Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-20

and, of course, this puts the
gardener on the spot to rush the
seeds and plants of hot-weather
crops into the ground. Also, we
must turn our attention to those
weekly chores of grass cutting,
spraying or busting, and weed
control. Summer pruning is an
other job that we might well try
to crowd into the schedule.
Move Out House Plants
It's time to move the house
plants into the garden if space
permits so that they will not be
quite as much of a chore. How
ever. by planting them in the
garden does not mean that we
can neglect them for the sum-
mer.
They will need protection from
insects and diseases and there
will be times when they should
be watered and fed if they are to
be in best condition for their
duty indoors next winter.
If any of them need reporting
now is the time to do it.
In placing the potted plants
In the garden it is we'll to dig
holes slightly larger than the
pots and to put cinders or gravel
at the base so as to insure good
drainage. and also to discourage
the roots from coming out
through the drainage hole.
Give Crops Needed Space
The hot-weather crops-vege-
tables and fiowers-should go
into the ground as rapidly as
possible. Petunias, zinnias, mar
igolds, dahlias, glads, as well as
the vegetable crops-cucumbers,
squash. lima beans, peppers, egg
plant. etc. Give them well-pre-
pared soil in which to grow and
do not skimp, on space. They
do best when they have space in
which to grow.
Sprays For Ticks
The "ticks" are showing up
and it is nuisance to have
them crawling on you when sit
ting down for a moments rest.
Spray the shrubbery and tall
grass and weeds with DOT or
methoxychlor. The ticks al
ways wait for passersby on the
lower branches of shrubs and on
tall grass and weeds. One spray
ing will normally take care of
them for three to six weeks.
Crabgrass Control
This is the time of the year
when crabgrass seedlings begin
to appear in the lawn. 1t may be
few days later this season be-
cause of the long delayed arrival
of warm weather. There are sew
eral new products and some old
ones on the market which are
supposed to control crabgraSs.
Most of them are specifics, kill
ing the young plants.
Another spproach is to apply
a chemical that will prevent the
crabgrass seed from sprouting
without injuring the established
grasses. These latter. which
sound so promising, have not
been widely tested in this area.
However, they are the products
of reputable firms and it would
seem wise to try them on a
limited scale-follow the manu-
fatcurer's directions carefully.
Fertilizer
It is time to give the flowers
and vegetables a second applica-
ton of fertilizer. Spread it over
the surface of the ground and
cultivate lightly to mix the ferti-
lizer with the soil. If the ground
is dry and a shower is not in
sight, it is better to turn on the
sprinkler. Never apply fertilizer
to dry ground around thirsty
plants. Only on moist ground is
it safe to spread the common s.
1915 or similar mixtures.
Strawberry Pinching
Those strawberries that were
planted this spring are beginning
to show flower buds and it is, a
temptation to leave them on the
plants to produce a few fruits.
Inc fruits will mature. but the
plants are in no condition to bear
a crop of berries and still grow
into big strong plants for next
springs harvestS. Better pick
the blooms off and have a good
crop next spring.
Chrysanthemum Branching
Some of the chrySanthemums
are big enough to have the first
punching" That means nipping