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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2005-05-11, Page 7and Gar THE HURON EXPOSITOR, May 11. 2005 - 7 en Guide Jason Middleton photo An eye for irises Jane Austin, of Egmondville, chooses some irises for her garden during the Seaforth Horticultural Society's annual plant sale at Northside United Church Saturday. Healthy soil a necessity for lush, healthy plants How well do you -know your soil? It's an important question for the health of the plants in your garden. Good soil does more than provide a foundation for roots to grab on to. It has good structure. the right pH balance, and provides the right amount of nutrients for the kind of plants you're trying to grow. Poorly structured soil inhibits plant growth in a number of ways. Clay soils will compact easily, drain poorly, prevent air from getting to the roots. and dry into hard clumps. Sandy soil will drain too quickly. erode easily and have difficulty holding nutrients for the plants 10 use. Good soil strikes a balance between these two extremes. Both clay and sandy soil will benefit from liberal applications of compost and organic matter. Mark Cullen, one of Canada's leading gardening experts, recommends improving your garden soil by mixing in ,a mixture of manure, peat, loam and fertilizer. "The mixture does wonders for my garden soil." Acidity or alkalinity in the soil is measured by pH values. on a scale of 1 (most acid) to 14 (most alkaline) with a level of 7 considered "neutral". The pH lever influences the availability of nutrients for you plants. as well as the type of plants you can grow. Most plants will grow well in a pH range of 6.5 to 7.2. Soil that is too acidic can be neutralized by adding Dolomitic lime. It's time to test tools for gardening season With warmer temperatures on their way, many Canadians will be heading outdoors to work on their yard. Yard work can be time consuming and difficult if you don't know where to start. so the lawn and garden team at Canadian Tire has the following tips to point you in the right direction this season. • Test your trimmer to make sure it is working properly and doesn't need any new pans. If it's time to trade in the old trimmer. consider the following before investing in a new one: • The size of the arca to he trimmed. • If the trimming area has heavy or light grass and brush coverage. • The versatility you will need from trimmer attachments. • A trimmer with spring assist starting technology will make it easier to start on the first try. • Before using the lawnmower for the first time this Spring. check the following: • The blades for sharpness and damage. • Make sure the cutting deck is clear of old debris. • That the pull cords are in good working condition. • The spark plugs. Spark plugs should be checked annually to make sure that your lawnmower will not misfire. • The oil levels. A lawnmower should be given an oil change annually. • Start your garden out right by tilling the soil. • Rid your eavestroughs of leftover leaves and debris that hale built up through the fall and winter. This will help melting snow, ice.and rainwater run freely. • Check garden hoses for Teaks and store hose neatly in an accessible place. To help make the chore of winding the hose easier. use a self-winding reel. • News Canada Alkaline soils can he neutralized by adding peat moss or small amounts of aluminium sulphate. available at most garden centres. All plants need a good balance of the major nutrients (nitrogen. phosphorus and potassium). as well as minor nutrients such as sulphur. iron, calcium, and many others in minute quantities. You can test your soil for the presence of these nutrients and add those that. are needed in the form of fertilizer. News Canada SCREENED TOPSOIL small & LARGE Quantities Delivery available from Vandriel Excavating 482-3783 Weedfree without pesticides A beautiful. lush, weed - free garden doesn't need chemicals such as pesticides. Most people assume that to beautify lawns and gardens, they have to use pesticides — such as insecticides that kill insects, rodenticide that kill rodents, herbicides that prevent weeds and fungicides that control fungi. But these products have been linked to a variety of illnesses, and some chemicals used in pesticides are believed to cause cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society's website, at www.cancer.ca, has more information on the uses and affects of pesticides. • As well, questions can be answered by information specialists at the Society's Cancer Information Service 'at 1 888 939-3333. ..."Appropriate action should be taken to limit the risk to human health. This is especially true when the reason for using pesticides on lawns is to prevent weeds and plants that can be removed in other potentially less damaging ways," said Sylvia Leonard, Senior Director. Cancer Control, Canadian Cancer Society. .. Before reaching for pesticides. the Canadian Cancer Society recommends the following alternatives to help your garden grow naturally and improve the appearance of your lawn: • Regularly pick off decaying leaves. This will control moderate infestations. • Dig out weeds by their root by hand. • With a garden hose. regularly spray a strong stream of water over plants and trees to dislodge insects. • Consider companion planting. Some plants help ward off insects that affect others. • Make you own mild insecticide by mixing two tablespoons of soap flakes into a Titre of water. 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