The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-04-26, Page 45Pagel!
Send your green thumb to schQolthis year
By Ted McNinch
University of Guelph
Horticulture is such a diverse
field that there is something of
interest for everyone. There is
always something new to learn -
new ways to do things, new plants
to produce, or new environments
to create. The magnitude of.
horticultural subjects, is as
endless as the information
sources about them.
Ask a friend or neighbor. Even
an apartment dweller could be an
expert, baffling associates by
manipulating the environment,
and defying the elements to
produce flowers, fruits and
vegetables.
Listen to the radio. There are a
number of gardening specialists
to keep you up-to-date with
weekly gardening tips. Phone-in
shows allow immediate response
to your gardening questions.
Visit your community library
or a magazine stand. You will
find information on subjects
ranging from landscaping, to
growing. houseplants or
producing your own mushrooms.
Many daily and weekly
newspapers feature gardening
col}imns that offer tips on insect
and disease control, and light,
water and fertilizer
requirements.
One visit to the neighborhood
garden center, florist shop, or
nursery, will show the variety of
horticultural products available.
Sales staff are trained to assist
you with plant selection and plant
use.
Many gardening buffs benefit
by attending. lectures,' or lecture
series. Ontario horticultural
societies, and continuing
education programs offered by
'schools, colleges, and univer-
sities, also feature lectures and
courses on many horticultural
subjects.
For the busy or distant en-
thusiast, home study courses
may be the answer. New in-
novations in educational
technology now allow the home
i student the same educational
opportunity as class students.
Many of the independent study
packages include an illustrated
text, film strips, hand film strip
viewer, and ' instructor's com-
mentary in audio cassette form.
-`Fhese-mraiti-rrredia ereativeself
learning courses may also be
used for grc'up lectures.
The University of Guelph offers
lectures and independent study
packages designed for novice and
professional horticulturists. In
Buy shrubs
with care
addition to the creative self -
learning kits, about 40 courses
are available through the
Independent Study Office.
On -campus horticultural
courses available this year in-
clude: Home Landscaping, Turf
Manager's, Short Course,
Greenhouse Management, and
Gardening with Commercial
Fertilizer. The Home Gardening
series, featuring topics such as
ruses, lawns, pruning,
vegetables, annuals and
perennials, gardening under
lights, highrise gardens, will be
offered in evening and Saturday
sessions.
These programs are offered
through the Office of Continuing
Education, University of Guelph,
in co-operation with the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture and
Food. Fur more information
regarding ongoing • programs,
write to the Office of Continuing
Education, University of Guelph,
Guelph, Ontario, NIG 2W I.
For Spring & Summer fun shop THE MET...
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Hpme gardeners can prevent
costly mistakes by selecting trees"
and shrubs carefully, says Bob
Fleming, Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food hor-
ticulturist.
First decide whether you want
to plant evergreen or deciduous
types. Evergreens have winter
foliage, and deciduous plants lose
foliage each autumn.
If you are considering plants
for hedges, remerrtber deciduous
plant nerally_grow faster, and
recover fa ter from damage than
evgrgreen . Deciduous hedges
---•---c-axr-be prmled •back-per+odi•eail--
to..renew vigor, but evergreen
hedges cannot.
Buy trees and shrubs from
reputable local nurseries. Local
nursery staff can help you select
plants suitable for local climate
conditions.
"When selecting deciduous
trees or shrubs which are sold
bare root, look for plants with
healthy root systems," says Mr.
Fleming. "The roots should be
brightly colored and plump."
If you can't examine the roots,
look at the plant itself. Check the
plant carefully to make sure it is
not damaged.
"The 'wood should be brightly
colored plump, and p+iable—not
brittle," says Mr. Fleming.
Deciduous trees and shrubs can
be planted in mid-April as soon as
the ground is workable._.
Evergreens are usually platted a
little. later,. from May to early
June.
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SUPPLIES
MUCH, MUCH MORE
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