ALTON HILLS SPECTRUM April 1S8S Prepare your soil for a beautiful season By TOM Herald Special So small yet so powerful annuals bring to our knees In delicate lov ing care as bed them out In an ticipation of a constant show Thcse tender Herbaceous plants will produce beauty for beyond their costs if plan ted properly Those who get discouraged at the cost of Annuals havent fully understood their nature or purpose in the garden Like they arc inexpensive when you consider the effort that goes Into producing and scheduling them for the consumer If you wish to save money collect seeds mature blossoms of select beauties and store them until article on seed I will col I eel in to prepare your soil each season Placing well nurtured An nual In dusty or hard unattended soil runs parallel to dropping a naked human in a desert A well prepared bed with amend ments of manure nch top soil peat moss and will run parallel with dropping that human being in Quantities or mixing depend on the status of the existing soil Dry sandy soil lacks moisture tension and soil stability Soil stability refers to its ability to stay loose and friable allowing good penetration of both without compactinf good for growing tides are loo fine and when it dries it will compact and choke the roots The addition of course sand and peatmoss will help loosen the soil and help retain moisture Again quantities depend on soil and loca A cup of soil retrieved from an inch depth will be sufficient sample to lake in for appraisal by a trained It is important to mix the right amounts of manure too much can cause excessive and too little flower Too much peatmoss will cause the soil lo turn acidic which sometimes is desirable An easy rule of thumb Is to mix one part existing soil one part top soil or part peatmoss and a full of manure if mixing in a wheelbarrow or equivalent pile After mixing spread a film of over the surface and rake Work jour bed to a depth of 12 in and loosen large clumps If us ing garden fertilizer follow lions on the package label or can overfeed Dont crowd Annuals when planting they nil compete lor space and this is expensive Planting at the proper will return a full season of colour Never plant the heat the day Always plant when the i cool During the heal from noon to 1 Annuals will transpire and wilt because the roots are not capable of Thoroughly water after planting and check or water when hot dry weather prevails Once established with shells or bark chips will provide moisture retension and pro tect the soil from hot dry winds con weeds and gives an attractive frame for your picturesque garden 1014 days after planling pinch tips to encourage stronger bushier plant- Courtesv FOR YOUR HOME AND GARDEN NEEDS GEORGETOWN LAWN GAF1DEH EQUIPMENT 8776686 menu raw FOR QUALITY PRODUCTS WITH EXPERT SERVICE LAWN CYCLE GEORGETOWN NURSERY and GARDEN CENTRE Garden Seeds Onion Sets Seed Strawberry Raspberry Plants Asparagus Hoots Tress Bushes GlreUsACall 5 A GALLERY OF GARDEN SPECIALS FREE Sweet 100 TOMVTO PLANT THURSDAY TO MONDAY ONLY One Slop For All Your Gardening Needs GARDEN CENTRE ERIN LTD 51 9 1 7 UNILOCK FACTORIES Georgelown287 Armstrong Ave 4164S3143B BarrtoHwy South Holly 05 HOURS Mori Fri am FACTORY OUTLETS NORTH CI SAVE MONEY Unitock will help you INSTRUCTIONAL HOME VIDEO your Instructional Home Video lor Unilock and Slope Block retaining wall entitled 10 Easy Steps jit and Easy Steps INSTRUCTIONAL BOOKLETS Also available are detailed instructional booklets conveniently check Willi during your installation Both videos and booklets available at any one of our dealer outlels CALL FOR THE DATES AND LOCATIONS NEAREST YOU Concord Supply 3161 Ann- I Dominion Coal Supply But Supply famw Jacks Supply Precast iNcwiimVim BIS id raj Matin lis RchmondSKfuciMiiVrMini Honor A 1 Semis