Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-06
This Weekin
the Garden

the 0QrQen
Azalea and other plants from
the deep South should be pur-
chased with care since there is
danger Of bringing diseases into
this area. This applies especially
to the azalea petal blight, a dis
figuring disease that attacks the
blossoms of the azalea. 1t has
already reached this area. but so
far is limited in distribution.
Digging and raking dead crab
grass from the lawn is wasted
effort because the seeds fell long
ago. Leave the dead stems where
they are to act as a mulch. They
will soon disintegrate and enrich
the soil. If reseeding is to be
done, do it through the dead grass
and trash, which will protect the
new seedlings until they are es-
tablished.
Few of the broad leaved ever
greens withstand full sun during
the winter without injury Sum
light broken by the twigs of a
tree is some protection. Better
still, a burlap screen to cut off
both the sun and the wind. Lack
of protection results in serious
injury, sometimes loss of such
plants. This seems to have been
especially true of the glossy
leaved evergreen privets, camellias
and hollygrape last winter.
The first planting of gladiouS
corms may be made now. Plant
them at least 4 inches deep IN
soil that has had a liberal APP
plication of superphosphate and
compost. Lacking the compost,
use leafmold or some other humus
material. Space the corms at
least inches apart. Deep plant
ing is essential if the tall, bloom
ing spikes are to stand erect dur
ing transforms.
Chickweed is making rapid
growth in garden and lawn, but is
too thick and compact for 2. AID
70 bill IL Dot ccj,,y,o ouanafo ia
more effective. Spray the chick
weed when the foliage is warm
and rain is unlikely for "a hours.
Potassium cyanate is good
weed killer. 1t will also kill many
other kinds of plants, so do not
use in a perennial border unless
the flowers are protected. Cans
turned over the perennials is one
type of protection that is fafe
and easy.
Early beets, like the Egyptian.
get poor in quality in summer.
Hence, it is better to provide the
succession by sowing seed of the
Detroit dark red this month A
third sowing of the improved
blood turnip beet may be made
in June for late summer use.
Winter Keeper, planted in August,
will provide beets for winter
storage.
Stalking is important for many
tall-groWing flowers such as the
tall African marigold and for
vegetables such as tomatoes.
Place the stakes before the plants
start to break in the wind. Do
not tie stems too tightly to the
stakes or they will be injured
when they enlarge with new
growth. 1t is much better to
make the initial tie upon the
stake and then tie the plant to 1t.
The standard garden gate is 3
feet in width and that is too mar
row for comfort. A well-loaded
WheelbarroW usually loses a por-
ton of its load when pushed
through such a narrow gate. A
gate 3l2 feet in width is easier on
the "knuckleS," will permit the
entry of small garden tractors and
other equipment.
Now is the season to transplant
or set out dogWoodS. Select small
plants, ones whose roots have not
been severely injured in digging.
Any setback to the dogwood in
planting is an invitation for the
borer to start work. The fiat
headed apple borer is the pest. at
tacks only weakened or injured
trees. Wrapping the trunk with
kraft paper is one preventative.
Spraying the trunk every three or
four weeks with DOT is also eff
fective. The roots of the dogwood
are comparatively shalloW-grow-
! ing. Plant the dogWood in a soil
we'll enriched with leafmold, and
mulch with a thick layer to keep
the soil cool and moist.
The asparagus bed should be
cultivated as soon as the soil is
dry enough to be worked. Remove
grass and weeds that may be COM
peting with the asparagus. An APP
plication of 3 or 4 pounds of a
good commercial fertilizer should
then be cultivated lightly into the
soil. Do not pack the soil, but
leave it loose so that it will dry out