Evening star., 1951-11-25

WlnJeFlllnS treatment we mlgnIl
give the garden the final touches.
Winter came early this year and
we have had freezes. snow and
biting winds. Still it is just about
time. in the Washington area. to-
do the final jobs of putting the
garden in shape. This will in
clude draining and rolling up the
garden hose to be stored in a cool.
dry place; pushing the garden
markers firmly into the soil. SOW
ing the final packets of hardy an
nuals. tucking in a few last-min-
ute purchases of bulbs, etc. These
are all timely chores.
However, before we concentrate
on these relatively minor although
necessary jobs, we should make a
careful check to see that the beds
will not have standing water.
bitches may be dug to drain the
low spots, or better still, wheel in
a few loads of soil to fill those
spots. especially if they are in the
lawn. Avoiding standing water is
important, if we would protect
dormant plants and bulbs.
The mulching of fall planted
evergreens as we'll as azaleas and
other broad leaved evergreens
should have been taken care of
earlier. but better now than not at
all. This mulching is to keep the
soil from freezing so that the roots
will continue to function. When
the soil freezes and the roots noI
longer supply the leaves with
moisture there is danger of win
ter burn" Late planted bulb beds
should be mulched deeply to keep
the soil from freezing.
Screens for Evergreens.
The erection of screens for ever
greens is another important step
in protecting our valuable plants.
Those that have recently been
planted will need this protection
more than established shrubs and
trees, but all will benefit from this
shelter if they are exposed to win
ter winds. Even the hardy Amer
lean holly will winter burn in an
exposed situation. The materials
used to provide this shelter need
not be expensive or even good /
looking. if it will do the job. Corn
stalks tied to pole. pine boughs
leaned against the larger shrubs, !
burlap tackled to stakes, and lath
tackled to cross pieces are some of
the more commonly used protec-
tive screens. 1t is desirable that |
they be placed on the south and
west sides rather than a complete
inclosure. The objective is to ex-
clude sun and wind. Small ever
greens may be protected with half
bushel and bushel baskets inverted
over them and held down with a
brick or stone.
Foundation paintings may be
protected from snow slides by
leaning poles against the house.
This is not particularly slightly"
and some will prefer to erect lath
screens over the paintings. The
important point is to have them
strong enough to break the force
Of falling snow.
Many Of the narrow-leaved ever
green's need to be tied to prevent |
snow from forcing the branches to
the ground. A few wrappings with
coarse cord will give all of the pro-
lection needed. This chore is most
important for the globe arbor-
vitaes. since it is not always easy
to keep them compact and shapely. |
Young azaiea cuttings, although
still in the propagating frame,
need to be covered with brush, |
pine boughs or other material as
a protection from the cold and
winds. They are more tender this
first year than are the more ma
ture plants and so need extra
care. Sun and wind are particu-
larly injurious.
Protection for Roses.
The rose garden needs little pro-
lection other than to make certain
water does not stand on the beds.
Fill in the low spots with soil. The
taller bushes might we'll be cut
back to a height of or 4 feet to
prevent their whipping about in
the wind. The mounding of soil
about the bases of the bushes is
not needed except to prevent ice
pockets at the ground line. Large
bushes whipping about in the wind
will open the soil at the ground
line and water collecting in such
pockets will freeze. The ice can
injure the bark. Thousands of
roses come safely through the win
ter here without this protection,
but many of us will feelsthat it is
a small chore and. where the rose
bed Is exposed to winter winds.