Evening star., 1955-11-20
THIS WEEK
IN THE GARDEN

A good rain last week end
made the garden soils workable:
They were getting rather dry.
The warm weather made working
In the garden most pleasant.
H owever. this unreasonable
weather is apt to adversely af-
feet the shrubs since they should
be maturing the wood. getting
ready for winter cold. Instead,
they are putting out new growth.
The lilacs have shoots 4 to 6
inches long and the flower buds
are opening. A freeze viii kill the
new growth ss well as the open
buds. There is nothing that can
he done to prevent such injury.
We can only hope that cool
weather will return and that a
severe freeze will not come for
several weeks.
Roses, Trees, Shrubs
Normally this is the time to
pitch In on fall rose planting
and setting out of deciduous
trees and shrubs. Regardless Of
what is to be planted. dig big
holes and mix ample quantities
LOT peatmoss, compost. or some
other form Of humus into the
subsoil ct the bottom Of the
planting hole as well as into the
soil that viii be used to I'LL the
hole. In placing the shrub, rose.
or tree. be careful to allow for
settling so that after settling
the plant will be at the same
height as it grew in the nursery.
DO not put commercial fertilizer
into the planting hole.
Mulch Pansy Beds
The newly planted pansies
should be fnulched with compost,
Well-rotted manure, peatmoss, or
similar materials. Do not cover
the foliage. Work the material
under the leaves. :.
Rough-Plow for Spring
It Ii not too early to think
about spading . section Of the
garden for early spring planting.
Leave the soil rough" i.e., do
mot try to break up the clods.
Frost win do that job for you
during the winter and the rough
Iclods viii catch and hold mois-
Iture.
Pot Bulbs for Forcing
It is not too late to pot UP a
few Of the early spring Towering
bulbs for forcing. Place the pots
In Q convenient place out Of
doors for root growth to take
place.
Bird Feeding Stations
Now Is Q good time to install
q number Of hird-feeding sta
tions around the yard. Put one
or two where the birds can be
observed from the windows be-
cause they are always interest
ing to watch. II squirrels and
cats are problem it is desirable
to place q shield on the sup
porting pole to prevent their
reaching the feeding station. An
old dispan makes a very good
shield. although the tinsmithI
will cut one for you that will
look q bit more artistic and
which can be painted. If the
feeding station is located near
10 bush or shrub the smaller birds
win like 1t better since they need
such q place TO run to- when the
larger, aggressive birds come.
Bird Seed Mixture
It is not too early to stock up
on bird food. The usual bird
seed mixture will take care of
the seed-eaters. The others like
bits Of suet, crushed peanuts, etc.
Have several kinds so that e.
variety Of birds win spend the
winter In your yard.
Hotbeads and Coldframes
Repairs to the llotbead and
lcoldframe can be made more
easily at this season than next
spring when the ground is frozen
and temperatures are below
freezing. Soil for planting should
be made ready and 1t might well
be put In place now. Make sure
the frames are free OF leaks
which greatly reduces their ef-I
Ifectiveness. Mound the soil up
around the sides to shut out the
cold. II glass needs to be re-
placed or puttied 1t can best be
done now.
Soil for February
Save q bushel or two of soil for
use In seed and transplanting
fats next February and March
when the annual chore Of rais-
a1.a-.. -...-