Evening star., 1944-10-22

out or lost their vitality; third, O,
planted shrubs, roses and trees start
planted ones. Recent experiences
shortage of trained help in the nurs-
cries, winter storage is not always
properly handled and some of the
spring shipments have been reach
ing local gardeners in poor condi-
ton. A further reason for fall plant
ing is that, with the current Short
ages of nursery stock, it is not un-
common to find many varieties sold
out before the spring planting sea-
son starts.
Fall planting is safe and recon-
mended for most kinds of deciduous
trees, shrubs and roses. The excep-
tions are of those kinds which have
thick, feshy roots, such as the tulip
poplar, sweetgum, birch, dogwood,
ETC. With care even
these are successfully transplanted
in the fall. However, unless it is
necessary to plant them in the fall,
it seems best not to take the addi-
tional risk.
The soil preparation for fall plant
ing is just the same as for spring
planting Trees, shrubs and roses
are usually left where planted for
many years and enrichment of the
soil should be made before planting
The holes should be deeply dug and
generous quantities of humus deaf
mold, compost, well-rotted manure
or peatmoss) mixed with the soil.
Bone meal, II obtainable, is a good
plant food to work into the subsoil.
In planting roses, or any woody
shrub, it is well to firm the soil about
the roots after partially filling the
hole and making certain to eliminate
air pockets. Tamping the soil firmly
about the roots is considered good
garden practice.
With the hole filled, the next step
is to prune the tops back Roses are
normally cut back to or 8 inches.
Shrubs usually are pruned by re-
moving third to a half of the
canes, making the cuts at the ground
line. Most kinds of trees should
have part of the branches removed
and the remainder shortened.
Most gardeners mound loose soil
over the newly planted roses as a
protection against sun and wind.
This soil should be removed .in
March, before the buds begin to
swell.
The mounding of dirt about newly
planted shrubs and trees is q good
precaution, as 1t prevents water from
standing next to the trunk. Even
when carefully braced, there is
enough sway to leave an opening
around the trunk in which water can
collect. When frozen, it may injure
severely the bark of<the newly plant
ed shrub.
All trees and large shrubs should
be carefully braced as a protection
against winter winds. The constant
5waying in the wind may prevent
the feeding roots from developing.
Use strong stakes and guy wires to
hold the trunks rigid. Old rubber
hose, soft wood sticks or some other
padding should be used to prevent
the wire from injuring the bark.
The trunks of trees, especially if
they were shaded in the nursery row,
may sun or wind burn unless pro-
tected. Burlap or tough paper may
be used to give this protection. How
ever, it should be removed in the
early spring as growth gets under
way.
Most gardeners look upon winter
cover crops as a source of humus-
much needed by our soils. However,
they are even more important on
sloping garden plots as a means of
holding the soil. With our heavy
rains there is a constant eroding
of the land and it is good garden
practice to SOW some crop that will
reduce the loss of this valuable
top soil,
A window we'll covered with a
tightly fitting, glass topped box
makes a useful place in which to
start seeds in the early spring. In
the late fall it is equally useful as
storage place for endive and Chinese
cabbage. Only windows with a
southern or eastern exposure are
adapted to such use. The watering
and cultivation needed can be given
from inside the basement and the
basement heat is usually sufficient
to keep the plants from freezing.
X
After the chrysanthemums are
killed by freezing weather, it is
desirable to mound dirt over the
crowns as protection against
winter injury. This added protec-
ton oftentimes is sufficient to carry
less hardy garden varieties through
the winter. Tender varieties, such
as Wee Dot and the anemone-
f1owered varieties, should be stored
in the cold frame.
X X
Strawberries easily Withstand cold
weather but the constant freezing
and thawing of our soils during the
winter oftentimes breaks their roots,