Loading...
Clinton News-Record, 1976-04-15, Page 39404 stai„io This attractivecompan1otpIantIng features sem1dwadAnzrIcarI madsjnereaazicia mixture of as ht the foreground. Shape -Pup your hedges Hedges can be lieautiful - especially when they're thlek and green right to the ground as the result of regUlar trimming, woof the most COMITIOrt hedge plants., privet and ewt make excellent hedges beeaute they can be renewed very easily, says - ILA. Fleming, a horticulturist with the Ontario ministry of agriculture and food. "Privet hedges can be trimmed batik severely In late winter or early spring, and within one season they will return to a sleek, condition. The yew is o the few evergreens that will also withstand severe Pruitt and recover easily," he states. Scale needs control ow Lllac, apple, juniper and a directions, .it cant, vide large number of other trees and cellentcontrol of scale. shrubs can be infested4vith a pest - known as "scale," an Insect that suckslhe sap of the host, causing twigs and whole branches to wither and die. But scale can be brought under control, if your spray timing is correct. "Scale insects spend most of their life cycle under a hard scale, which makes their control difficult with ordinary garden pesticides. For a very few days in May. ,the crawlers emerge from under the scale, when they can be controlled with malathion sprays. But since the crawler stage lasts only a few days. it can be missed elisily." says an ex- tension horticulturist with the Ontario ministry of agriculture and food. D.B. McNeill. According to Mr. McNeill the most effective control for scale is a dormant oil spray that should be atmlied -in the spring before the buds break. This is a special oil available at any garden supply store. When applied ac- cording to the manufacturer's It pays to fertilize Because of the limited amount of soil in the pots of househplants. the level of plant nutrients can soon be depleted. For stronger, larger plants that will flower better and last longer, it's im- portant to fertilize houseplants regularly, states ministry of agriculture and food hor- ticulturist, R.F. Gomme. "Fertilizers are available in many forms." he says.. "Those such as 5-10-15 and` super- phosphate can be applied when the soil' is heft mixed for pot- ting. For regular feeding, there are several kinds available. either as complete plant food or as liquid concentrates." Whatever type is used. Mr. Gomme recommends that indoor gardeners read and follow the manufacturer's directions carefully. A common fault is to add too strong a fertilizer which may injure plants. Many of the tradoealne fertilizer forms can be diluted with water. The hor- ticulturistalso recommends that ,plants be given regular feedings about every two weeks, rather' than large applications oc- casionally. ex - Rejuvenating a privet hedge is a drastic procedure. Hedge plants should be cut hard back to 12 tO 15 inches, from the ground in the spring before growth starts. Side branches of the plants should also. be cut back proportionately at this time. The horticulturist says that new growth will soon appear, producing a thicker, vigorous and more manageable hedge, Proper watering and fertilization may also help the development of new growth. Irained b esiestial., At' &upply oL water is at111 timesvine the growing pIant • cool nd , Unt rot ded 1 is a, " in diameter, the 41" Y smail plants of and to keep win ;OhDahlias for mist for Opti flawev borders, or we ne specialzsts, growing the moreexotic forins which require extra care in feeding, staking, spraying and disbud. development. Fertile tali...POMP. ;taking 1.** must 40(.1‘ is peat done when the cuttings. or tuber s are Plant Far exhibition klecn, side shocits are removed as the plant grows, leaving just .one stern. When the Dahlias are usually planted itra flower buds begin to. form, alt but bright, sunny location as rooted one are removed. cuttings or as tuberous roots , For cut ,110Were or garden from which the new young plant colOr, pinching the tip from new velePS. Planting should begin sterna in the saFing will cause -only after danger of frost is branching and multiple stems to passed. The soil Should , be form, each of which will produce prepared deeply, manure or floWera. organic matter incorporated as Further information on Dahlias well as a liberal application of a L. can be obtained by writing to the good general purpose garden Information Branch of the fertilizer such as a 540-15 or a 10- Ontario Ministry of Agriculture 10-10. and Food. Parliament Buildings, Dahlias are heavy feeders and Toronto. Ask for publication No. rapid growers so a rich. friable. 43, Dahlias. Propagation by cuttings The houseplant fancier can propagate many varieties of geranium, coleus and ,ivy whenever suitable growths are available. , • , To propagate houseplants by cuttings, use side shoots or tips of branches three to six inches long. Remove the tower leaves from the cuttings to facilitate planting. Trim the base of each cutting so the cut is clean and not ragged. "Cuttings of plants that root rapidly. such as Wandering Jew and Coleus, may be set in a glass of water," says Ontario ministry of agriculture and food- hor- ticulturist, D.M. Sangster. ''Howevermost cuttings produce better roots in clean, sharp sand or in a meditun such as perlite." Keep the medium molit, but not saturated, and do notreuse a medium unless it has been sterilized. To create a moist atmosphere around cuttings and.. preyent them from wilting, cover with 4 glass jar or plastic. Iternove the covering grudaally 1Otte the cuttings begin to root. Shade cuttings from the sun, but make sure they have plenty of indirect light. When roots are one to two inches long, transfer the young plants to small pots nearly filled with a suitable potting soil. George Wraith haL the equipment for better reiktits MF TRACTORS and eicium LOADERS • GARDEN IMPLEMENTS ▪ RIDING tAiiN MOWERS. GAS bnd ELECTRIC GEOR_GE 2 Mi. East of Goderich Hirt. 524.7351 44 p.m.