early or maincrop potatoes can be planted. Of the latter class. Arran Banner, Aucklanders, Chippewa, and Inverness Favourite are recommended. Rows should be at least 2ft Gin apart with 12in between sets. With summer approaching make a point of seeing that full salad supplies are sown or planted. • Should rhubarb roots be sending out flowering stalks, cut these out at the base. If allowed to mature, the quality and size of the stalks will suffer. Growing plants of cabbage and lettuce will benefit from a weekly liquid manuring. Farm manure makes the perfect base, but sulphate* of ammonia, loz to a gallon of water, is also good. FRUIT GARDEN Grafting should be completed, taking advantage of the rising sap. Help the strawberry bed by liquid manuring it. Pruning of fruit trees should be finished and care taken with spraying. With blossoms out and tender leaves showing, emulsions should not exceed the strength detailed for the state of growth. Prunings ; should be picked up for burning and the ground under the branches lightly forked I over. Any surplus of wood ash can be j spread around as a mulch for the rain to wash down.

It is likely that walnut trees will provide a good crop-this season after two failures and to mitigate the effects of mildew of the fruit, a spraying with lime sulphur or Bordeaux should be done before the leaves appear. Tire effect of the blight is very damaging to the nuts. Answers to Correspondents Sydenham.—Provided the three specimens have not suffered by shifting them, there is no reason ' why trimming and shaping should not proved. Reducing some growths would be of benefit in balancing reduced root activity.

Milford, Temuka.—lt is not advisable to spray blossoming fruit trees for the purpose. Try tying in a fatty meat bone to entice birds from the flowers.