PRUNING SHRUBS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

PRUNING SHRUBS.

EARLY COMPLETION NEEDED. The pruning of all evergreen and deciduous shrubs and conifer and other hedges that have not been attended to must be completed as soon as possible before the new growth sets in. Old camellias aro benefitted by a judicious thinning of some of the centre branches. As these plants aro subject to the attack of scale insects, the black smutty appearance of the leaves that so disfigure the bushes being a sure indication of the presence of theso insects, a syringing with the caustic-alkali solution applied with a suitable sprayer to wet the undersides of the leaves, will have a cleansing effect, particularly at this season when the young scales are emerging from under cover of the parent insoct. Kerosene emulsion may also be effectively applied. Deciduous flowering shrubs are all benefitted by a little pruning to remove some of the branches to produce a more symmetrical and evenly balanced growth. This is a suitable time to perform this operation, avoiding any that are already bursting into leaf and flower. Hydrangeas require to bo pruned hard back, excepting some of tho very strong growers that aro intended to remain as large bushes. These should be more sparingly treated, by thinning out some of the centre branches and lightly cutting tho others back. ASPARAGUS" BEDS. Established asparagus beds, if treated as advised in previous notes, by opening a trench around the sides of the bed to provide a free drainage and give added warmth to tho rpots, will soon be or> the move. At this time nitrate of soda, applied at tho rate of about an ounce, or slightly more, to tho square yard over tho whole bed will do much to strengthen tho plants and invigorato growth. Ground prepared during the autumn for now plantations should be again well forked over to allow tho soil to become thoroughly sweetoncd before planting. The time for planting extends until well into next month, so that if the weathor has prevented the necessary preparations being made there is still tune to trench, manure, and place tho ground in a satisfactory condition for planting, providing tho work is taken in hand at The ground should bo trenched from 20in. to 2ft. in depth, according to the nature of tho subsoil, while even 3ft. is not too deep if tho nature of tho subsoil will admit. Manure should be freely incorporled with the soil throughout the whole depth of tho beds, while burned rofuse, sand or other gritty matter, that will assist to keep tho ground open and porous should bo well mixed with tho soil. It must bo borne in mind that strength of shoots can only bo obtained in proportion, as the roots are kept supplied with tho necessary fcod.