Evening star., 1950-11-26

Job. A few branches scattered
over them to hold the leaves will
provide most OF the protection
needed. However. If we allow the
leaves to collect before the
ground freezes we are likely to
provide nesting places for mice
which will then feed on the roots
and bulbs. Nevertheless a. good
many gardeners allow the leaves
to collect as they fall and seem
ingly suffer little injury. II mice
are a problem. bats may be
placed where the mice will And
them. Tin cans with the ends
cut out. old mailing tubes. flower
pots, ETC., placed on their sides
are excellent containers for poison
bats.
Pine Boughs Can Be Used.
Pine boughs scattered over the
borders and rose beds are just
as effective as mulches for keep
ing the ground frozen although
they do not protect the soil from
erosion. Discarded Christmas
trees, trimmings from windbreaks
and hedges are useful for this
purpose. They are especially use
full in the rockgarden where the
scattered plants are harder to
reach. Glass wool and salt hay
are also especially useful in a
rock garden because they do not
contain weed seeds.
The story in the azalea garden
is the reverse of the perennial
border because there the ever
green leaves are functioning and
need moisture from the roots.
Therefore, we pile on the oak
leaves early to keep the soil from
freezing. The same applies to
the other evergreens whose roots
should be kept active as long as
the weather permits.
Newly planted evergreens need,
beside the mulch, protection from
sun and wind. This may be sup
piled by fastening branches from
a pine, spruce or other evergreen
to stakes which will hold them
in place during the winter: or by
building slat screen on the south
and west sides, or by fastening
burlap to stout stakes. These
screens do not shut out the cold
but they do prevent the moisture
being taken from the foliage by
sun or wind. This protection is
especially needed where the wind
sweeps through a channel be-
tween buildings or in a wind
swept location in the yard.
Burlap Screen for Wind.
Many lockwood paintings are
burned during cold months by the
winter sun and the unSuspecting
owner blames it upon the dogs. Al
burlap screen will prevent both
the wind and the dogs from doing
his plants injury. However. the
screen or protective material
should not touch the foliage, an
inch or two Of space between them
is desirable.
Plants that are o bit tender
in this area should not. be
wrapped too warmly or they will
suffer. This is true OF such plants
as the blue hydrangea, crepe myr-
tie, fig tree. some azaleas. tender
hollies. etc. While cornstalks have
long been favored for the pro-
lection Of some Of these plants,
they are a popular nesting place
for mice and must be used with
care. A few stalks tied loosely
about fig tree or a crepe myrtle
will provide the desired protec-
ton. Tender hydrangeas are best
protected by allowing them to be-
come dormant as early as possible
and then keeping them dormant
by a protective screen which will
exclude sunlight, keeping them
cold until spring is fully arrived.
The same applies to the other
tender plants except that they
need mulch and q screen which
will exclude winter sun and
winds. Trees that have been re-
Gently transplanted from the
woods may have a bark that is
too tender to Withstand winter
sun and winds and should be pro-
tected with burlap or other light
material.