The Rural Voice, 1979-11, Page 46Fa//preparation the key
to a successful garden
Fall preparation is the key to a
successful, healthy garden the following
spring.
Linda Hink of Agriculture Canada's
public information services says many
plants grown in Canadian gardens need
help to survive the harsh winters. There
are some tips for this year, some you may
have to wait and try next fall.
Flowering bulbs are popular in many
parts of Canada and proper care in the fall
is crucial.
Tender bulbs planted in the spring, such
as dahlias, gladioli, tuberous begonias and
canna lilies, should not be left in the
ground over winter but should be lifted as
soon as the foliage dies, usually by late
September to mid-October.
Let the bulbs dry thoroughly, dust with a
fungicide and store at 4.5° to 10°C for the
winter.
Hardy bulbs that bloom in the spring,
such as crocuses, tulips and hyacinths,
should be planted at least four weeks
before the ground freezes.
Many perennial plants should be left in
the ground over winter, but when the
season ends, the tops of the plants should
be cut off.
"The tops are sometimes left as mulch.
but mice can make nests under the dead
foliage, then they spend the winter
collecting bulbs for food," Miss Hink says.
"A better idea is to discard the tops.
After the ground freezes, lay a mulch of old
strawy manure or brush to hold the snow.
Where there is generally a good covering
of snow all winter, no mulch may be
required."
For roses, snow is the best all-round
insulation. Miss Hink says some soil
should be mounded up to a height of 20 to
25 centimetres. After the ground has
frozen, cover the mound with evergreen
boughs to hold the snow.
Deciduous trees and shrubs can be
planted from the time the leaves start to
turn color until the soil freezes. However,
softwood trees and shrubs, such as
poplars, willows or birches. should be
planted in the spring.
"Evergreens should be put in the
ground at least six weeks before the soil
freezes, so if not already done, it's best to
wait until next spring," Miss Hink says.
The lawn is an area of the garden that
many people ignore in the fall. trusting the
snow cover to protect the grass.
Miss Hink says a few simple precautions
now can save unsightly or damaged lawns
in the spring.
She warns against the excessive use of
nitrogen fertilizer in the fall.
"These fertilizers cause the grass to
grow when it should be dormant and this
often results in snow mold forming under
the snow."
When snow mold is a problem in an
area, apply a fungicide in the late fall
before the snow covers the ground.
"One other simple precaution is to clean
the lawn of debris and leaves. These often
harbor pests and diseases that could affect
the lawn if allowed to remain all winter,"
Miss Hink says.
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PG. 44 THE RURAL VOICE/NOVEMBER 1979
111