GARDENING NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 270, 15 November 1945, Page 3

GARDENING NOTES

(By The Wanganui Horticultural Society). Now is the time to clean around some of the lloweri. g shrubs that have finished blooming, such as camellias, rhododendrons, magnolias and others; rake up all tlie deau flowers and put them on the compost heap which is the most useful thing to do. Prune back diosmas about six inches or so according to the growtli they have made; this will stop the bushes from getting top heavy and getting blown over by the wind, whicli is olten the case, through lack ol proper attention. It is still possible in some heavy soils to plant small shrubs such as veronicas, ericas and weigelias, etc. A number of small native trees can also still be planted, in fact with care well balled plants are fairly safe transplanted now. In the case of rhododendrons and azalea mollis they do not like to be disturbed, so dig around them as little as possible; the hoe should be enough to keep them clean of weeds. HERBACEOUS BORDER.

Delphiniums, Canterbury bells, Russell lupins and other tall growing plants must be kept tied to the stakes to prevent them getting damaged. In other parts of the garden there are a host of th.ngs to be done—carnations need attention now, staking with home-made wire staxes made this way—twist a good strong wire round the rake handle (with about 12 inches left at the bottom to push into the ground) on a circle made at the top of the wire; this will probably support the whole plant; this method will keep the flowers off the soil and prevent them from getting discoloured. Keep spent heads of poppies, aquilegias, gerberas, pansies, violas, antirrhiniums and scabious picked off and give the plants a longer flowering season.

Sweet peas need a little help with a teaspoon of sulphate of ammonia in one gallon of water given to the plants once a week, or some soot water is also helpful, but if they are coming to flower lime water is all that is needed. Iris need plenty of water any time the weather remains dry. We'must get busy and get our annuals planted before the end of November for summer display. There are pleny of asters, phlox Drummondii, marigolds, salvias, zinnias, petunias, lobelia available now to fill spaces where we had spring flowering plants which are row finished. VEGETABLE GARDEN. Thin out carrots, parsnips, beetroot and lettuce sown in the open; this is better done after a good run. Don’t be too eager to use the hose; let the plants work for themselves as long as possible. Tomatoes that were planted early need looking to now; the laterals must be picked out and thrown right away from the plants; don’t leave them lying around. Watering tomatoes when they are getting too dry can be done in a simple way—place a flower pot in the ground between two plants and fill with water when needed; this will keep the cold tap water off the foliage. The hoe is the best friend just now —keep it going. Cucumber plants can be planted before it is too late. Don’t forget your leek seed, also savoy, broccoli and garden swede for next winter. FRUIT TREES. Spray now for codlin moth on apples; a lot of fruit is ruined by this pest. Nectarines want spraying with lime sulphur; the same applies to peach trees. We have to fight all these pests if We want to get our share of fruit, so get busy.