In the Garden

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1937, Page 26

In the Garden

By "Practical."

NOTICE 10 READERS.

CULTIVATION OF PAEONIES

Towards the end of March is the best time to plant paeonies. The first thing to ■he -taken into consideration when planting paeonies is the condition of the soil: If it is sour a good dressIng of lime must be! applied prior to ihe preparation of Jfthe" .bed. -.; It .has to be bortie in mind that after planting it is-best.that" they stay in the same position for a number of years, because the less they are disturbed the better they will grow and flower. i The soil-should be prepared a month or two in advance whenever possible. :by digging to a depth of, say, 12 inches, and if trenching can be resorted to so much the better. Whether it is dug or trenched', a good dressing of decayed manure should be dug-in or placed at the bottom of the trench. The manure Should be kept down so that it is well below the roots, when planted. If stable or cow manure is not available, a fertiliser consisting of bonemeal and sulphate of potash in the ratio of 5 of bonemeal t0,2 of potash should be well incorporated at the rate of soz to the square yard. ..No fertiliser,■ however, can give the best results if the soil is lacking in humus. ■j YOUNG PLANTS. Young plants from division ■ with from three to five eyes are. the best plants. It is a mistake to'plant large clumps as such frequently fail to make . sufficient new roots to produce strong eyesand they fail to flower. ': The process of planting is of the utmost' importance. Paeonies y. 7 resent being too deeply planted/: arid' when the ground■•riascbeen'^well prepared there is a tendency to'bury the roots too deep. • ■-.. ■■■'■■•. ■■■■■•'■,.;,;<;■--:- -•= ■ • When the plants are put in the soil should be made quite firm about the roots, to prevent.the plaint pinking after rain. The crown of the plane should be not more than 2 inches below the surface. Three and a half to four feet should be allowed between the plants. ■-■■ Paeonies cannot, under any. conditions, .be expected to give a quantity of flowers the first two years after planting. One or two' flowers may ap- ' pear on each plant, but they are not likely to be at all characteristic of thP variety at its best.

This column Is Intended' principally tor gardeners with small plots, and the aim Is to make.it «« practical and useful as possible. Inquiries on any matter of gardening interest will be welcomed. The rule for correspondence Is that all communications must be accompanied by the name and' address o| the writer, not tor Puh»oation, but as a guarantee of good faith. This rule will be strictly adhered Id. Thli li your column —make use of -it. ' - ■

It is advisable each year in early spring to give a good top-dressing of stable manure if available, otherwise the fertiliser as previously mentioned may be applied. Never let either stable manure or fertiliser be put on the crown of the plant, even when the plant is quite dormant, as it invariably leads to trouble with fungus' diseases later. Manures should be 12 inches away from the crown of the plant. DIVISION OF CLUMPS. Those who have clumps and wish to increase- their stock may do so by dividing them. The clumps should be very carefully lifted so as not to destroy any of the roots by cutting or breaking them, and as they are very brittle they are'easily injured. When the plant is quite free, lift it out of the ground and shake as much of the soil from it as'possible, then expose it to the sun ahd.'airVfor two or three hours until it is wilted a little; the roots are then softer and more pliable and can be handled with less danger of breaking.- Cut-the crowns into pieces each of which should "< have from three to five eyes.--' ; :' ''■•■' ' '.-V.V? •■ A fairly": open . position' should be selected away from, the-drip of trees or the roots of shrubs. FLOWERING PROBLEMS. Some growers have difficulty in getting the plants to flower—the chief reasons being:—(l) An unfavourable site, excessive shade or poor soil deficient in moisture owing to the intrusion of tree or shrub roots; (2) a hard or impervious subsoil. In wet weather this results in the top soil becoming soggy and poorly aerated; (3) too deep planting; (4; recent transplantation; (5) a diseased condition of the root. Paeonies rank among those plants which should be very seldom disturbed. Provided they are properly planted in the first place in soil which has been liberally treated they will thrive for 15 years or more in one place, each year producing more and better blooms. ■ The flowering season is comparatively short, but; a good clump in full bloom is a, delightful sight. On no account should the foliage be cut off till it dies down naturally.