The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-04-23, Page 36it
Gs:od to
ls make y
Good tools are a gardener's prized posses-
sions. They not only make garden work
easier and more efficent, but they are fun to
use and will last for years.
After you have purchased the basics —
rake, spade, shovel, hoe, hand cultivator
and trowel — you will probably enjoy some
of the other tools that experienced home
gardeners and professionals find particular-
ly worthwhile. For years many of these
were available only to professional
gardeners.
"Seedling cavity tray"
One such aid is a "seedling cavity tray"
divided into nearly 200 compartments. The
entire tray measures a mere 18 inches
square and is ideal for growing large quan-
tities of seedlings or cuttings indoors.
The self-contained unit . eliminates the
ur wor f`, easier
handling and storing of dozens of small pots,
speeds watering, and prevents the toppling
and rapid drying out of individual pots.
Each small compartment, about three in-
ches deep, provides ample spat for sturdy
roots. The top of each coma ment is one
inch square, sufficient fo one seedling or
cutting to grow until time comes for
transplanting.
Advent of spring
When the weather warms in spring and
frost danger has passed, place the tray out-
doors du•-ing the day to "harden off" the
seedlings or rooted cuttings.
They will then be ready to be planted in
the garden. Just press the tapered sides of
the cavity to remove each seedling without
disturbing the roots. This gentle handling
enables plants to become established quick-
ly outdoors without setback.
Seeds and cuttings will germinate or root
more quickly if the propagating medium is
about 10 degrees F. ` warmer than the
atmosphere.
The temperature of the medium can be
regulated by means of a propagating mat.
The waterproof mat is made of heavy rub-
ber which, when attached to an adjustable
thermostat, heats up to temperatures rang-
ing from 40 degrees F. to 100 degrees F.
Sowing instructions
Seed trays, flower pots and other con-
tainers are placed on top of the mat and
their contents are warmed to the selected
temperature. Gardeners who have found
certain plants difficult to propagate have
seen such a mat work wonders.
Along the same line, seed packet instruc-
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tions often tell you to sow the seeds outdoors
when thy„ soil warms to a specific
temperature.
A soil thermometer can, help you to deter-
mine the right time for sowing. Insert the
base into the soil and you can record the
temperature quickly and accurately on the
moisture -proof dial.
You can take the guesswork out of buying
atld applying fertilizer by first testing your
soil with a home gardener's soil testing kit.
This tests the soil for the three most impor-
• tant plant nutrients; nitrogen, phosphorus
and potash, as well as for pH (acidity vs.
alkalinity) .
Use ground
had yareas
When planning your landscape, consider
using ground covers in those areas where
grass is difficult to grow — areas that are
heavily shaded or steeply sloped.
"Ground covers are available in a variety
of colors and textures and many bear
flowers and fruit," says Horticulturist Anna
Ballantyne of the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food's Consumer Informa-
tion Centre in Toronto.
When choosing a ground cover, keep in
mind the fact that many ground covers re-
quire at least a season -and -a -half before
they become established.
During this initial period, it is important
to keep the area free of weeds by hoeing or
hand weeding.
For banks or sloping areas, choose plants
that grow close to the ground and root easi-
ly; the mat of roots that forms helps control
erosion along banks and sloping areas.
Ground covers perform best in fertile,
well -drained soil.
Ahd since ground covers are permanent.
plantings, it is advisable to prepare the soil
before planting.
Ground covers' generally fall into three
categories: herbaceous perennials, annuals
and woody ground covers.
Examples of perennial ground covers
are: Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans), Crown
vetch (Coronilla varia), Candytuft (Iberis
sempervirens) and Mosspink Phlox (Phlox
subulata).
Annual ground covers include: begonia,
impatiens, petunia, portulaca and sweet
alyssum.
Some woody ground covers are:
Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi),
Skoghohn Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster dam-
meri "skogholm"), Bigleaf Wintercreeper
(Euonymus fortunei vegetus), English and
Baltic Ivy (Hedera helix and H. Helix.
baltica), Juniper Glauca (Juniperus
horizontalis-var. "Glauca") and Periwinkle
(Vinca minor).
This is only a partial list of the wide range
of ground covers that are available to the
homeowner. Check with your garden centre
for more information.