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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1970-03-19, Page 19GriN.set.s } 10 ►$,1 i szGN to .''t ,tsDAY,14 t H ,9, 9' 0 A Gr�uflci for problem areas • BY A, A, B•UCKI.gY ^yr?• have a ,Probleml your .garden where nothing seeps .to- grow properly? Many gardener*. . I knov ,. think that' their whole garden is a problem andeverything fs-_s11t icult-. >t le grow, but these are usually on who have not'yet succumbed to the joys 9f gardening. I refer, to :such areas as sander slopes, steep .banks, under trees, sobs, •shaded.., woodlands,. places where the sun dries .out • the'soil rapidly and narrow strips where your -lawn Dower won't fit, fn other words, ell places ultt where a ground cover other than . grass can• be used.- • )You have probably heard a great deal about ground covers 'and -perhaps by dhanlce are • not quite sure, as to what is meant by the term. ` Broadly speaking,a ground cover is any,plant used in -large - numbers to. cover the g=round — grass is the most serviceable and practical of all_of ▪ them. Nowadays• 'the term relates more to plants that will provide as beautiful outline- or garden contour, that lend texture, color contrast or • interest to an - otherwise diffieult-t�-maintain area. From a practical point 'of view . they . " provide easy maintenance, less watering, weeding, cultivation and clipping than, -grass. In most cases .. a tidying -up in the fall is all that is necessary: There are very many neat F -low-growing plants that -may be used as ground covers, , For practical and aesthetica) reasons a good ground cover must be easy to grow in the area selected, require minimum - maintenance, present' a. ;-neat and attractive` appearance. and ' enhance the beauty -of -its' surroundings by leaf texture and color. The h vo best known ground covers .are the shade -loving periwinkle (Vinca minor) and ' the , Japanese spurge '(Pachysandra terminalis). Both nave excellent foliage texture of evergreen quality but the periwinkle grows much faster and spreads more' rapidly. The Japanese spurge sena better suited, -orplantingunder-trees' where i torms,a thick uniform, carpets about nine , inches high,' '• ►e periwinkle, or crepe myrtle. as it is often called in American magazines,,:_and._its,ye ' end green ' variegated . form, have rather .attractive blue'white 'and purple flowers according to the cultivar, selected Other cultivars are available' to those who want something different, such, as the very large -flowered Bowles variety,' the dou`hle blue' tyre; And. the double .' plum -purple c 'vale. -.,lamed V-iin: 42_ ni' 'Multiplex'. For -very sandy "slopes and sandy , r knolls, , the , native bearberry (aretostaphylos a it -ursi) is an extremely useful plant. • its leathery evergreen • leaves are attractive all year round and MS red fruits provide food for the. birds. Cuttings of this plant, taken in August rand placed in flats of sand under a polyethylene tent will root_ in, three weeks - and may -be planted out in the fall or left, in the flats until the following spring. - Where the sun beats down in - summer and ,the Soil dries out rapidly, try sedums (stonecrops) and • sempervivums (hens : and chickens); these will eventually form a good• carpet of'°'tiright green: Perhaps you have a very- wet, poorly -drained area in the corner of your garden that could be improved by drainage and- soil components, , but is not ready yet for -this expensive' and arduous undertaking. Here. again • the choice of the right ground cover will at least beautify the garden until you are ready to start improving the soil. The plant for you here and in most soils -on- the acid side is -the' ' 'Re ynoutria fleece flower (-Polygonum ,cuspidatum- `Compactum'-), a plant well known for its persistence under- ; the ,greatest .adversity. It grows two feet high and has leaves -with a wavy' margin and showy .red fruits. ' Others for a similar location are the partridge' berry (Mitchella repens), a, native plant tP r The ' igrla,,I-Star, is, pleased to publish the pleased Ind and vroman' . whe ; will ,. oberve their. .: 88th `birthday. or .hotter,: We. feel ' it •is an opportunity to recognize the `senior .citizens in our distri+t, if 0 you ' know'. of , someone who is -having an soon; birthday or better S ont -cell or • write thol Signal -Star giving ` the. name, ;address, age *and birthdate of the• celebrant, ... We will be happy to include this information in this column in tfhe,, hope that .friends' and ,relatives af. _the' celebrant_ will. ` be. _-_reminded. of the "big day" which ' is approaching and take time to send a card or plan a visit. 'There is absolutely, no charge for this service_ and..__ we are delighted 'to hear from you. The Moneywort is a good plant for wet, poorly drained soils. with bright leaves and vivid red berries, and . the Moneywort (Lysimachia mummularioides) that will cover an,, area in a very short time. If your problem, area has standing water post of the time, you had better use the marsh. marigold (Caltha palustris), a native', plant with lush, heart -shaped leaves and showy; golden -yellow flowers., Where aground°cover instead. of grass is desired for ordinary garden soil in a sunny place, use showy rock plants such as. the• moss pinks; ,snow -in -summer, -bluets (Houstonia coerulea), -pinks of 'all.' kinds, a -or- the beautiful creeping • fragrant thyme. • .. If .you choose the ,right plants, ground covers need practically ' no maintenance. Once they get -off to a good start they will soon cover the ground, and,', except for weeding now and then' and keeping the edge of the patch trimmed neatly, 'the most remarkable herbicide ever developed. • Needs no incorporation. • Lasso 4 will not damage your crops or ruin your rotation plans. After it has done its job it breaks -down harmlessly in the soil. • Lasso 4 by itself kills .a•, wide variety of grasses in corn and soybeans._ > . • • Lasso 4 mixed with Atrazine 80W controls both broadleaf weeds ' and grasses in corn. • Lasso 4 gives excellent results with as little as, 3/10 -inch of rain, yet won't leach out with heavy rain. • Lasso"4 works consistently in heavy and light soils and performs well regardless of organic matter., Available from your local Co-op Farm Centre or your local Aero Fertilizer Blender. For free descriptive literature qn Lasso (and its use, write Monsanto Canada Limited, 425 St. Patrick St., LaSalle, P.Q. HERBICIDE BY Monsanto nothing' need be done. Some of them will have faded flowers or fruit stalks that ' must .lie' removed and others/hay haw to be pruned back occasionally toy keep their appearance neat. • Whatever else you do, don't give up on areas thatseem to present difficulties where plants are ' concerned. Consult your nursery catalogue and • you will FERTILIZERS DLvisIQn. of . Cyanamid -of Canada. Ltd. • HOWARD MCKENDFRY v,. ' RALPH+ .yBUFRFRINGA 4,1; 8k�r � .-rgottt829938 o „4,a.t.wiX7n � •GJ2J 92� 82 91337 'or If BUSY . -4 'find a' few plants that will thrive where no others Will succeed. On the other hand, do 'not give up &rowing .grass because you think a ground cover might be' easiex to maintain. -_ If you soil and aspect is right for growing grass and the contour of the ground enables easy mowing, then this is still .the best ground' cover for beauty and'rmaintenance. • . 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