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WHO TO CALL:

Community Editor Home and Garden Editor
Andrew McCredie Layne Christensen
| 985-2131 (147}

Roy
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MID-WINTER IS is not 2
busy time for gardening but
there are many jobs that can
he done — weatlier permit-
ting.

Grapes need to be pruned each
year to encourage them to produce
fruit instead of more vines.
December or January is the best time
to prune in order to avoid the possi-
bility of the vines bleeding sap in the
Spring.

During the Christmas break I was
out doing some garden cleanup and
Was surprised how many weeds had
already formed flower neads. They.
will be ready to bloom and drop
their seeds at the first sign of spring
sunshine, Weeding now will prevent
the next cycie of weeds from start-
ing.

The mild weather has encouraged
the early bulbs to start emerging. To
prevent frost damage you might
want to partially cover them with a-
coarse mulch material. I took the old
Christmas fir and holly, cut it into
. Small sprigs and placed it over the
new bulb shoots. This allows

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985-2121 (118)

NEWS photo Terry Peters

TOOL MAINTENANCE Is always a good job when the weather is too cold to be outside. Blade
sharpening, rust removal, oiling and repairs can aii be done inside where it is warm.

drainage, some light and air move-
ment but provides a little bit of extra
protection.

Roses are vulnerable to damage
by a heavy wet snow fall. If they are
the type of rose that will be pruned
by twe thirds or more in the spring.
it would be wise to tke at least a
third or half of the bushy top off now
to prevent the stalks from breaking.
Mulching the crown area and graft
union is also a good idea in case we
have a sudden cold snap.

As you know we had record rains

anual

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in November and December.
However, raised planter boxes that
are protected by a wide overhanging
roof may still need water. Flowering
«urubs in these raised beds often fail
to bloom in the spring because they
have been dehydrated by the dry
frosty weather in the winter. As Jong
as the weather stays mild the slug
population remains active. Many of
the troublesome critters can be found
and dispatched by checking under
rockery plants. large leaves or boards
that have been laid down for walk-

7
° Gea,.

ways. I recently found half-a-dozen
under one short bsard.

Dormant spays can be applied
now as long as yqu choose a frost-
free day, Several applications may be
required depending on what product
you are using. : .

Should the weather turn cold and _

12th /

frosty wry tu avoid walking on, or ict-
fing your dogs run on, the frozen
grass. The broken grass blades will
turn brown and not he replaced until
spring.

Tool maintenance is always a
good job when the weather is too
cold to be outside. Blade sharpening,
tust removal, oiling and repairs can
all be done inside where it is warm
and comfortable,

Most keen gardeners have
already started to anticipate next
year’s gardening season and have
placed their seed order. A cojorful
seed catalogue can not only raise a
gardener’s interest but also brighten
a dark, wet winter day. February and
March are very busy times for seed
companies -— avoid the rush and
order early.

Look to your garden for another
source of winter color, Many plants
produce dormant flower buds in
summer that come into bloom the
following spring. Jasmine nudiflo-
Tum (winter jasmine), Forsythia and
Vibummum bodnantense or tinus can
all be forced into bloom at this time
of the year.

Take a bunch of cuttings, 30 to
90 cm (12 to 35 inches) long, and -
place them in warm water in the
bath tub for two or three hours. Then
arrange them in a vase of warm
water. The blooms should open in.
two to three days depending on the
lateness of the season.

This procedure can also be fol-
lowed later in the spring when you

are pruning fruit tees,

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