Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-04-24, Page 66GERBERA MARDI GRAS MIX Garden b1ooij;s Store a surnmer's worth of bouquets in this year's flower garden. Grandma always did, for economy's sake as well as indoor decoration. Flowers for informal bouquets as well as arrangements are not hard to grow,. but special consideration must be given to appropriate varieties. For bouquets choose snapdragons with sturdy long stems. Make sure zinnia varieties have at least a twelve,inch .height for cutting. To produce larger quantities of flowers, make sure the varieties are hybrids, genetically program- med for earlier and more profuse bloom as well as disease and weather tolerance. A survey of professional flower designers found one underused but easy -to -grow flower on their favorite list. Topping their choices was the carefree, elegant gerbera. Also known as Transvaal daisy, gerbera are perennial flowers in the South. In northern gardens they will bloom one summer, then die with frost.' Two attributes make gerbera perfect for any kind of bouquet, the icombination of long stems and clear, bright daisy -like blossoms. Gerbera are also naturally elegant flowers, with an inborn grace in any kind of setting. INSTANT SHADE! How long have you waited for a small tree? And are you still waiting? Call John Gibson - the Tree Mover - we have the answer: SPRING IS AN EXCELLENT TIME FOR TREE PLANTING AND MOVING. CALL US NOW! Here's a lovely family residence, tastefully landscaped, but needing only a shade tree or two to give it that added touch of "home". 11:1 1:0 First step towards "Instant Shade," Tree Spade removes a cone- , shaped "wedge" of earth from the spot selected for the tree... Tree Spade, with tree, is Ss later. the 1:24 back on the scene. Machine is quickly posi- tioned over the• previously dug hole, ready for lowering into the ground. Instant Shade! Tree ball fits perfectly. And, what a difference the shade makes. A clean, tidy, tic mess; no work planting process. Add privacy, colour, beauty, shade and year round enjoyment. Environment for birds and wildlife. Protection from cold winter winds and hot summer sun. new TREE mendous JOHN GIBBON R.R. No. 2 SEAFORTH 482-3229 Landscape -Deign Gerbera will be even are popular this year now that a new, hybrid variety is available as seeds, or started'• plants pur- chased urchased fibro the ,gardensu plier, New 'Mardi Gras' assures earlier. land more profuse flowering in its .specially bred genes. The long, sturdy stems support a rainbow'of blooms throughout the" gardening season. Gerbera do require some basic considera- tions from their growers. All gerbera need a full day of sun as well as well drained soil. This species should not be directly seeded to Problems - (Continued from Page 29) light. However, when leaves fade to pale green, and the lower leaves turn yellow and fall Of, the most likely cause is lack of fertilizer. ) Spots and holes ir#leaves can be caused by ' sunburn, water spots (cold water shock), and slug or snail problems. If new leaves are small, or if plant growth Shrub bouquet the garden. Start plants indq 's, or purchase transplants. At transplanting time makesure that the bottom leases of theplant are not buried. This insures Oat the down of the plant, the growth.Center for the stem, will not rot from soil moisture. 'Mardi Gras'thybrid gerbera are available from retail seed catalogs as well as greenhouse growers. .Add a carnival of color to your summer cutting'garden and see for yourself. stops, it is probably due to lack of fertilizer. Leaf tip browning can be caused by fluoride in water, low calcium levels, or water stress (excessive drying of the soil). Most plant problems are related to overwatering; excessive fertilizer, and poor soil structure, Observe your plants carefully and watch for warning signals. Quick response can prevent serious plant problems. (Continued from Page 28) flowers are borne in large Clusters. These plants -grow fairly large -1.2 metres -high and - 1.2 m wide . but won't dominate the garden. Disease resistance and hardiness make John Franklin a very desirable rose. David Thompson is another shrub rose exhibiting extreme hardiness. It produces fragrant, double, red flowers that bloom freely and repeatedly. Diseases pose little problem and spraying is not usually neces- sary. Plants are about the same size as the John Franklin rose. A table rose with strong arching branches, reaching a height of 2.5 to 3 m is John Cabot. This pillar rose features double, red flowers. Blooms occur . repeatedly and the average flowering period is eight weeks, Field tests rate this rose highly for hardiness, flower production and color, disease resistance and plant vigor. Other recommended hardy shrub ' rose introductions from Ottawa include Henry Hudson, a hardy, white -flowered, fragrant rose useful as a dwarf shrub for landscaping. It grows to only 0.75 m high. Jens M -stank is :vigorous and -ran -be- rawn-as a pink -flowered, informal hedge, reaching an ultimate height of 2 m. Flowers are very fragrant and in fall, red hips are an added attraction. Martin Frobisher is an everblooming, ° vigorous rose for large home gardens. It grows to 2 m. The flowers are rose pink and fragrant. These roses are easily propagated from softwood cuttings in early summer, another advantage which they have over garden roses. Regularpruning is not necessary but helps to rejuvenate the plants and improve their appearance. To prune, cut out a few old branches from established plants each, spring to encourage new shoots to form at the base, and thin out the weakest of these. The care and culture of shrub roses involves" no more work than most other garden shrubs. The Modern W ;o Clean Your Home 6 Reasons Why! oars 0 Sya Mir 1. Easier - no heavy lugging, no cord to tangle. 2. Quicker - you'll whisk from room to room 3. Cleaner - more cleaning power than ordinary vacs 4. Healthier • dirt collection unit located away from living area S. Quieter - whisper -quiet vacuuming 6. Cleans any surfact r : enough attachments supplied to clean any surface System starting from 99 Hutchinson Appliances 308.Huron Rd., Goderich 524-7831