PRACTICAL GARDENING

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28866, 10 April 1959, Page 3

PRACTICAL GARDENING

Specially Written for "'The Press”by

T D. LENNIE, A.H.R.I.H., N.Z.

LAWN MAKING calls for Careful Preparation

Have you ever tried to make an analysis of the components that make up a garden’s real charm? Two gardens of comparable area can be side by side, possessing about the same number of plants of identical varieties, and be tended with equal enthusiasm. Yet one appeals at once by its restful charm while the other appears overcrowded and even overornate. Basically, of course, the reason for this lies in the amount of skill and imagination with which the two gardens were

originally planned and laid out, and the relationship between beds, borders and lawns. While beds and borders and their contents are variable in their effectiveness as the seasons come and go, the lawn is one permanent feature of practically every garden. It deserves, therefore, considerably more attention in the original planning of any garden than it is frequently given. Its importance is only too often underrated by those whose vision may be rather dazzled by

BULB PLANTING

Bulb planting should be continued, and it offers almost endless scope for the garden lover. Most bulbs are cheap enough to place mass displays within the reach of all. Anemones, ranunculus, tritonias, freezias, grape hyacinths, sparaxis, babinas. ixias, all belong to the small bulb class so effective for edgings or in rows behind polyanthus. On the rockery, too, obvious gaps are often apparent, and splendid subjects to fill these include crocus, hyacinths, and several dwarf narcissi, in addition to those already named above. The lovely hoop petticoat narcissus is most effective in small clumps, as well as narcissus caniculatus and the old pallidus praecox, white early trumpet. Narcissus under grass in the orchard or woodland, in conjunction with blue scillas, are well worth while, and for this purpose any of the less expensive kinds could be used

The narcissi will take pride of place in their season, and planting, therefore, should be liberal. With the great influx of new varieties each year, the collecting of the latest varieties can become expensive. There are, however.

plenty of striking varieties available in the five shilling, and under, class, so that only a few of the more expensive newer sorts need be added from year to year. Good garden varieties such as King Alfred. War Cloud, Fortune and Militant should find their place in the collection for cut flower purposes. Where something better is wanted. Scarlet Queen, Scapa (white trumpet). Magnificent (yellow trumpet), Mrs R. O. Blackhouse (pink trumpet), Cornish Fire. Duke of Windsor, and the doubles. Cheerfulness and Twink. will afford some attractive variety Many of the showy autumnflowering bulbs are now making a fine display, the well-known amaryllis belladonna particularly so. The white form is quite exotic in appearance, as, indeed, are all the amaryllis section. Some of these make a close head if left for some years, and can be broken up for replanting. The best time to do this is after flowering.

There is quite a wide range of them —crocus, coichicum, nerines, amaryllis, sternbergia and zephranthus —and their colours are equally varied Blue, white, yellow. pink and various shades A red are included in their range They deserve to be more largely grown than they are at present, for most of them will fill a pocket in the rockery admirably.

prospects of riotous colour in seasonal displays. Yet a perfect lawn adds to the charm of any garden. It is attractive in itself and sets off to advantage all ! flowers, as the velvet lining of a jeweller's case enhances the bril-, liance of the gem it encloses. I The lawn is such an important ■ asset in the lay-out of a garden I that it pays to take pains when making new lawns or renovating an existing one. The first and main consideration in obtaining a good lawn must be an even surface, without which no amount of care and attention will ever gain a completely satisfactory result. It is a point that cannot be over-emphasised that

“near enough’’ is not “good enough’’ if a lawn in which you can take pride is to be achieved in the end. This even surface can best be obtained when the area is being levelled and before any sowing takes place. To do this properly requires much raking and a series of pegs at intervals from which to use a spirit 1/evcl and long board. The pegs are driven in so that their tops determine the over-all level by means of the long board and spirit level placed between them. When the tops of the pegs are all level with each other, it is easy to rake the soil level between them, and a good even surface is assured.

The tramping of the feet in doing this will tend to find any depressions and these can be corrected in the. final raking. Seed sowing should then be done, and a final raking given to cover the seed.

It is wiser to avoid sowing a mixture containing ryegrass on a lawn, the neat appearance of which is particularly important, as this variety entails more cutting than others. A mixture containing Chcwings fescue, brown top and crested dogstail will provide a good permanent sward. It is hardly necessary to add that conditions at present are ideal for the work, or that full advantage should be taken of them in the next week or two. If birds are troublesome, coating the seed with kerosend and red lead will be found effective in checking their ravages.

Here And There ...

A fine combination—violets and lily of the valley—can now be shifted or planted. Both should be given a good place in the open, for, while they will grow under deciduous trees, their floral return will not be so good. Violets should be planted in rows, two feet apart each way, and given a well-manured soil. There is an astonishing variety in colour. In addition to light and dark blues, there are red, white and apricot, although these colours are deficient in perfume. For growing under trees, none thrive better than the perky little English wood violet.

Red spider is the great enemy of the violet, particularly affecting old clumps grown under hot conditions. It reveals its presence by the foliage turning yellow, and a general look of pallid weakness. The best remedy is to scythe off the foliage for burning, and to spray the crown -with nicotine sulphate

It will soon be lily planting time. L. Candidum—the old Christmas lily—is as dormant now as it will ever be, so that any shifting of these good old favourites should be done soon. Most other lilies are still green and growing. Where seed of any of these had been formed, it should be taken off and can be sown at once in free soil.

It is possible that there are gaps in the flower border to be filled with bedding plants. This would be quite in order at present as the plants will flower from November onwards.

Sow sweet peas and all varieties of hardy perennial flowers for| next summer. Spaces on the bor- 1 ders can be filled with many plants in succession to their summer occupants. Antirrhinum, wallflower, Iceland poppy, carnation, polyanthus, beauty and Brompton stocks, and lupins will all serve to fill the borders until replaced with the normal late spring plantings.