1, D5 M2, CHAS

Ly MOV

eevils eat at leaves

tles damage ornamental shrubs

These small bee

ce CzararE? CEM q

MSSson

1644 z= 7

ve

SOW IT GROWS

GARDENING HAS become
North America’s number
one hobby and it is estimat-
ed that more than haifa mil-
lion Lower Mainiand resi-
dents are participating in
some horticultural activity.

No matter how long you have
been gardening there are always
new problems that demand solu-
tions or explanations.

Here are some frequently asked
questions and answers that may be
of help to you.

How much topsoil should I
order to improve my flower beds
or top dress my lawn?

- - Topsoil is sold by the cubic
yard. To caiculate the amount for

‘ your lawn or beds you should mea-
sure the length and width of each
area you plan to cover.

Using the formula: length times
width times depth (as a fraction of

‘ a foot) calculate the cubic feet.

This number is then divided by 27
to determine the number of cubic
yards.

For top dressing lawns, use 4: as
your depth. For flowsrs, vegetables
and shrubs you should add 4% more
to your cubic yard measurement to
allow for compaction.

It is always better to have a little
extra topsoil for future use than to
be short. The trucking fee will be
the same for the extra cubic yard.

All topsoils are manufactured,
so be sure to order one that is weed
free and does not contain too much
clay or peat.

What is eating the notches
along the sides of my rhododen-
dron leaves?

Rhododendron, skimmia,
camellia and kalmia leaves are fre-
quently chewed during the night by
asmall, grey, six-legged, snout-
nosed beetle called a root or vine
weevil.

They often live in the root mass
of the western red cedar and make
their nightly forays into the orna-
mental shrubs.

The larva is a small white grub
that is hatched in the fall and
spends the winter feeding on, and
damaging, the roots.

Place small pieces of board
close to the trunk of the shrub and
the weevil will use it to hide under
during the day.

Collect and destroy the weevils
as necessary. A second method, if
the shrub has only one trunk and no
Icaves touching the ground, is to
place a ring of masking tape
around the trunk and coat it with
tangle foot, a sticky grease-like
material.

For bad infestations there is also
a product called weevil bait that
has flurosilicate in it. Place it

around the base of each plant. If
you sce new Icaves with cuts in
them, then your problem has not
been solved.

fs it too late to lime my lawn?

It is never too late to lime the
lawn. The type of lime you should
be using is dolomite and it takes at
least a month to start neutralizing
acidic soil.

It is therefore best to apply the
lime at least a month before the
growing season begins. Adding
lime now will start this neutralizing
process and allow it to continue for
the best part of a year.

The coarse granules of lime will
act very slowly but last longer.

Should ! put dandelions and
other weeds in my compost box?

In general the answer is “yes.”
If you keep up with your weeding
and remove them before they go to
seed they break down and make
excellent compost.

Weeds that may have seeds
should be added to the centre of the
pile as you add lawn clipping or
other green material. Damp lawn
clippings will heat very quickly
and help to kill the seeds.

Dandetions and other plants
should have their tap roots crushed
to prevent then from sprouting
again. Morning glory, horsetail,
campanula and polygonum should
go straight into the garbage can.

When I cut roses or remove
spent flowers from the bush how
far down the cane should I go?

The rule of thumb is to go down
until you come to the first feaf with
five leaflets on it. However, there
are two other considerations.

See Pansies page 18

FASE
Rts

5

fe nagci CE Ea,

Waike Weluofiold

SMALL, GREY, ‘six-legged, snout-nesed beetle called a root or
vine weevil will eat notches aiong the sides of shrub leaves.

¢ 1,000 Fabrics

« Many Styies

e Loveseats,
Chairs

¢ LIFETIME GUARANTEE ON WOOD FRAME

e UP TO 5 YRS ON FOAM CUSHIONS

210 YEAR GUARANTEE ON SPRINGS

° UP TO 5 YEAR GUARANTEE ON MECHANISM

* Price reduction equivalent to GST.

111 E 3rd North Vancouver 986-1261