HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1969-05-15, Page 144A 000P0011 RONAL-STAR, THURSDAY, MAY 15,1,969
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Start perennials tight
with early spring care
WS important to care for
established perennials in early
spring, say horticulturists with
' the Ontario Department of
Agriculture and Food.As soon
as the frost is out of the ground,
che0 to see if any plants have
. heaved u112214111% the>
Any tht have should' be
carefully pressed, back into the
•soil: The plant will die if their
rootsare left exposed to the air
and sun. Remove any dead and
thy stalks that may have been°
missed in the fall.
To avoid° cutting off young
' growth, delay cultivation -,until
'`-stulots have appeared abOe the
soil surface.
Soil fertility can be kept up
by spreading a commercial
fertilizer such as 5:10-15 at the
rate of one to one and one half
pounds to 100 square feet of
bed:
Perennials that have been
established foreseveral years tend
to become clumped and
„cr-owded. Splitting and
transplanting the roots will help'
restore the vigor of the plants:
ar
DON'TNOW TOO EARLY.
Oot.early • in
the spiinrinay be very hard on
grass, warn horticulturists with
the Ontario Department of
Agriculture and Food. However,
do ,not allow grass to become
too long before the first spring
clipping: Grass produces food in •
the green. leaves. This food
source is removed when lawns
are closely clipped after being
allowed to grow too tall. The
lower part of the grass. will .be
bleached and unsightly and is
slow to recover its greenness.
Established lawns should not
be clipped closer than one and a
half inches. Cut often enough so
that not more than one inch of
growth is removed at once. The
mower must be sharp so that the
grass is cut cleanly. Under
normal conditions light clippings
. can be left 'on the lawn where
they will quickly rot and
disappear. 'Frequent light
• mowings will give best results.
Generally, perennials that
bloom after midsummer can be
divided and moved in the spring.
Early blooming species should
be moved hi the fall. Iris, in
particular, are most successfully
divided in July and early August.
Depending on the rate of root
growth, perennials may require
splitting every three to six years.
Chrysanthegiums, however,
should be lifted and divided each
year. Dig old plants carefully to
retain as Much of the root
system ,as possible. Shake off
most of the earth. 'Carefully pull
or cut the clump into pieces of
convenient size. Transplant these
pieces separately or in groups in
fresh soil. Prepare the soil depth
of 15 to 24 inches. Plant the
new pieces a the same depth as
they: were efore moving. To
keep bot w and established
perennials thy and vigorous
it is t to keep weeds
-underfon 1. '
When perennials are given.
proper attention in the .spring
they . will respond , throughout
the season.
ui
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Clki,NG FOR ANNUALS•
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AhnVals vvii1.1, have' more
vigorous :growth and •More ,
abundant bloom when flower
beds are given proper
preparation, say horticulturists
with the Ontario Department of
Agriculture and Food. Annuals
' will thrive in a -soil of good
fertility. The ground should be
well .supplied with organic
matter.
As soon as the soil is
workable, spread rotten manure
or compost over the beds. Peat
moss, supplemented with a
complete commercial fertilizer
at the rate of 2 pounds per 100,
square feet, may also be used.
Spade or fork this in so that it is
thoroughly mixed with, the soil.
This digging also loosens. and
•aerates • the soil. - Before
transplanting seedlings, carefully
level the bed with a rake, to
remove large lumps. The result
will be a smooth bed ready for
Choosing shade trees yi
•for home planting
Horticulturists with they adaptable to a wide variety of
Ontario Department of • soil and moisture conditions.
Agriculture and Food say spring Others have more specific
is one of the best times for requirements,
planting shade trees. Trees The . younger the tree, the
planted in spring have the whole more easily it is transplanted.
growing season to become The root systems of smaller trees
established before winter oomes. are lea' likely to be damaged in
• Here ,are •a few points to the digging process. As a result
remember when choosing. shade ths, chances are better that the
trees for home planting. Clee will sutvive transplanting.
Hardiness is an important factor. A wide variety. of tree forms
Choose only species that are are available, ' Globular,
proven hardy in yoUrnare..„4., Most eolumnar, pyramidal and
nursery catalogs,:
centres providf
about the har
stock.
Consider the
in which thetree
gar en weeping tree forms may be
ation chosen for different purposes.
' their The use of the. proper form for a
•particular location can provide a
natural and pleasing setting. You
e placed.
The mature size may want to have •a flowering
otv pee'
may be too large for that tree or one with an unusual leaf'
location. Small to medium sized •texture. Some trees have
trees are usually more suitable particularly interesting fall
colors.
for city lots.
Choose trees that are suitable A tree, carefully chogen and
for your soil and moisture • 'cared for, can add lasting beauty
conditions. Some trees • are to your home.
Compost heap
A compost heap, containing
garden refuse can be of great
value to home gardeners. It
offert an -excellent source of
valuable organic matter for
improving garden soils, It
provides a handy dispoSal 'place. •
for grass clippings and leaves.
Most types of plant refuse
can be used in making • a
compost. ,Included are dead
foliage, grass clippings, discarded
,efruit And vegetables, dead annual
and perennial 7,thos , as well as
most weeds prqvAd0.0 the have,
.fgt .set seed. Avoid using •
-branches or twigs as they require
'a 'very longtime to hreak down.:
• l'he best size for a compost
pile should be about six feet
wide and five feet high. The
-length will, of course, depend on
the material available but
provision should be made . for
extension. If both ends are open,
the decomposed material may be
removed from one end while
fresh material is being added to
the other. A 12 -inch layer of•
coarse roughage, such as corn
stalks or straw, should be placed
in the bottom -to allow air td,
• move through the pile and give
good drainage. On top of this,
add a six-inch layer of green
waste. and sprinkle on a little
• lime or complete fertilizer at the
• rate of 250 pounds per ton of
• compost. The •lime aids in •
_ organic matter breakdown and
makes • the pile odor -free.
Continue -building the pile in this
sandwich -like fashion until the
desired height has been reached.
Make a. depression i'n the top of
the pile to collect water It is
extremely • important t the
pile be kept moist during dry
weather, so it may be necessary
waterit•occasionally:
The pile should be turned
once or twice during the
decomposition period, so that
the outer portions are moved to
the 'center, and allowed to
decompose more rapidly there.
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Bruce Lamb, 1113.,5 Goderich,
graduated with honoi•s from the
Agricultural Science course at
R ictgetown College • of,
Agricultural Technology this
'month and was also the recipeat
of the Southwestern Area'
Women's Institute trophy for
proficiency in civics and world
affairs. Bruce was one of 103
graduates who received diplomas
from.. Hon. W. A. Stewart,
Ontario Minister of Agriculture
and Food and Everett Biggs.,
dep-uty •minister during
graduation ceremonies held at "
•the college on Wednesday, May
14. - James Photo(Chatham)
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