HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1978-04-13, Page 38must be pruned differently, says
horticulturist R. F. Gomme, of
the Ontario ministry of
agriculture and food.
"Most types can be pruned just
before spring growth starts.
•
from annuals and perennials to
shrubs."
Begonias, both tuberous and
fibrous types, are the most
popular of the annuals, mainly
because of their growing ease,
wide color choice and their
profuse blooming all summer.
Close favorites are the impatiens
and coleus.
"If more permanent plants are
preferred, then ajuga, bleeding
heart, columbine, lily of the
valley, primrose, daylily or
periwinkle will give a good
show," he says. "There are also
several shrubs that grow well in
the shade. Yews, euonymous,
dogwoods, serviceberry and the
Roses add royal touch to warden
Gardeners who are fond of the
delicate appearance of roses
often choose several types for
displays in their flower beds.
Because rose types vary in their
shape, habits and growth, they
Gardeni
ng an shad
Shady areas are often a
frustration to home gardeners,
and because many people find it
difficult to grow open -garden
plants in these sites, they're quite
often given over to thin, patchy
and weed -prone turf. According
to a horticulturist with the
Ontario ministry of agriculture
and food, using the right plants
can eliminate this frustration.
"In planting these shaded
garden areas, a home gardener
must be a little more selective of
plant species," states D. B.
McNeill. "Garden books and
publications list some of the
choice plants that enjoy shade,
Proper pruning at the proper
time encourages more growth
and has a beneficial effect on the
quality and quantity of blooms in
the upcoming season," he says,
Each rose plant should be con-
e easy
highbush cranberry are excellent
choices."
Once established, these shade -
loving plants will do much to
improve these often hard -to -
handle sites.
sidered individually and pruned
according to its growth habits.
Severe pruning for some types
can weaken plants and shorten
their lives.
The hybrid teas and
floribundas can be pruned back
to within eight inches of the soil,
but canes of the grandifloras
should be left slightly longer.
Shrub roses need little pruning,
except to remove weak or dead
growth.
The climbing types of roses
vary greatly according to the
variety and should be pruned
accordingly. Since they usually
flower on the previous season's
growth, they are pruned in early
autumn. Mr. Gomme states that
gardeners can prune out old
canes of climbing roses in the
spring, leaving about four
healthy canes per plant.
Regardless of the type of rose,
he indicates that it is important to
use sharp pruning shears to avoid
damage to the stems. He also
recommends that gardeners wait
until all danger of frost is over
before removing mulches from
rose beds.
Garden for relaxation
It would be hard to imagine an
occupation requiring greater
concentration than piloting
jumbo jets. Not surprisingly.
gardening ranks high among
airline pilots as a means of
restoring equanimity and over-
coming the effects of jet lag.
But how do pilots who are often
away for a week or more at
a time keep a garden going
without imposing on family
members?
TWA Captain F. J. Leslie of
Northern California. a 26 -year
veteran, has a novel solution
that may appeal to others who
work on irregular schedules yet
need and appreciate their gar-
dens as a place to relax.
The Leslie family tried a tra-
ditional vegetable garden but
their home is on a hilltop sur-
rounded by fields and forest.
What the deer didn't browse to
the ground. the rodents fin•
ished off. Since fencing out
the wild beasts appeared impos-
sible. they decided to move the
garden into a greenhouse.
Being handy with hand tools,
Captain I.eslie built a 9 X 15
ft. fiberglass and redwood
house but soon found it filled
with houseplants. A year later
he added a 12 , 30 ft. house of
similar *design. solely for grow
ing vegetables. The new house
included a hydroponic system
adapted by Captain Leslie from
similar systems used in com-
mercial tomato greenhouses.
(Hydroponics. or water culture,
permits growing plants without
soil.)
The Leslie's hydroponic
greenhouse is a marvel of auto•
mation that, with rare excep-
tions. takes care of itself while
he is away. Frosted fiberglass
sidewalls eliminate the need for
shading or whitewashing and
thermostatically controlled
switches trigger cooling and
heating devices.
Vegetable varieties for the
greenhouse are mostly those
that are expensive if purchased
out of season: tomatoes. cu•
cumters. peppers, melons.
even bush beans.
All vegetables are grown in
9 -inch deep waterproof trans
filled with gravel. Twice daily.
trays are filled automatically
with a mild fertilizer solution.
then the excess drains back into
a 150 -gallon nutrient solution
reservoir. Once a month the re-
maining nutrient solution is
pumped out and poured around
fruit trees and berry vines. and
fresh nutrient solution added to
the tank.
Captain Leslie discovered
that very little reliable informa-
tion is available on ,the cons
struction and operation of
home hydroponic greenhouses
built from scratch. Fortu-
nately, he was able to pick the
brains of staff horticulturists at
a western home and garden
magazine for thebasics. Still,
no one has come' up with an
answer to a persistent problem
in the Leslie greenhouse the
need for hand pollination. Bees
won't come inside.
Captain Leslie feels that his
indoor vegetable garden fills a
deep seated need that dates
hack to his childhood when his
father planted a good sized
garden e.Ah year. Now that the
challenge of doing all the in
tricate wiring. plumbing and
woodwork in building hisgreen
-
house is behind him, he is con
centrating on landscaping. and
planting a small vineyard.
Now, when you hear a calm
voice over the cabin loud-
speaker announcing, "This is
your Captain speaking . . ."
just imagine . . . he could well
have come directly from his
garden to the cockpit. Reassur-
ing. isn't ill
We've got to get something
off our chest.
Actually, only Joe wants to get something off his chest...all kinds of
tough Case Garden Tractors...so Brent's driving great deals your
way! Right Now we've got the full line of Case Garden Tractors and
attachments, all at special Lawn & Garden Sale Prices. Come in and
ask Brent and Joe for a demonstration.
Brent Baer
SALES
Joe Lobb
SALES MANAGER
Just an example of the savings on
our complete line of Case Garden Tractors,,,
8 H.P. CASE GARDEN
TRACTOR with J-34 MOWER
• horsepower engine,
mechanical drive, complete
with 34" mower.
CASE SUGG. LIST '1.535.00
LAWN 8GARDEN SALE PRICE
i
1335.
AND SONS LTD.
Bayfield Road CLINTON 482-3409
ESE
5 E( Y+l w HOLLAND