Evening star., 1951-03-04

which mas poor peneCratlon, CneTe
is less likelihood of water standing
about the roots and injuring them.
This is particularly true of
woody shrubs since the holes for
them are usually deeper and more
carefully prepared than for per-
ennials or bulbs. A rose bed in
the Takoma Park area was found
to contain a foot of water during
the hotter drier part Of the sum-
mer. The roses, obviously were
unable to make any of the ex-
pected growth under those cir
cumstances. In a neighboring
yard where roses were growing in
unprepared soil they were thriving.
On the face of the comparison 1t
would seem that roses given no
especial care were the more salts
factory. However, when drainage
was installed in the bed so that
it was no longer a tank" the
bushes made excellent growth and
rewarded the owner for the care
full soil preparation.
Reasons for Rolling.
What has just been said about
rose beds should and does apply
to all woody plants. Fortunately
not all soils in the Washington
area are as tight as the clay re-
ferred to above. Nevertheless un-
less a gardener knows his soils he
should make test to determine
the nature Of the subsoil. This is
easily accomplished by digging a
2-foot hole and filling with water,
then noting the rate of disappear
ance. If after two or three days
the water has only partially seeped
away the subsoil drainage is poor
and needs correction.
One further comment on SOW
ing grass seed: Kentucky blue
grass. in fact all bluegrasses. are
very slow to germinate and hence
should be planted early in the
spring. In February If possible.
Most other kinds are not so tardy
and can safely be planted in early
March. In lieu of the Kentucky
bluegrass we may use the fescues
and later in the spring common
rye grass may be planted for a
temporary lawn.
Many gardeners try to roll their
lawns in March on the theory
that the "hills and hollers" need
to be leveled off. Actually the
reason for rolling should be to
push back into the soil the grass
plants that have been heaved by
frost action. However. this is
dangerous since the average lawn
soil is already too compacted for
good aeration and so rolling. ex-
cept on rather dry soil, should be
avoided. A top dressing with we'll
enriched topsoil is a safer treat
ment for the outstanding bluegrass
crowns. Even a quarter-inch
layer of top dressing will help. A
cubic yard will cover an area 80
by SO feet to this depth.
The work in the rock garden at
this season Of the year is most
important since winter freezing
and thawing will frequently dis
lodge the rocks as we'll as lift
plants out of the soil. The rocks
will need to be forced back into
place and all plants that have
been heaved should be firmly
pushed back into the. soil. If the
gardener prefers not to step on
them, then they should be lifted
and reset or covered with suffl-
cient soil. If they do not receive
this attention they will dry out and
perhaps be lost.
The removal of mulches from
the perennial border should be
done gradually although most
people want to rake up everything
on the first warm spring. week end.
Frequently they will expose tender
shoots that will be badly sun
burned through such Spartan &C
tivities. The perennial and bulb
beds should be uncovered on a
cloudy day if it must be done in
one day.
However. it would seem much
better to remove the heavier part
of the mulch SO that the tender
shoots can poke through. leaving
the remainder of the mulch to
keep the soil cool and protected
from beating rains.