The Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-04-27, Page 28Containersarean importantpart of a successful balcony
garden. Install casters on the bottom of containers to
allow plants to be moved easily. Containers are available
in fibreglass, clay, asbestos or cement in a number of sizes
and shapes.
Create patio privacy
with wood and plants
Patio space is often
limited, especially when con-
sidering plants for a privacy
fence. But there are a few
neat, formal hedge plants
available, says Bob Flem-
ing,
leming, horticulturist at the Hor-
ticultural Research Institute
of Ontario, Vineland.
Hick's i yew is a narrow
upright evergreen that will,
in time, grow to a dense cur-
tain of dark green evergreen
foliage. You can also use
cedar if an evergreen is
preferred and there are
several species of privet to
provide that needed screen
for summer privacy. Living
fences allow easy flow of
fresh breezes but reduce the
effects of strong winds.
Privacy fences may be the
only answer where space is
at a premium. Most lumber
yards feature a variety of
wooden fences. But a design
that permits moderate air
movement through the fence
will help prevent the patio
area from becoming
uninhabitable on a hot sum-
mer's day.
But even a board fence can
be more than a screen or
divider, Fleming says.
Where space permits, plant
annual vines like the clock
vine, morning glory or
nasturtiums to cover the
fence quickly and provide
summer -long color. Some
perennial vines worth con-
sidering are clematis, par-
ticularly the large -flowered
forms, climbing
honeysuckle, bittersweet, or
the evergreen euonymus.
You can also use planter
boxes and hanging baskets
to add color and variety to
privacy fences. The cascade -
type petunias, trailing
begonias or geraniums,
fuchsias, Impatiens, bush or
trailing forms of nasturtium
or browallia will flower all
summer. Plant them in a
rich, well -drained potting
soil and feed and water them
properly through the sum-
mer growing season.
For the economy -
conscious gardener, try
growing vegetables such as
pole beans, cherry tomatoes,
cucumbers or melons, Flem-
ing says. In fact, some of the
new cucumber cultivars
were developed to grov f
quite successfully in con-
tainers. Even dwarf fruit
trees can be grown in a
limited space when they are
trained or ' espaliered'
against a fence or wall.
It is pleasant to have the
colorful flowers to brighten
the patio on a summer's day.
But think of the extra
pleasures of picking a ripe
summer apple while you en-
joy the warm summer
breeze.
Board fences can be more than a screen or divider. Where
space permits, plant annual vines which quickly cover the
fence and add summer -long color. Or plant dwarf
evergreens, annuals and perennials to add variety to
privacy fences.
Apartment dwellers can
enhance their homes by
planting gardens above
ground.
Balcony pats and hanging
baskets of clay or plastic
enable the gardener with
,limited space, to ,grow ,an
endless variety of .annual
flowers and vegetables.
Containers six to 10 inches
in diameter can be used for
small vegetables such as
radishes or chives. Wooden
tubs or window boxes are
silifa:hlw for tomatoes, pep-
pers or ciicumliersr.
Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food says
the difference between grow
ung plants -in- containers and.
ground beds is that con-
tainers provide less,soill
`'Herefore, the apartent
gardener must add • all
nutrients the plant cannot
derive from the soil in
ground beds.
It will be necessary to add
one or two types of fertilizer
on a regular basis over the
growingseason.
ton
Complete fertilizers: such
as 20-20-20 or slow-release
fertilizers in either
powdered• or pellet -form are
suitable. :.
Balcony gardeners, should
avoid turf and general fer
tiliiers,.with high salt levels.
"The old adage of 'the •
'More fertilizer -the bigger
the plant' is valid only until
you get too high a concentra-
tion
oncentration of fertilizer in the soil
and kill the roots."
"Soil in pots or baskets
should be porous, open and
well -drained A mixture of
topsoil and peat Xhosa with ao
to 20 percept sand•
suitable. Soil that is too tight-
ly packed. -will. -prevent,.
wator movement and '
block essential oxygen from
the roots."
The small volume of soil in
containers provides the
plant with little water
reserve so it is .necessary to
water the plants toroughly
until water' runs from the
-bottom of the poto..
GET IT
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