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C 8 - The Oakville Beaver, W e d n e s d a y M a y 1, 2002 H U H & GARDEN Use fungus for better plant health and growth The lawn has shown its thanks for the variable moist, cool weath er. It has grown thicker and higher and greener than ever. A drawback for us is having to mow it more often to keep the cut length to two to three inches w ith out removing more than one-third o f the grass height. Short grass is weak and more prone to insects and disease. Each spring, small peony plants grow in the law n from seeds dropped by the plants or by me as I remove the seed heads in the fall. This year, as I dug and potted 150 o f them for the Royal Botanical Gardens nursery sales. I saw white grubs in some o f the holes. The skunks are also busy digging grubs, but the lawn is not turning brown as root growth is rapid and the crows are unaware o f the grubs. Help the plants keep up by adding spring fer tilizer if it has not been done. Last w eek w h ile crossing M orrison C reek along the Lakeshore Road. I saw a red squir rel along the bank. 1 hope she knows her birdhouse nest used last year is unoccupied and ready for her. The forsythias are grateful for the cool weather and are extending their flowering period. Several peo ple have said. "It's too bad they only come in yellow ." There are white and pink forsythia-like plants named A b eliophyllum distishum . They are from Korea, hardy to Zone 5, and six feet high and have early fragrant flowers on leafless stems. It is ideal to grow with forsythia and erica. The flow er buds mature early allow ing the stems to be cut and the flowers forced indoors for earlier fragrance and colour. The Oregon Grape or Mahonia which is protected and warmed by the house are showing their clusters o f yellow flowers accented by the shiny bright green leaves. They grow in shade to seven feet high to five feet wide and make a good foundation planting on a shady north or east w all. In a windy loca tion. the leaves w ill turn brown in winter. If they are removed in early spring, new shiny growth w ill soon replace them. A big show for the front garden is the m agnolias and azaleas. There are 50 varieties o f m agnolia listed in the Sunset W estern Garden book but the star and saucer m agnolias are generally grown in this area. They are deciduous plants that are easy to grow and are covered in flowers John Simkins before the leaves break out. The deciduous azaleas, now in the rhododendron fam ily, are the earliest and most flamboyant but must be planted in acid soil. Our violet/pink plant has been in front of the house for many years, is five feet tall and is a bright beacon on the way to the front door. Trevor Cole, in the New Ontario Gardener, recommends the Lights Series, developed in Minnesota. They are hardy to Zone 3. Sheridan Nurseries has a good selection. Two years ago, we toured the Gasp£ area. Included was a visit to the Prem ier Peat bogs. We found that peat harvesting is not just digging up a bog. Peat moss is harvested on a rotation pattern sim ilar to sheep feeding in New Zealand, where fields are allowed a rest period to regrow before the sheep are re-admitted. This requires evaluating the fields and setting out feeding patterns. This sets a plan for the number o f sheep that can be fed over the next few years. The plan is revised each year and so with the peat bogs. The rotation plan allows rem oval o f an inch at a time as the surface dries, for a few inches. It is then, allowed to rest and regrow. Prem ier have 19 bogs and 15 processing plants in Canada. Prem ier Tech Biotechnologies makes a line o f 100 per cent natural growth stimulants which produce amazing results in im proving plant growth and produc tivity. A major product is M ycorrhiza. an endomycorrhizal fungus. This is a natural fungus which has been in the soil for 400 m illion years. The fungus forms an associ ation with the plant's root system creating an extension o f the roots. This increases the water and mineral absorption providing better plant health and growth. Flow ering plants and bulbs produce more and larger flowers. Trees and shrubs survive transplanting more often and start more vigorous growth in the spring. They tol erate unfavourable growing conditions. Annuals and perennials w ill recover quickly from transplanting and produce larger flowers. Fruit, vegeta bles and herbs w ill grow rapidly with increased quality and size. M yk e TM , as the fungus is named, is a one-time product. Once applied, it w ill stay with the plant until the plant dies or is moved. There is a specific mix o f ingredients along with the fungus in the form ula for each type o f plant. The fungus must be in contact with the roots. The instructions for applying it are on each of the four con tainers. For seeding, add the fungus to the bottom of the row or furrow, or to the bottom o f the hole when transplanting before setting in the plant. Put the roots in direct contact with the treated soil, cover and water in. The same methods are used for perennials and annuals. W hen seeded and annuals are transplanted, add the fungus to the bottom o f the hole. W hen planting trees and shrubs, follow the same procedure and reduce fertilizer to one-half normal. Read the instructions as several fam ilies of trees and some vegetables w ill not accept colonization by this fungus. W ith the extra vigour from M y k e TM treatment, the resistance of the trees and shrubs are enhanced. T h e ; fungus has been tested by Agriculture Canada, Texas* A & M , M c G ill, and Guelph U niversities and the C ity of M ontreal. It is used by many com m ercial growers. For more inform ation, phone Prem ium Tech at 1-800-6066926 or e-mail ptb@premiumtech.com isv o nmu Let Robin G a rv e y and her associates at O akville Kitchen C entre m ake your dream s a reality with exciting kitchen and bath designs. VISIT our showroom or call to set up an appointment OAKVILLE KITCHEN & BATH 599 Third Line 905-827-4611 \J P a ij x A C O R IAN CENTRE [ a rtc ra fl GARDENER'S DISCOUNT CARD Proper seeding and feeding will thicken your lawn and a strong, full lawn will minimize weeds! Here is how with the 3-Step Program: 2.500 II w OUfl Coverage Apply quality grass seed each time you use Turf Starter. Use our Premium Connon Grass Seed Mix. D o -it-Y o u p s e lfl S/IO.97 49 il (Grass Seed Extra) Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: 5.000 If Coverage Turf Starter Connon Premium Turf Starter) for the entire year See store for details. (10-25-10) (21-3-9) (through May) (May-June) (10-25-10) O (Aug-Sept) 1DQ.97 (Grass Seed Extra) CONNON N U R SER IES C.B. VANDERKRUK HOLDINGS LTD. s to f HWY. 5 / g ( g 403 / PLAINS RO E. ^ F A IR V IE W S T . ___________ t CONNON N U R S E R IE S _ | JJEW. t W ATERDOW N Highway 5, Just east ot Waterdown Tel (905) 689-4631 Fax (905) 689-3554 Mon-Fri 8-9, Saturdays 8-5 Closed Sunday See our website for the latest newsletter www. connon.ca See Our Flyer In Today's Oakville Beaver.