Flowers

Northern Advocate, 30 August 1947, Page 3

Flowers

Heavy frosts and cold wind have played havoc in the garden, damaging the flowers of early-flowering shrubs and such annuals as nemesias. cinnerarias etc,. Some may shoot again but. in many cases annuals will have to be re-planted. A check-growth is very harmful to annuals. This may be caused by leaving the annuals in boxes too long, when they will rush into flower without having made su/licient growth. Transplanting from a warm glasshouse to a cold situation, seedlings should be well hardened before transplanting. Changes of temperature, such as we have experienced lately, changing from warm weather to frosts and cold winds, have been detrimental. Lale frosts will have cut some of the early growth, particularly where plants have been pruned too early. On the other hand it will have killed many pests, particularly aphides.

Aphides are very troublesome at this season on carnations, roses, and tulips. Use a nicotine spray with soap added. If the plants are only slightly affected, the pest may be washed off. Anemones are troubled with aphis on the flowers, and underneath the leaves. Spray with warm soapy'water and nicotine; also on warm, sunny mornings, water the plants well with the hose. The force of the water will kill some of the aphides. The steamy atmosphere will also help. Birds, lady birds, wasps and praying mantis, eat aphis.

Tulips are troubled with a disease called fire, which ruins the flowers and bulbs. This disease is incurable, but it can be checked by spraying with Bordeaux two or three times while the bulbs are growing. They should also be kept free of aphides, as these spoil the blooms. They also cause striping or breaking. Tulips need plenty of water while they are growing.

Continue * the planting of trees, shrubs, hedge plants, perennial plants, gladioli, and seasonable annuals.

Sow seed in boxes, of hardy summer flowering annuals. Wistaria may be planted now. A situation sheltered from the afternoon sun is best. Give a cool root run, with plenty of manure, water, and depth of soil. Don’t plant wistaria over a house, as the growth gets under the eaves, and may do a lot of damage: Wistarias also strangle other plants if- allowed to grow over them.