GENERAL OPERATIONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 190, 13 August 1932, Page 7 (Supplement)

GENERAL OPERATIONS

BUSY MONTH’S NEEDS. The present is a busy time in all departments of the garden chiefly in completing the pruning of roses, which should be done in all localities not later than the middle of the month, as well as the spraying and manuring and digging among the plants in the beds and other places. The pruning of all trees and shrubs, evergreen and deciduous, and the pruning of hedges should also be completed as soon as possible. Spraying is a necessary operation to kill moss and other parasitic growths which is so prevalent in moist humid climates, giving the trees and other plants an unsightly appearance and forming a harbour for latent insects. The citrus family is subject to several scale insects and requires treatment to keep the bark smooth and shining, and the leaves in a healthy condition. Digging and Planting. Digging or otherwise treating the soil in the various beds and borders is a necessary operation at this season as well as weeding among seedlings and regulating the growth of some of the plants, and attending to borders. Grass on lawns is becoming more active and needs to be mown and the surface occasionally rolled. Autumn sown grass should receive its first cutting with the scythe. Hasten on with the planting of most of the varieties of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, also Citrus trees for ornament or otherwise are best planted at this season. This also applies to several trees and shrubs, notably eucalypts or gums, acacias and others that are usually pot grown. Bamboos for hedges, ornamental and utilitarian purposes should be planted in the spring. Succession of Flowers. Bedding out seedlings occupies the chief attention of the gardener in the early spring, to provide a continuous succession of summer-flowering seedling annuals and biennials. Care must be taken not to plant tender varieties out oi season; this entails loss and disappointment, but so frequently happens. Value of Mulching. Mulching is another important operation. It consists in lightly stirring the surface soil around the plants to break the crust, control seedling weeds and admit the ameliorating effects of the sun and atmosphere. Mulching pansies and some other plants with broken up cow manure mixed with coarse sand is beneficial. With the rush of spring work the gardener is kept more than busy. STOCKS ATTRACTIVE BLOOMS. Spring and summer-flowering stocks are useful plants in every garden. Large beds, groups and borders of the different varieties of stocks of the finest strains, comprising a large percentage of double flowers continue in bloom for some time and are exceedingly attractive. Stocks.prefer a fairly stiff soil and to be planted at suf ficient distances apart to allow each plant sufficient room to properly develop. The summer-flowering 10week stocks are dwarf, compact growers.

The Giant Perfection is a wonderfully fine type of the largest flowering 10-week stocks of strong branching, vigorous habit. From the best selectci strains a large percentage come double. This is the best and most popular stocks for summer flowering. The present is a suitable time to plant. Give each plant ample room to branch out; they will grow to fully 18in. Winter Flowering Stocks. Winter flowering or beauty stocks may be planted in the autumn for early flowering. They ar© hardy and very little trouble to grow. Beauty of Nice, in several colours, is a charming type. East Lothian or intermediate stocks, form broad specimens and afe very hardy and extremely showy when in full flower. Stocks may be utilised for pot culture mixed among other flowering plants that are i % effective when well grown and kepi free from green-fly which is often troublesome in both the out and indoor culture.