SOWING, PLANTING AND TENDING...

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28701, 26 September 1958, Page 3

SOWING, PLANTING AND TENDING...

Those who thought their ground in need of moisture have, at last, had that need fulfilled with great benefit to all vegetation. Moisture in spring puts new life into the soil for the season’s work. It has been an uncommonly dry winter, with a preponderance of frosts, and this has allowed the gardener every opportunity of performing all those activities necessary in the winter season to ensure that the warmer weather work of sowing, planting and tending can go ahead smoothly and without hindrance. Those who have not only read these notes each week during the winter months, but have also acted upon them, will find themselves in the happy position of being able to take full advantage of this most interesting season of the year. Put Out Those

BEDDING PLANTS Bedding plants can be put out in all their rich variety. A little planning will enable you to fill spaces in such a manner as to achieve a glorious show, for the choice is very wide as long as care is taken to ensure that the space available matches the size and growth of the plants chosen for it.

Petunias, verbena, pansy, aubretia, stocks, asters, wallflower, dianthus, phlox and Canterbury bells are some of the good things to consider. Gladiolus should be freely planted, as they can be got to flower from February until April. Don't Overlook Those ZINNIAS . . .

Ensure A Full Supply Of PERENNIALS... The more important section of perennials can be sown now, preferably in boxes of good,' sandy soil under glass. By doing this now you can ensure a full supply of wanted sorts to be put out about next March, or after the summer flush display has passed. To have good stocks of good quality pansy, polyanthus, carnation, delphinium, hollyhock, dianthus and primulas on hand at that time will be found very useful. Look At Those LAWNS . . . Routine work just now will make the care and maintenance of the lawn very important. Edge trimming, weed control, and the possession of a good lawnmower are primary essentials. New lawns can be sown down. Rake the surface lightly before sowing, and again to cover the seed. Germination t should follow within three weeks. Do not worry over weeds in the lawn or on driveways, for spraying with a hormone 24D liquid wfll speedily control them. Choice Limited In FLOWERING SHRUBS Flowering shrubs can still be planted, although the choice is now more restricted. , Rhododendrons, brooms, azaleas, gums, wattles, camellias, diosma, magnolias, viburnum and hydrangeas can still be planted. For choice positions, the selection chbuld be widened to include the new coloured manukas, scarlet or pink flowering gums, proteas, banksia, nerium, or oleander, andromeda japonica, clethra arborea, cantua or dyrandra. Suggestions For BORDER PERENNIALS It is time to plant up border perennials such as perennial phlox, delphinium, helenium, paeonies, Michaelmas daisy, astilbes, Japanese iris, kniphofia, blue scabious, campanula and rudbeckia.

Pleasant Operations . . . Sowing hardy annuals and filling in spaces on the borders with suitable plants will now be a pleasant operation. Provided the plants are well hardened off, there should be no risk in putting out your favourites; such as violas, petunias, nemesia, antirrhinum, wallflower, Iceland poppy, Livingstone daisy, and 10 weeks and beauty stock. Most annuals should be sown where they are intended to remain, and therefore should be sown thinly in rows, or broadcast in patches, for many of the best do not transplant well. These include poppies (Shirley or double), larkspur, viscaria, linaria, mignonette, nasturtium and clarkia.