‘Beware the idle days of WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE made a boo-boo. While researching material for the play Julius Caesar, he assumed the warning given to Caesar was ‘‘Beware the Ides of March.’’ Of course this is inaccurate. We can now attribute this phrase to Caesar’s favorite garden columnist who was actually cau- tioning the emperor to ‘‘Beware the idle days of March.”’ AS every good gardener knows, the time and effort spent in the garden during this crucial month will be well rewarded. A little extra effort now will result in healthier, more beautiful ornamental gardens as well as a far more bountiful harvest from vegetable beds, fruit trees and berry bushes. On the other hand, you can ex- pect any idle days in March to be rewarded with disappointment, disease, problems and pestilence — not to mention the personal health considerations. Those of you who see laboring in the garden as naught but a pain in the back should remember old Julius. He could have avoided his stabbing back pains if he had been toiling in his garden that fateful day rather than chatting with the boys in the Senate. Back pain is nothing to be taken lightly. If your problem is chronic, see your doctor. If (as is most like- ly) it is due to a lack of exercise and an abundance of idle days, | recommend the following. Lawn care — These days our lawns always look as though Julius’ Legions of Rome have bivouacked on them all winter long. Now is the time for some spring rejuvenation of your turf. The recent spell of snow and generally cold weather did no permanent damage to the roots, but it may have damaged large areas of the top growth. As moss thrives on the layer of thatch this NEEDLEWORK FRAMING Your work deserves the best. Find out why Regis stretches and frames more needtework than anyone else in Western Canada and SAVE 25%. Offer includes a wide choice of wood and metal frames, mats, glass, stretching and assembly. i CONSERVATION FRAMING Preserve and protect your valuable artwork with our museum ‘standard Conservation Package and SAVE 25%. Offer includes a wide choice of wood and metal frames, 100% acid free Alphamats, acid free corners, regular or non-glare glass, 3 ply Rag Foamcore backing and assembly. We recommend this Package for original watercolours, limited injured top growth creates, the need for power-raking or de-that- ching is increased. Wait until the lawn is relatively dry as the machines used tend to rip out clots of sod if ihe moisture content is too high. The damage done is minoz but should be avoided when possible. You will also find the thatch and moss easi- over the garden gaie Geoff Tobiasson er to rake up if you wait for drier weather. The application of dolomite lime, moss killer, and fertilizers should wait until after you have finished power-raking. No sense in ripping out what you have gone to ihe effort and expense of putting in. If your lawnmower requires ser- vice, do it now before the rush. You can begin cutting as soon as new growth begins. Leaving the cutting height quite short, say one inch, during these cooler spring months will promote a ‘thickening’ of the turf prior to summer. Flower beds —- Careful removal of the weeds which are appearing now will assure you much less work during the summer months, If you get them before they can reseed, you will start the season clean. Prepare the beds by adding layers of manures and/or compost with dolomite lime and slow- release, organic fertilizers such as bonemeal. Turn the whole works over and cultivate to a minimum depth of !2 inches. Now is the time to purchase new stocks of summer-flowering bulbs, corms and tubers. Unlike last year, many of the half-hardy varieties such as gladiolus and dahlias should have survived this relatively mild winter — if you planted them deep enough! For best results, plant your glads and dahlias deep. This will not on- ly offer greater protection should you decide to leave them in the ground over winter, it will also help to support these taller plants in winds. Tuberous begonias should be started indoors now, as should the seeds of the following bedding-out plants: ageratum, bedding dahlias, celosia, cosmos, dianthus, dusty miller, marigolds, mimulus, nemesia, salvia, schizanthus, snapdragons, and zinnias. same preparatory procedures as outlined for flower beds. The ad- dition of extra dolomite lime in areas planned for cole crops (broc- coli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, etc.) will help to contro! club-root. 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Marine Drive 1168 Robson Street 327-9996 669-5721 Kitsilano Kerrisdale Burnaby-Coquitlam URES & FRAMES, ja for over 19 years. q West Vancouver 1432 Marine Drive 922-3513 Richmond Centre Lansdowne Mall Richmond Warehouse Store Vegetable beds — Follow the 13 - Friday, March 2, 1990 - Keep any type of lime away from the potato beds as this can cause scabby tubers. Some seeds of vegetable plants worth starting indoors over the next few weeks are: broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauli- flower, head lettuce, onions, pep- pers (now), and tomatoes. You can plant your potatoes and onion sets as soon as you have RENOVATIONS BATHROOPSS and KITCHENS =—— Serving You Since ’6s CABINETS FIXTURES eTILES & FLOORING 153 West 3rd St., NVancouver North Shore News é LIFESTYLES RCRA FTE March’ prepared the beds. The seeds of endive, leaf lettuce, pea, radish, spinach, and turnip should be safe to sow in the last two weeks of the month. Of course, those of you process- ing cold frames and cloches will be far ahead of those who have not yet discovered the benefits of these See March Page 14 *SHOWROOM eCUSTOM DESIGN eCOMPLETE INSTALLATION & RENOVATION *CULTURED MARBLE eCOUNTER TOPS eSHOWER DOORS FREE ESTIMATES ff 987-3055 on sheers and lace fabrics Complimentary in-home design consultation 985-6112 1099 Marine Dr., North Van. Comer of Lloyd & Marine Drive Parking in rear