The Goderich Signal-Star, 1980-04-16, Page 57...MAMk:cP
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POTS AND PLANTS. One of the casiest and most economical landscaping tech-
niques is to use container gardens to decorate your exterior. And, according to the
Ortho -book, -“Container and Hanging-Gardens,'-the-ge easy -to -grow mobile mini-
garderfs,can make handy camouflages for many garden problems like refuse areas;
poorly -designed architectural features, etc.
Pool care
IFrom page 26)
making it easier for the filter to
process them out.
NSPI recommends that anyone
considering building a pool
should investigate automatic
cleaning equipment. Although
such equipment will increase
initial cost of the pool, it will help
save both time and money later
on, the pool institute claims.
Portable cleaning systeMs,
operated on the same principle
and powered by a garden hose,
are available for use in already
constructed pools.
A heavy duty vinyl pool cover,
averaging around $200 for a
rectangular home. pool, can be a
sound maintenance investment.
Kept on the pool. during the
winter months, it will eliminate
much of the spring clean up
chore.
A cover also makes Sense in
summertime when the owner
plans tb be gore for two weeks or
more—both to keep thepool clean
and to keep .out uninvited
swimmers.
Special problems may arise,
however, -even in well maintained
pools. One of these in algae.
Algae commonly appears in two
forms: black algae, which makes
unsightly spots on pool walls, and
green floating algae. Both are
normally taken care of by a
regular maintenance program,
but stubborn cases may be
treated by vigorous brushing of
spots, followed by application of
spot killer and use of special
inexpensive algaecides.
Another problem, red -brown
discolored water, is caused by a
high concentration of dissolved
iron. Disinfectants may oxidize
.this dissolved iron, leaving rust
particles in the pool and giving
Use oxidizing sanitizer and run
the filtration system for 48 hours •
straight to clear out the particles.
Should particles settle to the
bottom, they should lie vacuumed
up immediately to avoid staining
the pool bottom. •
For a great garden...
choose from our
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* Zinnias * Coleus * Geraniums
* Pansies * Salvia • Tomatoes
8 Dusty -Miller • Lobelia * Carnations
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Cauliflower * Begonias * Alyssum
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*-Marigoids * Portulaca • Cabbage
• Bussels
Sprouts
Spanish
'0 Broccoli
Onions
All bedding plants
1 2 plants per box
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FLORIST
61 Orange St., South, Clinton
482771/12 _
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Dandelions never marry.
The jagged, irregular
leaves of a common yellow -
flowered weed inspired its
Popular name "tooth of the
lion'. This name has come
down to us from the French
version (dent de lion) and we
know it as the dandelion.
Its most unusual biological
feature, however, is not its
leaves, but its ability to
reproduce by the plant
equivalent Of a virgin birth.
This widespread pest of
lawns and gardens, known to
scientists as Taraxacum
officinale agg., produces
viable seeds without any
fertilization.
Although the plant blooms
abundantly and the flowers
usually produce nectar and
pollen, pollination is not
necessary% for , seed
production. The _o_vulPs
simply grow and produce
seeds without fertilization.
This unusual mechanism -
found in few other plants -
allows the dandelion to
spread quickly. Even one
plant in a new area can soon
produce a whole bed of
yellow flowers.
"Over the long run,
however, this reproductive
method may prove
detrimental to the species.
Because each plant is
identical in every respect to
the parent plant, it has a
decreased ability to evolve,"
says John McNeill, an
Agriculture Canada weed
specia list.
The common dandelion is
really a complex number of
distinct strains that some
botanists even treat as
separate species.
The weedy dandelion is not
nativd to North America. It
is believed to have been
introduced as seed by early
European explorers,
sothetime in the seventeenth
century. With no natural
enemies'it spread rapidly. -
There are native dandelion
species but they are found
only in the north of Canada
and do not pose any problem
in lawns and gardens.
"Interestingly, many of
these native dandelions
produce their seed, by the -
normal pollination and
fertilization processes," Dr.
McNeill says.
There are several safe,
effective herbicide products
available to the homeowner
for dandelion control.
As a broad -leafed plant the
dandelion is susceptible to
most broad -leaf weed killers.
Many herbicide products
Page 27
containing 2,4-D have been
especially formulated for
use by the horneOwner.
These should be applied
using a proper applicator
and • following the in-
structions on the label.
Trea t 'early, before seeds
have formed and apply the
weed -killer carefully to
prevent. any chemical drift
onto fltoers, shrubs, fruits
or vegetables which could be
severely injured.
Digging out the plant is not
usually an effective means of
control. Any small piece of
root left in the ground will
produce a new plant.
uper irnpatiens
Plant breeders never quit.
And the breeder of the Elfin
impatiens is no different
from the rest. Contintuius,
innovative breeding has
changed Elfins into Super
Elfins. And not just in name.
The flowers of the Super
Elfins are 30 per cent larger
than the Elfins - up to 2 in-
ches across. If you buy
plants from your garden
center or bedding -,plant
grower, earliness won't
make any difference to you,
as the.grower plans his crop
so that they are ready for
you; but if you grow them
from seed, it won't take as
long to get the newer Elfins
into flower. 'And the colors!
Thirteen of them — all bred
to produce the truest and
best colors around: 'Blue,'
'Blush,`Crimson,'
'Fuchsia ,"Orange,' 'Lip-
stick,"Orchid,"Pink,'
Red,' 'Rose,
.'Scarlet' and 'White.'
Two colors, available for
the first time this year, are
'Super Elfin Blush' and
'Lipstick ."Blush' is a light
pink variety with red eye.
'Lipstick' is wild rose with
white eye.
The Super Elfins are
compact, basal branching,
and their larger flower size
and wide color range make
them even more desirable
for pots, tubs, hanging
baskets or mass plantings in
shady areas. Impatiens need
filtered shade, but can be
planted in half-day sunny
locations, if grottnd is kept
moist by daily watering.
Plants of these varieties
will -be available from
garden centers and bedding -
plant growers. Check your
mail-order seed catalogues
for seeds.
Hedge Pruning
Prune hedges so that the
base is slightly wider than
the top. This allows sunlight
to reach the lower foliage.
tz•
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3 miles West of Clinton
on Highway No. 8
482-3364