Summer Flowering Plants

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

Summer Flowering Plants

"JTF the time February arrives, many of the summer flowering plants will have reached a period of change which calls for some attention. A number of tho border perennials, which have a flowering period of restricted duration, will require some tidying up. This is not merely for the sake of appearanco, although that is important. More i'roni tho point of view of welfare of the plants is tho removal of withered flowers and scedpods in the course of development. To produce and ripen a crop of seeds imposes a heavy strain pir any plant, anil when the seed is not required, it is a pity to allow it to mature. Tho earlier species of lilies » that have finished flowering should have the old blooms, including the short stalks removed, but the main stems and foliage should be allowed 1 to remain. It is wrong to cut these plants down ■when green and full of sap. Plants like erigerons, campanulas, veronicas, coreopsis and gaillardias that have borne a lot of flowers, but have still more to come, will benefit by having

Encouraging Later Blooms ■

the oldest stems' cut right away, giving room to the younger growths carrying fresh flower buds. Aquilegias, gouins, lychnis and other plants which boar their flowers in branching sprays or loose clusters will recuperate wonderfully if tho old stems are removed, together with any basal leaves that are dead, but none that are green and lively. Sprinkle a little fertiliser round tho plants as a stimulant, and scratch it in with a hoe or rake, then, if tho surface is dry, givo a good soaking of water.

Flower stalks of pinks and carnations, also sweet williams should bo broken off at a low joint as soon as the flowers have faded. Tho basal growths are encouraged by this means to strengthen themselves and do full duty next season. There may bo a few ripening seedpods 011 some of tho choico alpines which might bo .worth saving. Watch these carefully and gather just as the pods show signs of bursting. In nearly all cases it will be best to sow tho seeds at onco. Place tho pots or pans in a frame and keep shaded from bright sunshine. In consequenco of tho gunor-

oils amount of moisture with which summer boilcling plants have boon supplied, the greater proportion of thorn huvo made leaf growth ut a greater pace than usual. This abnormal vigour lias not resulted in a superabundance of bloom, except in the caso of a low plants that are lovers of moisture. The result lius been uoiue overcrowding of plants. While tho novice will be reluctant to cut away portions of the plants, this is the best means of regulating matters. By removing tho outer branches which crowd their neighbours, air passages will be made, and daylight admitted to harden up tho remaining growths, which will then flower. Cut out tho old branches of philadelphus which have borne flowers this season. Tho strong green branches, which are shooting up from the base, require all the room and circulation of air that they can get, for they need to complete ami ripen their growth beforo winter, in order to produce their crop of bloom next season. Many plants that have been flowering for several weeks will give another display later on if cut back now. Violas, antirrhinums, mimulus and linaria arc examples which respond to this treatment.