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10 'Cut Out' Careless Lawn-Mowing Habits When operating any type of outdoor power equipment home- owners should practise these im- portant do's and don'ts. * Do read the manufacturers' operator's manual before begin- ning. * Do keep small children out of the mowing area, and prefer- ably indoors under adult super- vision. * Do be alert and tum off the mower if children enter the area. * Do look behind and down for small children before operat- ing in reverse. * Do use extra care when ap- proaching comers, shrubs and trees. Ne Plants & Shrubs #4973 Wellington Rd. 29 - Eden Mills * Do handle fuel carefully and avoid spilling when filling the engine. * Do wear the proper clothing - long slacks and sturdy shoes. * Don't carry children. Riding mowers are designed for one operator only. * Don't allow children to op- erate a riding mower. * Don't drive a riding mower like a race car - itis a mower, nota racer. .. Remember, carelessness is one of the leading causes of ac- cidents. Homeowners of all ages should always think of safety first while operating power tools. ve Rabbits Doreen & John e (519) 856-4787 THE NEW TANNER Not Enough Space for a Big Rosebush? Try a Shrublet In the wonderful world of roses, shrub roses are the ones that grow tall and wide and provide lots and lots of colour in the garden. Some- times you may need all that colour but can't provide the » space it takes to grow a huge shrub. That's when it's time to think about a shrublet. An entirely new class of rose, a shrublet is a rosebush that has flowers and foliage ona smaller scale. But unlike a miniature rose, which has small flowers and small foli- age on a small plant, a shrublet is a larger plant that's just chock-a-block loaded with small flowers and foliage. Depending on the variety of shrublet you choose, the plants grow to between 3 and 4 feet tall, and about 2 feet wide - tuckable! They fit eas- ily into most landscape situa- tions, especially where a sea- son-long profusion of colour is important. ah atR@i gsr Outdoor eT 264 Main St. N., Acton 853-1970 HOURS: Mon-Fri 7-6 Sat 8-4 In the perennial border, a shrublet is the plant that's al- ways in bloom, providing a wonderful contrast with peo- nies in the spring, delphinium in midsummer, and phlox in late summer. Even between perennial cycles, shrublets just keep on producing myri- ads of colourful flowers. Because these plants are continually laden with bloom, shrublets always fit nicely into foundation plantings. And they make wonderful companions when planted in front of, or intermixed with, the once-blooming old gar- den roses. Like most roses, shrublets grow extremely well in warm climates. In cold climates, where many types of roses require protection to keep the bud union (graft) from being damaged by winter winds and freezing temperatures, shrublets thrive without pro- tection. Rather than having been budded onto a root- stock, shrublets grow on their own roots, making these plants less susceptible to the ravages of winter. Where win- ter winds damage rose canes, shrublets can be pruned in the spring, right to the ground if necessary. and new, strong canes will grow. Full, bushy, and flowerful, the unique striped shrublet, Rockin' Robin, performs well in most climates. Z Ge ( THURSDAY. MAY 18, 2000 Shape Decorative Garden Container Displays CONTAINER GARDENING is a simple way to add beauty and colour to your yard. A well-prepared, peat-based soil is the ke vibrant plants. Container gardening can bring new life to traditional gardening techniques. From teacups to terra-cotta pots, any container can house a beautiful garden. There are many factors to keep in mind when creating a container garden. Colour, size and texture of flowers and type of container all are no- tions to be considered. Shape also is a design element that can be adapted to fit the crea- tive style of the gardener. The following six basic planting shapes are courtesy of "Con- tainer Gardening Through the Year" (DK), by Malcolm Fan-Shaped Plants and shrubs that splay out into an attractive fan shape work well in terra-cotta pots that are conical in shape. Select plants that grow to about one-and-a-half times a Exterior Benjamin Moore a BG cratch & Save y to maintaining healthy, the container height for a bal- anced display. Vertical To create visual symmetry, try to grow several tall plants to- gether in a single container so that the width of the plants equals the width of the pot. Horizontal To counteract the long nar- row shape of a window box or trough, avoid planting in straight rows, vary the height of the main plants to break up the horizontal thrust, and sof- ten the overall effect with filler plants. Oval-Shaped Oval-shaped containers often are low-level and look most effective when viewed from above. Plants that are diminu- tive in stature. or have a char- acteristic spreading or trailing habit, are the most suitable candidates. Dome-Shaped Many plants grow into hum- mocky shapes, a profile that suits low tubs and cauldrons in exposed sites. Trailing foli- _ age helps to break harsh out- lines while allowing some of the container's decorative surface to be seen. Asymmetrical Although perhaps one of the more difficult shapes to achieve, because the propor- tions of the plant material are not equal, asymmetrically planted displays have a movement and instant vital- ity lacking in more traditional designs. AY MASTER HOME IMPROVEMENTS FREE Quotes i painting window & door frames 7 o rotting window sills same colour boredom |=] worrying about big $ RELAX ENJOY Capping windows & doors with aluminum (many colours) will add life and value without major expense. (519) 853-5270