GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 72, 18 December 1926, Page 32

GARDEN NOTES

(By

“Kowhai.”)

MULCHING. Where water is scare, or where gardeners are going away for a holiday during the next few weeks, a mulch of some sort should be spread round the roots of plants. Those who nave been storing vegetable rubbish in holes, and adding to it wood or rubbish fire ashes, soap suds, lime, etc., will have now some line material for a mulch. The whole well-rotted mass should be got out, should be sprinkled with superphosphate, turned over thoroughly with the fork, and then spread round the roots of plants. Grass clippings, mixed with wood or rubbish fire ashes are good, and also road scrapings. The important point is that the roots should bo kept covered with a mulch of some sort. If animal manure is to be used it should be thoroughly rotted, as rich manure may cause too much growth and not enough Howers. VIOLETS. Violet borders that have not already been put in order should be attended to without delay. Cut off all leaves ami runners, thoroughly stir up the soil about the plants, give a thorough watering, and then mulch tho plants with well decayed manure or garden rubbish, luck the mulch material well in under the crowns of the plants, nnd then spread a little lightly all over the plants. As soon as this is done a row- ot some annual, such as ten-week stocks, phlox drummondii, asters, French marigolds, etc., may be planted just inside the violet border. The annuals will flower early in the autumn, and may be rooted out towards the end of April. Newly-planted violet borders are always difficult to bring successfully through the summer, for hot, and ofteii dry weather sets in before the plants are well established. They must be kept well watered and hoed till new growth commences. Once they begin to make new leaves a little weak nitrate of soda solution will give them a good part. Use it at the rate of Halt an ounce to one gallon of’ water, and apply it to the roots of plants after a good watering Give only one application. The nitrate of soda will help to make good leaf growth, and if tijo plants are to flower well Parly in winter they must make good leaf and fibrous-root growth during summer. Lhrougliojut the summer hoe the plants, and water when necessary. Examine the leaves regularly for any trace of red spider, and if there is any syringe the leaves with water every evening till it has disappeared. Dust soot about the plants occasionally, ami afterwards work it into the soil with the hoe or a small fork.

ROUTINE WORK. Lavatcras, clarkias, larkspurs, sebizantlius, silenes and many of the hardy annuals that nave been so lovely for some weeks are beginning now to run quickly to seed. Where they have to be rooted out, seedling plants’ for an autumn display may be put in their place. Salvias, heliotropes, pentstemons, verbenas, antirrhinums, asters, salpiglossis, French and African marigolds may De obtained now from many nurserymen. Another plan is to make a sowing of asters to follow those that are already planted out. The plants from this late sowing are often very successful. The ground should be deeply dug and should have some well decayed rubbish or manure dug in. It should then be made quite firm, and should be thoroughly watered. As soon as the soil is in good working condition sow the seed very ijindy. As the seedlings grow they should be thinned out to about six inches each way. Argentine Pea.—The plants should be cut back as soon as the flowers are over, lhe soil should be loosened and thoroughly saturated with water A mulch ol cow manure shoulfl then be placed lound each plant. When preparing the mulch, it is best to soften the clods of h, DU, ? 1 , In - bucket of water, stirring them till a thick mixture is formed. If th s is spread round the roots anv liquid will at once soak into tho wet soil, and mulch 7 f be Pnrt will form a nice - . J 0 ?! ianure cannot be had, work into the soil a sprinkling of guano Swoot- 6 a D niulch of decayed rubbish, .sweet Peas.—Keep the flowers well picked, and cut off any seed pods that are for’Yhl Itaferals 1 t aferals siiould be rubbed out, a.r , ey 4-’ ear ,° u n short-stemmed, poor «nnn ! k Keep . the , 80,1 " c " hoed, for it P S oot e -w r a o ter. We ". SnppHed nith Narcissi, Hyacinths, Tulips —Bulbs tow U 0 '-F , Hfted this year should on slrnW atteDded t0 ’i Sprend them, out f j or on , a R hed floor for a few in liove. dry ’* and llen s t° re them away As ?° on as t!le b ulbs are lifted, the ground should he deeply due end §°° d ■ ( ’ uan tity of decayed rubbish ana a dressing of bonedust worked in.

VEGETABLES. .Lift schallots as soon as the leaves begin to turn yellow. As soon as one ciop of peas is over cut down the vines and gather them into a heap for burning. If the ashes are spread over the ground, and the q °il lightly forked over, another crop may be put in without delay. It is an advantage to dig in plenty of decayed weeds, etc., at this time of year. Thoroughly soak this decayed stuff with water before returning the top soil. As soon as the first three bunches of flowers have set and formed fruit, tomato plants should be stopped by nipDln . 2 °D th 6 t°p of the shoot. j?y restricting the number of bunches of fruit each plan is to bear, we get larger and finer fruit than if the plants are allowed to go on bearing. Keep all lateral shoots pinched out, but don’t cut off any leaves yet. Keep the ground well cultivated. Liquid manure may be given, very weak at first, as soon as the fruit has set. Keep onions well weeded, and tho soil between the rows well hoed. Old sooi should be hoed in as often as possible Onions for salads mav be sown for'succession. Thin out the seedlings to about an inch apart, and keep them well hoed