Important For Roses

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31782, 12 September 1968, Page 12

Important For Roses

Spring is an important time of the year for rose cultivation if the plants are to flower in full health and with vigour. Hoeing forms a major part of keeping the rose bed clean and well nurtured as weeds survive on the same food in the ground as do other plants In hoeing, care should be taken not to allow the blade to go too deeply into the ground so as to cut feeding roots. Aphis is a pest which is a constant threat to roses and regular check should

be made of plants to ensure it is not present Sometimes the pest is unable to be noticed until the sap has been sucked from the flower stems. When blooms appear later in the year, the plants should have a good soaking once a week and should be sprayed against mildew. Flowers should be cut just above a good plump bud on the outside of the stem as this will lead to a fresh stem branching out from that bud and producing another bloom later.

The idea that certain plants could only be transplanted at certain times of the year has faded into obscurity with the advent of container growing. It is now possible for almost any shrub, evergreen or deciduous, to be bought and planted in the home garden, at any time of the year.

The idea of container growing has been in use for com-

mercial establishments for several years, and in many North Island areas the principle is in great use in home gardens. During the next few months, it is expected that there will be a great upsurge in the use of container plants in the South Island. Plants of any size can be propagated in containers. Before planting, the containers, which are usually of the one gallon liver pail variety, are carefully separated from the plants, and then the plants and their surrounding soil, are planted in a prepared area of ground. The photograph shows container plants ready for sale in a nursery. Many varieties of plants are available.

One of the most important spring gardening activities is the preparation for, and the installation of, bedding plants. A wide variety of such plants are at present available from garden shops and departments. Bedding plants are the basis of any garden colour pattern and should be used with almost gay abandon, to ensure a successful display. Plants at present available for planting, in local stores include: antirrihinums, nemesias, violas (in four colours), pansies, cinerarias, Livingstone daisies (for borders) and many other varieties of daisies, dianthus, petunias, sweet peas, polyanthus, poppies and stocks. Retailers report that the run on these plants started earlier this year because conditions have enabled the ground to be prepared at an earlier stage than usual. Little preparation is needed for the ground in which bedding plants are to be placed. The ground needs to be well dug and if possible, a little compost sprinkled through it. When plants are bought, they are usually in a healthy condition, but an application of a liquid fertiliser, once the plants have become established, would be beneficial. Bedding plants are shown at a Christchurch seed merchant’s.