GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19512, 10 June 1933, Page 11

GARDEN AND SHRUBBERY

BORDER CHRYSANTHEMUMS.

Every season, when border chrysanthemums are brightening the garden in autumn, I resolve to plant more of them (writes a contributor to ‘Popular Gardening,’ London). This season I intend to devote a large border entirely to their cultivation and to plant gladioli among them. The latter, whilst not interfering with the growth of the chrysanthemums, will provide a display of flowers during summer.

On light, well-drained soils border chrysanthemums will stand the winter out of doors without injury. On the other hand, they often fail on heavy clayey, cold soils, and need to be lifted in the autumn and wintered in a cold frame.

The clumps, if left undisturbed year after year, increase in size and become poor in quality. The best plan is to lift and divide them every two years. Clumps of good size are then produced and these, if carefully staked, bloom freely. On the other hand, if large individual flowers are required cuttings should be taken each year. Plants which have been undisturbed for more than two years should now be lifted and divided. Select the outside portions of the clumps, as the centres are weak and impoverished. Each divided portion should contain from three to five shoots.

When it is desired to increase them by cuttings the plants which have been wintered in a cold frame will furnish suitable shoots, or a few plants may be lifted from the garden, set in the frame, and kept close until vigorous growth commences. Shoots about 3in long can be taken, trimmed off just below a node, the lower leaves removed, and inserted in sandy soil in small pots.