WORK IN THE GARDEN

Putaruru Press, Volume XXVII, Issue 1373, 27 April 1950, Page 2

WORK IN THE GARDEN

THE NEW GARDEN

(By

Dr. J. S. Yeates, Massey

Agricultural College.) A certain small percentage of people at any one time are concerned with starting a -garden on new ground, usually around a new house. These gardeners may be small as a percentage, but they are very keenly interested in the problems involved. A few hints are given to-day. First of all, it is a good thing to seek the advice of a competent landscape gardener who will look over the area and draw a plan for you. Like employing an architect when building a house, the assistance of a good landscape gardener can not only give you a much better result, but in the long run is likely to save your money. The experienced man who has planned the layout for a number of houses has long ago found most of the pitfalls which the beginner is likely to fall into. Armed with his plan, the owner can usually go ahead, doing most of the work himself, but backed by skilled advice. Pitfalls For Amateurs If you decide to do the whole job without specialist advice, there are many mistakes you can make, but a few of them are particularly common and annoying. For instance, concrete paths or drives can be a terrible nuisance in mowing a lawn, unless they are practically level with the lawn. That is particularly true when using a wheel type mower, but if the concrete is higher than the lawn, then difficulty will be experienced with any type of mower. Concrete or brick walls or steps are often used between two levels of a garden. Lawn-mowing around their'bases can be very difficult unless they have a brick or concrete base at lawn level and extending out four or five inches. This is about the closest you can safely cut up to a wall, because the blades of a mow • er do not extend right to its outside edge. Preparations for Planting Shrubs The great planting season is almost on us. Not only those who are planting new gardens, but everyone who intends to put out shrubs, trees or even perennial flowering plants, should see that the soil is prepared as soon as possible. It may be that you have ground that is good, deep, rich and already cultivated. If so you are very lucky. To all others I would say dig the ground, put in plenty of rotted organic matter, like compost, mix some fertiliser thoroughly in, and level the ground over in readiness for planting. Eradicate Perennial Weeds It is a very great mistake to plant any trees, shrubs or perennial plants in ground which is already infested with perennial weeds such. as couch grass, convolvulus, oxalis (shamrock), or sorrel. Once these weeds are established in a planted bed it is almost impossible to eradicate them thoroughly, because you cannot fork them out from the roots of your plants. You will be faced with years of trouble, and as soon as you ease up for a few weeks will be as bad as ever. It is much better to wait for a year before planting, and in the meantime to clear out the weeds thoroughly. Next week I shall discuss some methods of doing this. The Flower Garden It is time to give thought to plantings of all sorts of annuals, perennials, and shrubs. By planting a few weeks ahead you can usually do better than by making a sudden decision. So look over your ground and decide what to plant and where. The summer and autumn bedding plants will be due for removal very shortly and this will leave quite a bit of room. The Vegetable Garden Most gardeners have dug their potatoes, and any still in the ground should be taken up for storage. Any [ old crops should be cleared away if they are finished with, sweet com, tomatoes, peas, and the like. Cab- [ bages and cauliflowers for spring ; use may be planted out. They must - be in good fertile soil and well fed J with ..nitrogenous manure to keep , them growing in the colder weather . ahead. A row of broad beans may - be planted. Thin out any late 30wn H crops like turnips and carrots. Some ' people advise sowing more carrots e now, but a good rich warm soil ahd 2 a warm autumn and winter are necV essary, or they do not reach any * good size before they run to seed in . the spring.