Friday, May 1, 1992 - North Shore News - 15 Get out the secateurs Garden task easier than most people expect ON REFLECTION, my last article appears to have left many of you up a tree; a lilac tree, that is. After warning you about the perils of improper pruning, 1! left you w... litthe more than a ‘‘pro- per pruning can prevent this.” What the heck is proper pruning? References to some gardener’s code of dress, perhaps? Should I position the pinky just so as I grasp the secateurs? And what in the blazes are secateurs? Let’s start with the least rele- vant. If you are in the habit of wearing tweed caps or wide- brimmed garden bonnets and are used to speaking in botanicalese, you probably use secateurs. I prefer to call them pruning shears, more out of consideration for the inflexibility of my tongue than the need for precise terminology. As usual, I digress. Whiie most people view pruning as an in- timidating task, it is actually far easier than expected. In all but a few cases, you should be more afraid of your inaction than the possibility of chopping off a bit more than intended. As with most gardening chores, doing a little on a regular basis is far better than waiting until the problem is severe. Young lilacs should not require Geoff Tobiasson OVER THE GARDEN GATE pruning for the first four or five years except for the removal of suckers that might appear below the graft. Look for the knobby growth or swelling near the base of the plant: any shoots that emerge below this point should be removed immediately. Mature lilacs should be groom- ed rather than pruned. Yearly at- tention should be given to the removal of weak, non-flowering shoots and suckers. This will preserve energy for more produc- tive growth and ensure that there is plenty of room for the devel- Yes you ENED eliminate shower shock Yes you @€2RE have your own loundry in your condo Yes you CCHFD hove a bathroom in your bosenent For details call George at 985-1026 anytime. vs INSTA-FLAME CFM Naturally for the 90's ~ FIREPLACE INSERTS $469° off “~@ ‘reg uni price —_ wn Large selection of glass fireplace doors: copper, plain black, copper & black, polished brass, polished brass & black, antique brass, antique brass & black, chrome. chrome & black. All units burning on display Mon-Sat. 9-5 Licensed gas contractor A & A GAS FIREPLACES 2990 Mountain Hwy. & Ross Road Lynn Valley 986-7055 opment of flowering shoots. The illustration demonstrates examples of the types of growth tha: should be removed. Speaking of preserving energy, the production of unwanted seed is very wasteful of a plant’s resources. Remove spent flowers at the base of the flower stalk to redirect this energy to ensure the development of a stronger, more numerous flower display next year. Try to maintain the general symmetry of the bush and pro- mote strong growth by continually thinning the growing tips. Remov- ing up to 30% of the side shoots emerging from a branch will not only allow you to maintain the size and scale of your Iilac, it will also promote the production of larger, healthier clusters of flowers. If you allow your filac to con- tinue its climb to the sun un- checked, you will need a helicopter or at least a second- storey window to enjoy it. Once the desired maximum height is achieved, prune a few of the tallest branches back to the point where they emerge from another major branch. This will ensure that you keep the flowers within reach of eye and nose. MATURE LILACS should get yearly attention with the removal of weak, non-flowering shoots and suckers. This wil! preserve energy for more productive growth and ensure plenty of room for flowering shoots. Beautiful, affordable and maintenance free retaining walls you can build yourself! ¢ SANDBOX SAND FILL SAND“* CRUSHED & ROUND STONE @ RIVERSTONE ® TOP SOIL © BARK MULCH e¢ LAVA ROCK AVAILABLE FOR DELIVERY ONLY Retaining Walls available in ® concrete block ® used railway ties ® pressure treated timbers ® treated landscape ties 929. AN 1. : CONSTRUC TON SERVICES FO PE (929-4555 - gy ADVICE wet SAAR a