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PAGE 16, WHTBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1988 q s «*~~L 7< ( ~ (i t ~ 47<............j << ~ ~ 4«'~< "P, ' JR i* IN 41 A7~1~ I'I * -* ~Ai s. ~ s s'l*"<s el .L. . . .. . . . 435<, <7 7 ~« S~ ~ ~ ,4, b S.prung gardens need planting now USES 0F BULBS IN THE LANOSCAPE So great is the variety, and so diverse are the ideai conditions for growth, that buibous plants can be grown t0 suit any place where bright color rather than permanent form is needed in the iandscape. Spring crocuses and eariy -'k.. tuiips give a giorious show of color soon after the snow disappears; the giadiolus dispiays its beauty in midsummer, and the dahlia is the most varied of the late-summer fiowers. The iast two are especiaiiy popular with horticuiturai hobbyists, who usuaIiy grow them for their value as specimens for show rather tharr for their contribution to the iandscape. Often the mention of buibs conjures up a picture of formai beds crowded with early tuiips in blocks of yeiiow, pink, or red. Or we may think of informai groupings of daffodils, and later tuiips, aiong the back of a herbaceous border, with groups of crocuses, squilis, and other smail bulbs at the front. These smaiier ones, together with various species of tuiips, are;aiso very effective in a rock garden. Another way buibs are used to add seasonai color is to place them i n groups among the shrubs in a foundation pianting; the bright colors of the fiowers are impressive against a mutishaded green background such as this. In addition to the spring-fiowering buibs, there are many hardy buibs that .fiower later in the season. These bulbs, which are inciuded in the descriptions under the headings "Common hardy bulbs" and 'Other buibs grown in Canada'" are most useful in the home iandscape. Some are hardy in most of Canada and they proVide a contrast when« grown among shrubs.and a change of plant form in a perenniai border. Buibs aiso add to the attractiveness of other areas. Many wiidfiowers, such as triiliums and trout-lilies, spring from bulbs that can be ieft in the same spot in a shaded perennial border or wiid garden for severai years. Daffodils, when naturaiized on a grassy siope or in open woodiands, -will grow for severai years without attention. CLASSIFICATION 0F BULBS FOR GARDEN USE 'V JOHN BROU WER GARDEN ÂÂAND LANDSCAPING CENTRE 650 Lakeridge Road South, Ajax, Ontario LiS 4S7 ,P N :ý6-154 or68-1680 For Canadian gardens, buibs are ciassed as either hardy sorts that can be left in the ground over winter or tender ones that must be ifted in the fal and stored indoors. The climate of Canada is s0 varied that the ratings for Ottawa, used in this publication, do not apply in ail areas. For exarrple, daffodils are generaliy hardy at Ottawa but not on the prairies; and the florists' anemone, which has Io be ifted and overwintered indoors in Ottawa, cari be ieft in the ground in southern British Columbia and in the Lake Erie district. Most hardy bulbs bloom in the spring but a few, such as fail crocus, bloom later. Uniess otherwise directed, plant them in the fail, at ieast 4 weeks before the ground freezes, so that the roots can become estabiished. Winter damage is more severe to bulbs pianted after Octàber 15 than to those planted before September 15; according to tests at Ottawa and at Morden, -Man. Tender bulbs bloom during summer or fali. Plant them whe'n the risk ofl fr ost is past, usualiy between May 15 and June 1 at Ottawa. Lift them in the flu as soon as the tops turn brown or have been wiited by frost. GROWING, HARVESTING, AND STORING Simlar Sa vings on b C'1-L Wnterizer/Weeder Save now on Factory Direct orders for Unilock orders placed. Save up to 25 % L IL ILIJLYU Il MIlIMIMI unrI~ Soil ln generai, if drainage is good, buibs do weil in any average garden soul from light sandy loam to moderately heavy dlay. However, they prefer a fairiy open, fibrous loam that is neutrai or siightly aikaline and contains nitrogen. phosphorus, and potash. Provide adeéluate drainage. Although bulbs need plenty of moisture, it is, useless to attempt to grow them in low ppots that are wet in winter or spring. Before planting bulbs on land like this, provide drainage to carry the surplus water away. On dlay soul, even with fair drainage, it is also a good idea to put some sand under the bulbs when pianting them. Improve the texture of poor soul. To lighten heavy dlay, add sand and decaying organic matter. To keep light sand from drying out too quickly, add well-rotted leaf moid or oid manure at 12-16 litres for each square metre of ground. Do this in the spring to improve the texture of the soul to be uised for faîl pianting, and in the faîl for spring planting. Add limestone to soul that is too acid. If the pH of the soul is below 6.5, add limestone at a rate of 250 g/m2 of ground for each 0.5 pH value needed to bring it up to 6.5. For example, if the pH is 5.5, add limestone at 500 g/m2. Fertilizer Spring-flowering bulbs show littie immediate response to fertilizer if the soil contains a reasonable amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash. GROUNO LEVEL contlnued on page 17 50 cmn MUS AR G LANTHUS A SE'IVIN .1 J1 105cm k- ,P .A<FP, LILY STEM-ROOTNGI BULBS BULBS BUL BS New fresh Nursery Stock is stîli arriving weekly... See our large selection for fail planting! 1. - 1