Evening star., 1939-09-02
Leaves From
The Garden
Notebook
September Is Best
Month to Move
Evergreens
Star stan Photo.

summer omclally lasts until Sep
tember 81. but for the gardener it
is over now and garden work picks
up rather rapidly in September
that is, If it is not put of. Delay
In starting may mean a rush of
work later on or postponement. 1t
is far better to start now and take
things easy, do the various Jobs
thoroughly and perhaps even leis-
urely. Better gardens will result
and fewer sore backs.
Now is the time to move ever
greens. Take a good sized ball of
dirt with the roots. When properly
planted. water thoroughly to settle
the dirt about the roots and to
provide ample moisture for new
growth. If in an exposed place it
is we'll to erect some form of shelter
as a protection from sun and wind.
Plan now to keep the newly set out
evergreens we'll watered until spring.
An added precaution is to prune
back some of the top growth to
compensate for loss of roots. Tall
evergreens should be staked.
Most evergreens benefit from a
light pruning. BY giving them a
light pruning each spring and fall
they are kept compact in growth
and within bounds. If the pruning
Is in the form of a 'shingling' the
natural appearance is retained.
Otherwise the clipping leaves them
too regular in outline and formal in
appearance. September is the month
to do this job.
Our old friend the crabgrass is
making a serious attempt to mature
seed. 1t is an annual and by pre-
venting the formation of seed, next
seasons crop may be reduced. This
Is not an easy job, but it can be
done. Use steel rake to lift up the
low-lying branches so that they NAV
be cut off by the lawn mower. It
may take two or three rakings to
accomplish this. And it will need
to be repeated each week until frost
kills them.
Daylilies and japanese iris NAV
be lifted and divided now. 1t is a
bit late to lift poppies. but it can
still be done if they do not show
new growth at the top of the crown
1t is not too late to lift and divide
the tall-bearded iris. Peonies also
may be lifted and divided this
month where it is desired to in
crease the number of plants of a
given variety, otherwise they should
be left to improve in size and quality
with age up to 10. or IS years.
Perennial seedlings should be
moved from the seed flats to the
perennial borders as soon as they
are large enough to handle. Pro-
tect and water them for a few days
until they are we'll established in
their new location. Seedlings that
are too small to be moved this month
may be carried over winter in the
cold frame.
September is the month to give the
lawn generous application of fer
tilizer to revive the blue grass and
to overcome the effects of sum-
mer wear and tear. A recent study
made at the Ohio Agricultural Ex-
pertinent Station indicates that blue
grass may be injured by heavy ap-
plications in the late fall of nitro
genous fertilizers. September appli-
cations of fertilizers relatively low
in nitrogen are thus desirable. Apply
2 to pound per hundred square Of a
4-l2-4 or similar analysis of any
good brand of fertilizer.
The aster beetles are with us again
and it is well to dust or spray
literally. These black pests are vo-
racious eaters and unless checked will
soon devour the flower buds and
flowers on many of our garden
treasures. Pyrethrum-rotenone or
lead arsenate, used either as dust
or spray, Is effective in controlling
this pest.