Evening star., 1947-10-19
Garden Chores
Set Pattern of
Spring Blooms
By W. n. Younemon

There are always SO many things
that must be done in the garden
before really cold weather sets in
that a real gardener makes a plan,
at least in his own mind.
Before the ground is frozen much
may be done to insure a lovely gar
den next year.
Daffodils and bearded iris should
be in since both are making good
root growth now. Peonies, too,
should be set by now, although they
ilay still be moved. The most i'm
portant thing to remember about
them is that the eyes should not be
set more than 2 or 3 inches deep.
Since it is always best to leave
peonies undisturbed for years. they
should be planted in well-prepared
holes that are far enough apart to
allow ample room for growth.
Plant Tulips Promptly.
Tulips may be planted any time
from now until freezing weather. If
yours have been delivered, get them
in promptly.
1t is well to leave the planting of
lilies Except Madonnas) until Just
before the ground is frozen. Pre-
pare the beds now so that the brl'>@
may be put in with little loss OF
time when they reach you.
Roses do we'll in this area If plant
ed in the fall. Most growers ship
we'll -pruned plants between Novem-
Der l and 25. The beds should be
made ready now. Dig deeply and
put the fertilizer down deep. Be
sure the drainage is good. After
the plants are set, mound the dirt
up we'll around them. They will
need protection from the strong
winter winds.
Wet Spring Is a Hazard.
This is an ideal time for moving
or putting in newly purchased hardy
perennials. The plants are usually
dormant at this time or nearly so.
OF course, they are dormant in early
spring, but If we have a late wet
spring it is sometimes impossible to
work the soil early enough for best
results.
The main consideration is really
whether or not the soil is heavy
and poorly drained, or light and
friable. If drainage is not adequate,
even the vigorous deeply rooted
plants will not come through tie
winter in good condition.
Oriental poppies do best if planted
in the fall because they are such
early boomers. Their long, feshy
roots reach down so deeply in the
soil that they continue to grow far
into the winter. Be sure to slightly
mound the earth around them so
that there will be no holes in the
earth from last springs blooming.
You will remember that when they
died down last summer, quite a de-
preston was left at the old crown.
Daylily Needs Elbow Room.
Hemerocallis (daylily) is best set
out now. Plant them in rich deep
soil and allow them as much room
as you think they will need. Then
double the amount. Keep the less
vigorous perennials away from them.
Choose carefully and you will have
bloom from April and May into
September Because of the abun-
dance of rain this past summer late
varieties bloomed we'll into Sep
tember.
Our lovely old friened, the hardy
phlox, may also be planted now if
the soil is well drained. Give them
sunny spot. Do not put the plants
too close together and you will have
"a finer display and little danger of
mildew. Be sure to set the plants
only as deeply as they were set
before moving. 81.
Many other perennials may be
moved now. The list is too long to
mention them all, but here are a
few of them Artemisia. hardy
Asters, aquilegia (columbine), as
tiloe, delphinium. npatorium, gyp-
sophia, hibiscus, lupines, pachy-
sandra, physostegia Qion's heart)
thymes and veronica.
These plants may all be fertilized
with bone meal. which is slow act
ing, and covered with layer of
evergreen boughs, not too keep the
ground warm, as you know, but to
prevent the heaving of plants out
of the ground when few warm days
cause the ground to thaw.