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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-04-16, Page 36Page4 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) Prune for healthy roses Early pruning and fer- tilizing are important if you want attractive and healthy roses, says Theo Blom, Ontario" Ministry of Agriculture and Food hor- ticulturist. or- 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 which 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 andthis is their first pruning, prune then about 20 to 30 centimetres (8 to 12 inches) above the•ground. I -n 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 Sweetcorn all season In this tiny plot, only 3 x 12 ft., this gardener planted three blocks of sweet corn two weeks apart. From each block he will harvest 8 -to 10 ears, enough for six or more meals for two people over a six-week period. For long'season areas, you can plant the same maincrop hybrid in all three blocks. In short season areas it would pay you to plant seeds of early, second -early .and maincrop hybrids and all at the same time. "Succession plantings" with fresh crops succeeding ' the blocks you harvest, are an intelligent way to utilize garden space. Large Mocks• maturing all at once can be wasteful unless you are prepared to can or freeze the surplus. 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 fertilizer for each 9 square metres (100 square feet) of rose garden is recommended. Fertilizer formulas for roses are available at garden centres, but you can apply the general purpose fer- tilizer used for lawns and gardens. Start a compost pile Long before modern, ecologically -conscious man "got into" recycling natural resources, composting was a tool oi, the farmer and gardener. It's still a good way for you to build up and maintain your soil for good plant growth. Composting involves returning dead plant matter to the soil — after it has been supplemented with com- mercial fertilizer and allowed to decay — to help strengthen the soil far growing new plants. Compost material is ap- plied just like aly other mulch.tnaterial but it can do a lot more, according to The Fertilizer Institute. Compost can add organic matter and plant nutrients to the soil as well as ,furnish food for earthworms essential for aerating the soil. As a mulch, compost also reduces soil erosion by wind and water and can help suppress weed growth. In, addition it helps retain essential soil moisture. Practically any plant material can be composted. Leaves, lawn clippings, fine twigs, old sod straw, and kitchen and garden vegetable refuse are ex- cellent. Avoid using diseased plants. In the fall, great quantities of leaves are available from neighbors for the asking. Begin by selecting an out- of-the-way place in your garden or a hidden corner of your lawn. If you have the space, two bins are better than one — permitting you to turn the -,compost by moving it from one bin to the:other. You can make the bins by attaching wire fence or boards to posts, or to ad;, joining fence or wall. Each, bin should be 4 to 6 feet high, 3 to 5 feet wide" and any convenient length, tailored to thea mount of compost you need. One side of each bin should be removable to enable you to fill and empty the bin. In the fall you may wish to extend the sides temporarily to boost the bin capacity; by March the cotnpost should settle as much as 2 feet. The sides should not be airtight o'r watertight. Build your "compost pile by spreading out a layer of plant refuse about 6 inches deep across the floor of your bin. Add one-half to one pound of regular lawn fer- tilizer (1-1-1 or 1-2-1 are recommended fertilizer ratios for this use) to each 10 square feet of surface. Then add one inch of soil and enough water to moisten but not soak mixture. Repeat this process as bin is filled. Make the top of the pile concave to catch rainwater. If you desire an 'alkaline compost, add ground limestone (about 1/2 to two- thirds cup) to each layer as you add fertilizer. The decaying action will proceed most rapidly during warm weather. Application of lime and fertilizer, in addition to adding plant nutrients to the mixture, also hastens organic matter breakdown° to form humus mixture. You can further accelerate decay during midsummer by forking over the pile, helping to evenly distribute moisture, and aerate the pile. Ifyou begin your compost pile in. the fall it should be ready for use by the- end of the first summer. You may insure'a continuing compost supply by starting a new pile each year. Compost can be used as a mulch — covering bare ground next to flowers and vegetables in the garden — or as- an -addition to soil by working'it in with a spade or shovel. " Compost will not take the place of fertilizer, but it does aid in maintaining loose, easily -worked soil for favorable root growth, Morning Glories Morning glories are beautiful flowering annuals, but they take a long time to mature from seeds sown outdoors. To speed the process, start the seeds indoors in April, and tran- splant them outdoors in mid- June. This will advance the flowering, period by two to three weeks. COTTAGES, Planning to build anew 'home • away from home' — near, your favourite lake 'or:ski slope? We suggest you consider our super line o°f Sun Country Cottages. Designed for both.good looks' and the ultimate in construction convenience — a Sun Country Cottage is your very best buy. HOMES From smartly styled country bungalows — to spaciously designed country estates - Wiseway offers over 35 models toselect from. Plus — a custom design service tailo ed to.suit your family's needs. All Wiseway Homes are designed and manufactured with you in mind. 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