GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 220, 11 June 1921, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.’’) WINTER WORK IN THE GARDEN. Winter time gives us a grand opportunity for a, thorough ti dying-up in our gardons. It 1b an opportunity that should bo made the most of whenever -weather conditions make work possible, but it in one that is. alas, too often missed, for many, sad to say, are the gardeners who think that winter is the time for a rest from gardening. In their gardens weeds and self-sown seedlings grow and flourish, dead flower stalks are not reraove n Slants, and perennials are not divided. oseß are allowed to ripen seed-pods, and In doing so exhaust their strength and so become a ready prey to many blights. Shrubs are left overcrowded and unable to ripen their shoots, while snails, slugs, red spider, and aphides find harbour in these gardens, feasting unmolested and gaining a. sure foothold. The sun’s rays are unable to penetrate the mass of growth, and so the soil becomes sour ana Infested with insect life. These are but a few of the evils that exist in a neglected garden. What a pleasure then to turn from such to clean, well-cared-for gardens! Let us begin with the weeds and selfsown seedlings. At this time of the year, if they have been left untouched, they form a thick mat-like growth, crowding in among and smothering valuable plants, and shutting out Nature’s purifiers—-sun and wind —from the soil. Moreover, are robbers, eating up tho plant * OO< J from the great storehouse, and leaving it empty. And as they grow and flourish they afford harbour to many plant enemies, such as slugs, snails, red spider, aphides, and various caterpillars although glad to shelter beneath these coarse-growing subjects, prefer to wander forth at meal-times to feast on more tender plants. How important, then, to see that our gardens are clean and free weeds and superfluous seedlings, so that the plant foods may bo reserved for the right plants, and the sun and wind may have free access to the soil, sweetening it. and causing more vigorous root action. Insect pests unable to find much shelter are oulokly snapped up by their natural enemies — birds. Sparrows, starlings, thrushes, and many other birds are good friends to the gardener, for they rid the garden of many pests. We are ant to blame them when they nip the buds on roses, or the points off carnations, out if. Li really ourselves who are to blame. The birds are not bent on wanton destruction ; their quick eyes spy many a dainty morsel on the tender shoots, ana, as they snap up a juicy caterpillar or a fat. aphis, they do the damage we complain of. If we keen oar plants clean and our not! well tilled, the birds will leave tha plants alone and confine their attention to' the insects in the newlvturned soil. Carnations, stocks, wallflowers. and many other plants should bo frequently syringed with soap-suds just now to rid them of aphides. Rose bushes should be sprayed several times during the winter with lime sulphur. For tho gardener who has only a few rose bushes a rose-spray Is not necessary, for a, small naint. brush may be used with (treat effectSimply' dip it in to the prepared lime sulphur and thoroughly cleanse every stem and twig. A brush has this advantage, that It will often get Into cracks that the sprayer does not reach. If there la any scale on the stems, it should be rubbed ofD with a stick before the lime sulphur is used. ' Summer and early autumn Illiums must toms in tor their share of attention. Remove tho top few inches of soil from around them, taking care not to damage the bulbs in doing so. and replace it with a. layer of well-rotted manure. If a thin layer ot soil can be placed over the manure carpet plants, such as violas or flowering verbenas, may bo planted at, once, or mignonette may bo sown, rhese will shade the roots of the lilies during summer, taking the place of the all-im-portant mulch, and at the same time adding much charm to the garden. Once rose bushes are pruned and sprayed, they may be treated In the same way, for they very much appreciate a carpet during hot weather. Bos-s, flowering shrubs, ana most perennial plants may be planted now. and are all tho better tor the chance of becoming established before the hot weather sets tn. Old clumns of perennials. if not already attended to. should be lifted and divided, and strong nieces from the outside of the clumps should be planted back. Perennials that are left from season to sen ran without being lifted and attended to soon become woody and produce only very medium flowers. Once the garden has been clearef and the plants and soil attended to. empty spaces may bo filled tn. with seedling perennial and annual plants. Nurserymen are offering many tempting seedlings just now. When buying seedlings try to get the smallest and sturdiest. Jfanv gardeners choose thj largest plants thinking that they will flower sooner, but this is quite a mistake. When the seedlings are transplanted tho chances are that the roots cease to to the plant, until thev have become established: therefore, the loss top-growth there is to be maintained the better for th" plants. Winter Is onr best time for attending to our flowering shrubs, for. especially among deciduous egr*. we enn see whore they are overcrowded. It is a mistake to prune such shrubs as deutzins. forsvthias. spiraeas, lilacs, and rfhes at this time of the year, for we get our best flowers on tho long shoot’ that they have formed since the last flowering season. But where the growths arc overcrowded, we should thin out the middle, for unions sunlight can penetrate to every part cf th" bush, and ripen’ the shoote. the flowering will be noor. Overcrowding Is often the cause of lilacs not flowering well. AH suckers should be removed, and the bushes kept open to admit sunshine. Evon in winter a well-kent shrnbbetv is attractive, for many of the shrubs have very beautiful stems. Dead leaves should h" collected and turned in wherever possible. but do not dig near the shrubs with a. spade lest valuable roots be destroyed. Use a. fork among shrubs. Hedges n;ay bo planted during the next few weeks, but let me impress upon those who intend doing so the importance of thorough soil preparation. It is hopeless to turn over the soil spade-dem. and then expect a hedge to grow. The subsoil must he attended to. and th" deeper the trenching the more credit will tho hedge be to you afterwards. Dawns may be top-dressed with finelysifted manure, lime, and soil mixed. The more frequently lawns are rolled, the less chance is there'for the grass ernb. Rubbish and dead leaves must be stored in heaps, and not left lying about- There will be use for every scrap of decayed rubbish when mulching-time arrives.

Duyinr the autumn, weeds in tho streets "nd waste place" were allowed to ripen thoir seed, autumn winds blew the seeds hither and thither, depositing many on our gravel garden paths, and now we are reaping the harvest, for time after time a fresh cron of weeds arnears. nnd tho hno is constantly at work. Rolling the noth frequently during winter holes to harden ft. and makes it more difficult for woods to find rooting space. There are many other outdoor fobs for the winter snch as repairing arches end nergolao. forming now borders, attending to climbers etc., hut space forbids me to mention them. There i" one important point that must, ho touched on. however, nnd that is improving the soil. Now is the time! Seize your chance! I have on very many occasions sne-c-osted how to tmnrove clnv or sa.ndy soils, and have harped on the need for humus, so that now T will bring thin article to a clone with a reminder that, it is during the next few w»eks that von h»re your grand chance to imnrove vnnr ""’J. and to add to if. the humus fbnt will help to sustain your plants during their busy season. TOOWHRTNG TREES. Amelanchior (snowy mesnilus) is a beenttfnl flowering tree. During spring tho frppt becomes simply a mnss of white blossom, and as it grows fairly tall—about twenty foot—it. is a. groat sight when in bloom. During the sntiimn the leaves colour briiliontiv. »TT>«|nn<-bfer is quite hardy, and likes a light soil. OTTR.CTS Sn.TQUA STRUM. Cercis. commonlv known as the Judos tree. i« also very beautiful in the snrin" when it hoars its nrett.y rod flowers. It grows well in quite ordinary «otl provided it has been thoroughly dug. BENTHAMTA FRAGTFERA. Benthamia. the American strawberry tree, grows into a. te.ll slender tree, and is most, attractive when it is covered with its berries. These are like large strawberries, nnd are bright pink in colour. The herry-lnden branches are splendid for bringing Into tho house for tnD vases, and last well in water. Garden .Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about flowering frees and shrubs, routine: work, and vegetables.