P2EGESW UMTu" ~E INEM~A~it* o, Loam- company ready for spiring ByTrudioZavadovicu We are now approacIng the time when people put away thoir saIt -and snow sho-vels andpull out their rakes and garden hoe. Arntè Loam- Supply on Brock Rd. N. in Pickerinig sell topsoil, garden mixes, interlocking stones and, retaining wvalls to people cultivating or land aping their gardens. «Our main busines8 l to Soil,» says Michael Arnte. "Ninecyper cent of our business is to tlhe public. Weý also selI to landsca- pers and nurseries. W. seli top-ý soil to quite a few nurseries." .Anyone Who noeds more than bags of topsoil can buy ini bulk at bis store. "TMe basic Urne of year for this type of work is the beginning of S O U SEASON April1 to the middle of June," says Artc. 'Tat's prime Urne. Dur- ing the long weekend ilu May, many people plant flowers. They like to tget things ready and prepare ter soi, ahead of time." .Arnts says that rnany people who, go to nurseries to, buy shrubs and order largequanti- ties of topsoil, are actualy get- ting the topsoil from his com- pany. "Nurseries fax the orders and we deliver it to the homeowner." Over the past five years, he has noticed tfhat homeowners are f tting aL reater emphasis on ai don'lt think it's to, keep up with the Jones' but to, increase the value of the property. There's also an emphasis on the environ- menta apect of landscaping.». Most 0f our sales are to, new houses. In the winter we seli bulk sait for Iandscapers with snow confracts, and warm. sands for masonry people doing brick jobs.» -Arnts Loam Supp1 is a famnily owned company. Michael's father is from Holland where he took horticulture. 'In the 1950's dad lived in the Witby and Pickering area. He decided to combine trucking with topsoil (because he saw a fuure need.) On Aprfi 21, Arnts Loam, Sup- ply wili hold their annual ser'mi- nar, a tradition for the past five years. They will show visitors how to do interlocking stone and retain- ing walls. Unïilock sales repre- sentatives will be there for demonstrations and to answer questions. Small things need a place to grow too. / 0-o HeIp conserve wildlife habitat. FaS more Inormation contact: Canadian W"IdIIfe Federaton 1673 Carling Avenue Ottawa, Ontorla K2A MZ (613) 725-219tý Garden ing Tips & Secrets By Tne QualificdMPlanman VgLme Gr"vegetables mtr ater than others. If interplanted, one vegetable can b harvested and out of the way wbile the other continues to grow. Here's a list of soine vegges that make good cop 3in when planted togetheri thus maximzing space, espe=y on those smafl lots: Peaia/Carrots Cal3bage/Lettuce Carrots/Radishes OnionsfRadishes Parsnips/Radishes Cabbage/Radishes Cabbage/Onion Sets Corn/Spinach Corn/Liettuce TomatoeslSpinach' TomatoesfRadishes TomatoeaULttuce Swiss Chard/Peppers Onion Seed/Radishes Make sure to test your seeds germination, especially if youlre using a seed saved from previous crops. 1. Spread a dozen seeds on a wet paper towel. 2. Roll up the seeds in the paper towel. 3. Place the rolled paper towel on a soaked terry cloth face towel and roll it up. 4. Put both rolled paper/face towels in a plastic- bag and seal it. 5. In four - 10 days, the seeds should 'have had trne te, sprout. You can then deterniine the seed viability as well as the germination rate. Storing Seeds Use your* 35mm film containers te store seeds from one year te the next. Seed Pbtatoes Don't use lime - potatoeslike a sligbtly acidic sol. Add a fertilizer that is good for crops such as blueberries, azealas also adding muriate of potash- one 16- te 20-ft. row (it's great for ail root crops). MKulchi*ng Toenatoes Use large sheets of cardboard, eut holes and slits te, put the plant through, and cover the ground with it. Place a tomate cage or stakes through cardboard. Th e cardboard keeps down weeds, holde moisture, and can be filled in the sodIin the fail. BetteîBoltio arest. Be environmentally conscions, it will reduce your chemical bil each season and increase your crops harvest and health. Pur-pie Martins consume around 2,000 flying insece daily, each. You'll have a bigger harvest when you have lots ofee to pollinate your crops. Placrng cardboerd around the base of plante will reduce cutworm attack on the dtems. Corn 1arorm - if you have a'small crop, put minerai oil lu each ear (a few drops will cure theproblem). For faster bean seed germination, plant seeds with 'their "oye" down. CGet more mninerals from your spinach by picking it early in the MnOrig You'1l have a higiier. germination rate with cucumbrs if you plant the seeds with the radicle, (rôot) end up. Chamomile, used, in some of the', oldest known herbai remedies and teasý, also seems te improive -the vIgor)f plants growing nearby. To encourage brussel sprouts'growth, break somne of the ýlarge bottom leaves off the sta". To keep vine crops such as pumpkins from spreading too far, pinch the fuzzy tips off the vines after the first fr-uits have -set. Keep your eyes on forsythia flowers. Those yellow blooms are the signal for Durhanm gardeners te begin worlng the soil and adding peat mous and manure. The Qualiied Plantemanr - BRick Peman,4 OGS Gardon Gallery. manager of ARNTS TOPSOIL UnIIock hterl.ckln PmvIugStones D.Ilvered or Cuiste.' Pik Up Iumbtlon end Leuopl.g ais. Avuish.Fo uck elul Service Coli 683-0887 FREE. .'DQJT- YO URSELF" SEMINAR« (Interloding Stone & Retaining Walls> .April 21 lOam, l2pm, 2pm Bain or 9=ie -i Imce.c i 'w', w'1Y L TOP SOUL *Sand * urbo *mk RokrÊtan. *Gravol FIRIEWOOD *Limoeone *Pin. SA&Ich *Patio Slws *ToeMed Timbers -. ý 1 ém-e