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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-04-26, Page 40Page 10 Trees protected here Many Ianduw ner's in the County do not 1 l'aIllt' that in 1968, Huron County Council passed a by-law to restrict and regulate the destruction of trees by cutting, burning, bulldozing, o►• any other means. Under this by-law most species of trees, except cedar and popular, smaller than 17 inches in diameter cannot legally be cut or destroyed in any manner without a special permit from the County Tree Commissioner. Although the bylaw may seem harsh on private lar 'owners, it was set up to con rve badly needed cover in sot e areas, to ensure an adequate supply of valuable timber for the future generations and to conserve water, soil and wildlife. The bylaw does not pertain to trees of Acr-31_13 JY low quality, damaged or diseased trees, or trees which should be cut to provide road ways, etc. Landowners who wish to clean any existing woodland or cut undersized trees must apply to the County for an inspection of the property by a tree com- missioner and if he sees fit, a permit to clean or cut will be granted. 'Anyone found destroying healthy undersized trees in large quantities is subject to legal prosecution and heavy fines.. Anyone who wishes to apply for a permit or to obtain copies of the bylaw may get in touch with Clerk -Treasurer, Huron County Court House or Murray Scott, 'Gree Commissioner at RR 1, Helgrave Ontario. Ila ©...Ga I m fit_11C sk f�G IIl$I�ItIl� IHI Illl�l 1111 .n 1.' ,"4411)- Proper , Proper pruning in the spring encourages strong, healthy growth. Roses should be cut back to three to five strong stems, with two or three buds per stem. (Photo by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food) Dandelions never marry The jagged, irregular leaves of a common yellow -flowered -weed inspired its popular name, 'tooth of the lion'. This name has come down to 'us from the French version (dent de lion) and we know it as the dandelion. Its most unusual biological feaq'e, however, is not its leaves, but its ability to reproduce by the plant equivalent of a virgin birth. This widespread pest of lawns and gardens, known to scientists as Taraxacum of- ficinale _agg., produces viable seeds without any fe.'tilization. Although the plant blooms abundantly and the flowers usually produce nectar and pollen, pollination is not necessary for seed production. The ovules simply grow and produce seeds without fer- tilization, This unusual mechanism - found in a few other plants - allows the dandelion to spread quickly. Even one plant in a new area can soon produce a whole ted of yellow flowers. "Over the long run, however, this reproductive method may prove detrimental to the species. Because each plant is identical in every respect to the parent plant, it has a decreased ability to evolve," says John McNeill, on Agriculture Canada wc.c'd specialist.'' " "The common dandelion is really a complex numb( r of distinct strains that some botanists even treat as ser orate species. The weedy dandelion • is not native to North Amerif .1. It is hc'lieved to have been it roduced a5 seed by early Eur pean ex- plorers, sometime in the Seventeenth century With no natural enemies t spread rapidly. There are pati' • dandelion species but they arc found only in the north of Cana a and do not pose any problem in lawns and gardens. "Interestingly. many of these native dandelio',s produce their seed by the nl rmal pollination and fertilizatio i processes," Dr. McNeill says. There are several safe, ef- fective herbicide products available to the homeowner for dandelion control. As a broad -leafed plant, the dandelion is susceptible to most broad -leaf weed killers. Many herbicide products containing 2,9-D have been especially for- I DIG GARDE 1NG mulated for use by the homeowner.'' These should be applied using a proper applicator and following the instructions on the label. Treat early, before seeds have formed and apply the weed -killer carefully to prevent any For healthy rose chemical drift onto flowers, shrubs, fruits or vegetables which could be severely injured. Digging out the plant is not usually an effective means of control. Any small piece of root left in the ground will produce a new plant. Care very important Early pruning and fertilizing are important if you want at- tractive and healthy roses, says Theo Blom, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food hor- ticulturist. Roses should be pruned each spring before the bushes leaf out to help maintain the quality and overall appearance of the plants. Although each plant should be pruned to its habit and amount of growth, Mr. Blom says there are some general guidelines. Wait until the buds start to swell, so you can determine which branches are alive and whiFh are dead. Don't cut below last year's pruning. If you do, you weaken the plant and the new shoots won't be strong. If the rose bushes are new and this is their first pruning, prune them about 20 to 30 centimetres (8 to 12 inches) above the ground. p In subsequent years, prune a bit higher and remove all dead wood and weak, twiggy growth. It is • important to prune climbing roses according to their growth habits. Cut off the thin branches so the plant does not have too many blind shoots. 'Established roses will benefit if fertilizer is applied during the growing season. Mr. Blom recommends three applications of balanced fertilizer in mid May, June and August. Apply fertilizer to the soil surface near the plants, then rake or dig it under. A rate of 1/2 to 1 kilogram (1 to 2 pounds) of fer- tilizer for each 9 square metres (10R square feet) or rose garden is recommended. Fertilizer formulas for roses are available at garden centres, but you can apply the general purpose fertilizer used for lawns and gardens. FOR THE FINISHING TOUCH ON YOUR SPRING LANDSCAPING PROJECT CA a REWARD YOURSELF! Head off to the Pizza Express! Why cook after a hard day in the yard? Relax - and let us do the cooking! Your Hosts: Joan & John MacKeigan We use only Schneider's A-1 meats in our pizzas and submarines. You can taste the difference quality ingredients make - at 0)) LAWN ORNAMENTS Best selection in the area , We have over 50 lawn ornaments to choose from. VANASTRA HOME FURNISHINGS 2 mile south of Clinton on Hwy. 4 OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK 9 a.m. - S p.m. 482-7922 OPEN: Daily 11 a.m.-12 midnight, except Friday & Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. PHONE AHEAD: 482-3924 or 482.3925 Il 'a IN ki ■ ILII ►181r