Evening star., 1948-11-28

Chilling blasts and freezing tenn
peratures are likely to cause most
gardeners to turn their attention
away from the garden, or to give
little thought to the few jobs re-
manning to insure a healthy, Wig
orous garden next spring. Most OF
these Jobs come under the heading
of garden NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the
wintering-over homes OF insects and
diseases and the prevention OF rot
of dormant plants and bulbs-others
prevent injury by freezing and
thawing or by the winter winds. =,
A last cultivation will kill small
weeds with little effort, whereas
next spring they will be big weeds.
The hoeing also will help to aerate
the soil. Do not attempt to smooth
tn. soil; the alternate freezing ana
thawing will do it for you. While
giving this last cultivation 1t Is q
simple matter to hill the soil around
the crowns of the plants to protect
them from excessive moisture dur
ing the winter. This Is also q
desirable practice with newly plant
ed trees and shrubs.
Many soils in the Washington
area do not have good subsoil drain
age and to meet this problem gar
deners may either ditch" the beds,
which means digging burrows to
carry the surface water away, or II
q permanent protection Is desired
tile drains may be installed. This
consists of placing drain tile at the
bottom of a ditch, usually Is to 10
inches below the surface of the bed.
The tile should empty into an outlet
or to O "dry-well". The tile drain
serves to carry away the excess
moisture in the soil, while a surface
furrow is supposed to carry away
surplus moisture before it enters the
soil.
Winter Care Of Roses.
A number of our leading rose
growers have stopped the practice OF
hilling-up their established roses.
They say it seems to encourage the
development Of stem canker. we
lack definite proof of this. The
mounding of newly planted rose
bushes is q universal recommended
ton and should be practiced.
Cut back the tops of the taller
growing bushes. They offer so much
resistance to winds that they are
oftentimes whipped about until the
bark is worn through. BY cutting
them back just before freezing
weather Cor just after to a height
of 2 to 21z feet the likelihood OF
such injury is greatly reduced.
Cutting OF the dead tops OF per-
ennials is q common practice, per-
haps too common, because the tops
hold leaves and provide some pro-
lection to the crowns of the plants.
But the tops of those perennials
commonly troubled with diseases
are better removed. Phlox. peony,
delphinium and hollyhock are ex-
amples of the perennials whose tops
should be removed.
See that the names on markers
are legible and that the markers are
firmly set in the beds.
Use Slow.Acting Fertilizer.
Some lime and fertilize their gar
dens Just before freezing weather.
This Is an effective practice where
slow acting ground limestone and
bonemeal are used. Quick acting
fertilizers might stimulate late
growth, soft, succulent and most
likely to be injured. It Is safe
enough to apply lime at this season
although most gardeners prefer TO
wait until spring. Hydrated lime
may be spread on the garden and
lawn with safety after the grass has
turned brown. Use ground lime
stone to avoid injury 10 plants that
are not completely dormant.
Weeds and rubbish. In the fence
corners and waste spaces are likely
homes for alternating bugs. Clean
them up and consign the material
to the compost pile where lime and
decay will convert the plant material
into humus and the bugs into plant
food.
Generally speaking, we in this
area, find little benefit from apply
ing winter mulches to perennial
borders. However, there are some
soils and a few tender plants which
need protection. Those plants
which are more or less shallow
rooted, or plants that are in soils
noted for "heaving" benefit by
mulches applied after the ground Is
frozen.
Pine boughs, partially decayed
compost, salt hay and numerous
other materials that do not pack
down are useful. Leaves which mat
down and hold moisture, unless
strewn over brush to prevent pack
ing, are not recommended for
mulching perennial borders.
Pine boughs are ideal for covering
rose beds as they cut of much of
the effect Of winter sun and wind.
Avoid covering the foliage Of
A.