LILY 0F THE VALLEY

Evening Star, Issue 22276, 29 February 1936, Page 21

LILY 0F THE VALLEY

TASK IN RENOVATION The most frequent mistakes made in the cluture of the Lily of the Valley is that, because it prefers a shady place, any old corner is considered Rood enough (says the Auckland ‘Herald’s’ gardening contributor). There is no reason why those Lily of the Valley roots which have been in the garden for some years without flowering should not contribute their quota of bloom, but as it may take two or .three years to bring about the improvement I would advise getting some healthy roots to plant one half of the bed, so that there will be some flowers while the weak roots are gaining strength. Considering that the bed will remain undisturbed for several years, and will be occupied by plants which make a good deal of root, there is a need for plenty of food. If you have a good position against a fence, where shade is cast on the bed during the beat of the day, dig it over 2ft deep and work in a thorough dressing of decayed manure and rotted refuse. If this is done at once, the ground wdll.be settled sufficiently to undertake the planting in a fortnight. The actual planting is not difficult, all that is required being to draw gutters across the bed at intervals of 9in. Lay the roots along, with the crowns about 6in apart and not more than 2in below the surface level; draw in the soil and make it reasonably firm. If the old foliage is still green, it is unnecessary to cut it off, but if withered, cut the stalks lin from the base. This treatment should give the plants a good start toward that stage when they will produce plenty of flower. The principal items of management will be to keep the beds free from weeds, water well whenever the soil is dry, avoid cutting the foliage while it remains green, and give an annual topdressing of old, crumbly manure and leaf mould in the autumn.

Old beds may also be renovated by taking out trenches 6in wide, and a full spade’s depth right through the bed, leaving about Sin undisturbed between. Fill the trenches with the richest soil and manure it is possible to obtain. Roots will quickly spread through the new soil, and make good strong crowns. Two years later, treat the intervening strips. If this is done the bed will last for many years provided an annual top-dressing is given in March or April.