HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1980-04-17, Page 44,Page Z$
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I4ort culture is such a
diverse field that thereis
something of interest for
everyone. There is always
something new to learn -new
ways to do things, new plants,
to produce, or new en-
vironments to create. The
magnitude of horticultural
subjects* is as endless as the
information sources ,about
them. ,
Ask a.`friend or, neighbour.
Even an apartment dweller
could be an expert, baffling
associates by "manipulating
the environment, and
defying the elements .to
produce flowers, fruits and
vegetables.
Listen to the radio. There
are a number of gardening
specialists to keep you rup-to-
r date with weekly gardening
tips. Phone-in shows . allow
immediate response to your
grdenin uestions.
Constructing a •leanto gregnhor sefratn. a kit goes quickly and
easily. Lord -Lf Burnham photo.
Greenhouses are
a popular hobby
By Bruce McBride,
P. Eng.
Agricultural
Engineer
Extension,
Branch
Ontario Ministry
of Agriculture
and Food •
The public is becoming
creasingly interested in
small greenhouses as a
hobby and as a means of
gardening year round. Many
gardeners are constructing
hobby greenhouses from
their own plans, while others
purchase kits available from
suppliers.
Visit your community
library or a magazine stand.
You will fwd infornlation on
subjects _ranging from
landscaping to . growing
houseplants or producing.
your own mushrooms. Many
daily and weekly
newspapers feature gar-
dening CQIU <xns that offer
tips, on. insect and disease
control, and light, water :and
fertilizer requirements.
One visit to the neigh--
bour'hood garden center,
florist shop, or nursery will
show : thea variety of hon.
tic .i1tural products
available. Sales staff are
trained to assist you with
Plant selection and plant use.
Many gardening buffs
benefit by attending lec-
tures, or lecture series.
Ontario horticultural
societies, and continuing
education programs offered
by schools, colleges, and
universities, also feature
um to se
lectures and courses Qn
manyhorticultural subjects.
For the busy or distant
enthusiast hone study
courses may be the answer.
New innovations in
educational technology now
allow the home student the
same educational op-
portunity as class students.
Many of the independent
study Packages include an
illustrated text, film .strips,
hand film strip viewer and
instructor's commentary in
audio cassette form. These
multi -media, Creative self -
learning courses may also be.
used for group lebtures.
The University of Guelph
offers lectures and in-
dependent study packages
designed for novice and
professional horticulturists.
In addition to the creative
self-leasnung..kits, about 40
courses :are _available+
through the Independent
+0
Study Office.
On -campus horticultural
courses available this year
include; ?come Landscaping,
Turf Managers" Short
Course, Greenhouse
Management and Gardening
with Conus er c ial Fertilize.
The Home Gardening series,
featuring topics such as
roses; ""fawns, pruning,.
vegetables, annuals and
perennials gardening under
lights, highrise gardens, will
be offered in everting and
SaSaturdaysessions,
These programs: ;are of-
fered through the Office of
Conthfuing Education,
University of Guelph, in co-
operation with the' ,Ontario.
Ministry of Agriculture and
Food. For more information
regarding ongoing
programs, write to the Office
of Continuing Education,
Thayer ity - of ueiph;
Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1.
resistance to shrinking and
warping:
When selecting a
greenhouse covering, factors
, such as percentage of light
transmission, thermal
radiation transmittance, life
of the• material and initial
investment must be con-
sidered and evaluated
colle ctively.
Polyethylene..can be put on.
the frame as a double layer
and air blown between the
layers to cut heat costs 30 to
40 percent as compared to a
singletlayer poly -house. The
poly -house is easy to con-
struct, and is about 50 per -
Before one'`'begins, _1aca1....,C ,t-631.atl; ost of a glass
climate conditions warrant greenhouse. Double
careful investigation to polyethylene transmits 81
ensure structural adequacy percent of -available light but
of the proposed unit. has the drawback of usually
A good foundation is lasting only one growing
essential to anchor th"e small season:
greenhouse and prevent a Glass greenhouses have a
possible tip -:over during high initial cost but have the
windy weather. Either a highest life of any covering
concrete or a pressure- material. Glass has a very
treated post foundation must high light transrhtttapce'eof
be constructed to go below 90 percent. Reinforced
the., frost level. Some fiberglass panels have good
greenhouse suppliers have light transmittance, with
prefab cedar foundations many panels having a
which extend 18 inches below guaranteed life of 15 to 20
ground level. years. Other rigid panels
Quons.et-style greenhouses available are acrylic glass
are usually formed of and PVC panels.
galvanized steep pipe hoops The disadvantage of a
covered with one or . two small greenhouse is that it
layers of polyethylene. Self- heats up quickly when the
builders often erect the sun is out and also coals
greenhouse structural frame quickly when the sun goes
from wood which, if painted behind a cloud. This
or treated, should give long characteristic necessitates
life to the greenhouse. Red the use of heaters and proper
cedar and redwood are the ventilation.
best woods. tO-use for the The hobby greenhouse can
framework `due to their be constructed free standing
natural weathering or as a lean-to to an existing
resistance and their structure.
Your Annual
GARDEN
CALENDAR
Mipistry of
Agriculture
and Food
Moweiaintenanoe
A well-maintained lawn
mower will help reduce the
frustrations and backaches
that can make mowing the
lawn a chore.
Ross Irwin, of the School of
Engineering, Ontario
Agricultural College, says
pre -season maintenance of
the lawn mower will help the
cutting season go smoothly.
To begin, clean the un-
derside of the mower to
aernove stray bits of grass
nd dirt. Use a putty knife,
screwdriver or wire brush. .
If you' didn't remember to
do it last fall,• drain the
gasoline and oil from the
lawn mower and wash any
rust or sediment from the
tank.
When sharpening the
blades, don't try to file away
all the nicks. That un-
balances the blade. Using an
angle of 4.5 degrees, file or
grind the same amount of.
metal from each side of the
blade. Don't grind the bot-
tom of theblades.
If the blades- are bent or
damaged, replace them.
Don't try to straighten them.
Be sure the bolt holding the
blade in place is tight, and
the lockplate is in place.
For maximum engine
effeciency, Mr. Irwin
suggests cleaning the air
filter by rinsing it in
detergent and water.
Replace when dry and re -oil.
The spark plug should be
replaced each year.
Adjust the cutting height to
leave the grass a bit longer
in the spring. The cutting
height can be adjusted to
give the lawn a closer cut as
the season progresses.
' -JANUARY
Inspect houseplants for insects
Check glads. and dahlias in storage
for insects& diseases.-, •
Avoid salt use near plants
Keep yourself informed — read
garden articles & take advantage of
courses.
Plan garden -renovations
Order flower &vegetable semcfs
FEBRUARY
Commeci e feeding house plants
• Bring indoors — •pots. bulbs for ,
forcing
Propagate indoor plants by stem
cuttings.
Place.ma,i orders for nursery stack
Prepare seed flats and containers for
sowing seed -
.
MARCH
Plant -flower -and vegetable seeds -
indoors
Prune fruit trees (and grape vines).
Start tuberous begonias in pots.
Check garden perennials and press
bar k into place, If they heaved.
Apply fruit tree dormant spray.
Prune back shade trees, o'er grown
hedges and shrubs.
Check for rodent damage. . •
Prune summer flowering shrubs'
APRIL
Fertilize lawns
Remove mulr,h a little .,t +, hi,,,
Plant shrub, treor,,,ind heli( r•,
1
Prune roses -
Apply pre•ernerr,e,• r.r•r•.-i r-
control crab gray
Transplant hmonnials, .arts`, ii.inv,n••.
foxglove. etc
Repair lawn damage with topsoil and
seed. -
Plant early vegetables such as peas
radish and onions.
Sow seed of hardy annuals outdoors
MAY
•C;onstruc,t Idtti,,0 or ;�.,,,,i• ,iippart5
fr,r dines
Transfer bed.; ; d, ,�; ,I,, tr ,,,rt,i.,•,'
. old fr,,ror, I, harden
;r„�;. free,-, , . I,.. , ,, ilr•1•, iris;
-,tour i,,,,e, 1.,
Oorttrr,i pr•'.,t' ..,10 5,>fr; ,lyra ,o,
Plant tender fii,iver, , petunias. etc
Water early flowering pldnt',
Rernove-•faded flr,werheads of tulip,.
and daffodil`,.
Prune shrubs arid trees after flowering
Kill fawn weed', with herbicides
•
JUNE
Pr -,Irl, uver•greens and hedges
Add gra'.s ct,ppings and garden
r:.r51er, t'> r.ompost pile
;•,r, rnul, hes of grass ctdppings and
•,r i,o-,t ,,n gardens to conserve
n,r„',ture and control weeds
iong.dtfn ;awns and gardens . ' .
Thin. cut crowded annuals and
vegetables .
Stake tall growing perennials
Pinch back chrysanthemums . '
Remove faded rose blooms.
•
JULY
Raise cutting height of mower blade .
Thin out and cut back old raspberry
canes
Fertilize annu 45 and degr_•t.11,ii,5
Shallow hoe ya dins regurrri;
Pinchback annuas
Water gardens during dry -pelf,
•
AUGUST
Pru.ne climbing roses
Apply mildew controi spray',
Prune birr,h and nidi err
Order fl�>wennrl bulbs
)eo.i0r,l,t Str,,rrberry r„nrirr', .t ',A
plan!u>g ,Aid., nr,t ',t.rrted i• iii,
spring
•
•
SEPTEMBER
Prepare and seed new lawns
Davide perennials
Plant evergreens
Purchase flowering bulbs
La,.t fertilizing of lawns for -the year.
Take cuttings of geraniums and
coleus
Air dry onions for Storage
Renovate perennial borders
Harvest grapes after the first frost
• OCTOBER
Plant bulbs
Transplant Shrubs and time`, ..
Dig and store dahlias gladiolu-,
tuberous begonias.
Plant amaryllis for Christmas bloom', .
Improve garden soils for next season
Gather leaves and add to compost
pile.
'
NOVEMBER
Plow vegetable gardens
Soak soil around evergreens.f grr,,,nd
is dry
Plant fruit tree,
Hill -up roses '°et„•
Check support', for new planted
trees
Mulch tender. -plants ..
Plant hyacinth, amaryllis and other.
bulbs for winter forcing
Protect trees and shrubs from mice
and rabbits ,
Clean garden storage areae. and all
tools.
DECEMBER -
Get indoor lighting units in use
Loosely wrap pyramidal evergreens
with burlap or plastic netting.
Carefully remove snow from shrubs
and spreading evergreens.
Reduce the watering and fertilizing of
indoor plants
—�
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ole riming may vary across Onlar,o