FLOWERING SHURBS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 125, 29 May 1930, Page 25

FLOWERING SHURBS

SHOULD BE PLANTED NOW SOME GOOD VARIETIES . ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. "Otaki."—Black currants may bo cut back as soon as they lose their leaves. They, should Imvo all old wood cut right back to .the base. The fruit is borne on-the new wood. As far as possible encourage strong sucker growths from the base of the plants. A: good mulchlnß.., of. manure will strengthen the bush and tend " to produce stronger growths.'

The season for planting all lands ofshrubs and trees has arrived, and' the earlier they can be put in the better, as it.is a distinct advantage for them to bo able to start into, growth, at_the roots.before the severest weather' sets in. In districts.- where very severe frosts'are the rule'it is-wiser'to postpone planting until ■ the spring,' except with tho hardiest of varieties. There is a tremendous list of shrubs of great merit suitable for all purposes and all ■positions,-so it,is wiser not to attempt to grow those which are unsuitable or which do not thrive in the locality. Ceanothus is one of the most beautiful of bluo flowering'shrubs. They grow readily, in almost any situation, and soon become nice, compact bushes. They flower for a long period, and are very" florif erous, producing charming sprays of their delicate-hued .flowers at tho terminals of each branch. There aro several varieties, "Azureus" being deciduous, tho' rest evergreen, except "Eichesso," which is a deciduous variety with pinls flowers. The shrubs grow to a height of from four to five feet. They do not require much pruning beyond -the-cutting- o& of the flower heads after they have finished. .'"'. Cant'ua' Dependcnshas beauitful rosecoloured trumpet-shaped blossoms freely produced. The plants growi; about 6 feet high, and are not quite frost hardy, ; but will do well .in coastal districts or where they can receive some shelter against a wall, iTheso shrubs require •rather, severe pruning after flowering ik over, as tho bloom is produced at tho extremities of'tho new growths. Caryoperis (Blue Spirea) is a charming' shrub, the flowei;s being a light lavender-blue. It only attains a height of 3 feel, so is suitable for small gardens or positions where larger plants would be out of place. , Exochordia (Pearl Bush) is a spring flowering deciduous shrub which, when well-grown, is covered with pure white flowers pioduccd in clusters, tho buds having tho appearance of pearls. A thoroughly hardy subject, and one well worth growing. Ilabrothamnus, a shrub which grows to ,'a height of about eight feet, has pretty, dark red blossoms' produced in .winter'and early spring. -These shrubs require hard pruning, oJJiorwiSo they become straggly. Thq flowers aro produced on the young growths. Cut fairly -hard back as soon as they finish flower■ii'g- / , , Cassia Jloribunda, an cvcigreen shrub which is sometimes called the Buttercup. tLee, from tho likeness of the floweis to buttercups, is hardly ever out of flower. Jt is at it best dm ing the winter and' early spring, and foi th it reason is very ustiul l'oi biighienng up tho garden at a time when floueis are scarce. Ifgiows about si\ iett high. lCorria Japonic i is a fiee flowering slnub ha\uig uthci single or doublo jellow blossoms Both \irieties are quite haidy, and bloom for, a long period. Tho plants haic long, windy growths, and aio veiy suitable for agunst a fence as a semiehmboi. Thoj will do quito well, and flout! fieely m shatly positions. Loptospoimum Nicholn, the red-flow-eied manukn, is a shiub well worth glowing. Tho bright, almost crimson blossoms aic freely borne, and with the daik iohago mako a vciy handsome shiub. Will O iow in any good garden boil Plumbago Capeusis* is a very handsomo shiub, iieUy producing trusses of soft china-bluo Bouvardialiko flowers. ]Tlowers aro produced in tho autumn, while the plants remain in bloom well on into tho winter. -There is also a whito form of tho above. ' Both grow to a height of five feet. Prostanthera rotandifolia, Australian Mint trees, with'■' their pretty violet bloomg, are moBt; striking when in full bloom,- being literally covered with blo&s&n. The plants are quite hardy, and if cut back after, flowering remain meat'and.; compact.'■. ■ _ ' Eibes sanguineuny' or flowering currant, blooms in early spring when very little else is in,flower except yellow narcissi, and for this reason is particularly apprecaited. The flowering' season is not. long, unfortunately, but the plants are so easily grown and require so little attention that they are worth giving a iplaeo to.1 ■ / Veronica Hulkeana is, of tho many New Zealand veronicas, perhaps tho most beautiful.' , "It is- quite distinct from the other "'varieties! both in habit of growth' and style of flower. The blooms aro borne in long spikes, and are a pale'heliotrope colour. The plants aro quite hardy, and not very partieu-

l;ir as to soil,-'hut; prefer a warm, rather dry situation. . ' - TRANSPLANTING; SHRUBS. ■ To. ensure, success with now shrubs a certain amount of caro is required in tho' transplanting. To remove, a plant from one place to another must of necessity cause a certain amount of check to'its growth, however carefully it may bo done. With evergreen shrubs it is the usual practice to wrench them in tho nurseries some weeks before they are finally lifted. The operation of wrenching is done by digging down one side of the plant and wrenching it partly out of the soil, thus breaking some of the roots. If this is done six weeks or two months before lifting time, new; roots form, and these will carry on the tree over the first movo and until such time as other new roots can form on the other side. With deciduous trees this is not usually necessary, as the whole tree i.i dormant for a period during winter. At tho same timo care should bo taken when lifting to injure the roots as little as possible, and beforo replanting, any torn or broken roots should be cut away with a sharp knife or secateurs. Plants such as rhododendrons, luculias, azaleas, and ethers which have bunches of fibrous roots it is wisor to plant without breakZing the ball of soil round them. It is not even necessary to remove the scrim, as this soon rots, and the fine roots can readily penetrate it in any case. With tothor 'subjects always endeavour to spread out the roots evenly all round and cover them with some fine, fairly dry soil which should be worked we'll in among them. Tramp the soil firm before putting on the surface cov j eriug, .and where high winds arc likely to occur, and in exposed positions, it is always wise to make the plant secure to a stake, until it ha,f> become thoroughly rooted. Finally, do not plant too deep. The depth the plant was in the nursery, .which can bo seen by tho soil mark on the stem, is the correct depth. CHRYSANTHEMUMS. Several correspondents .'have asked' lately for tho names of chrysanthemums which may ■ safely be grown outsido in the Wellington district, and the following. list has been conrpilod for readers. The list, however,,is only short, but each variety mentioned may be ,relied upon:— Pink.—Lilian B. Bird, Pink Star, Florence, Eoseday,' Gallipoli, William Buckingham (single). Yellow and Bronze.—Edith Cavoll, President, Poekett's late Bronze, Alice Shugg, Hairy Wonder, Charles Basque, Clara Curtis, Elation (very late), Alice Coloman, White.—William Turner, Silver Pino, Mrs. Tibbs, Louisa Poekett. Bed.—W. E. Church, The Imp, Eod Majestic.