14 - Friday, October 18, 1991 - North Shore News HOME & GARDEN NEWS photo Stuart Davis TEN-YEAR-OLD Tanya Botteselle checks cut a still-ripening pumpkin in her family’s garden. Autumn Is ideal time for planting gardens IT SEEMS Canadians in general regard spring as the prime season for planting gardens. While it's true that the weather in spring is often excelient for transplanting trees, evergreens, shrubs, hedges, roses and vines, there are many years when the weather we experience in the spring is anything but spring-like! Many years, it’s more like summer. The Canadian Garden Council points out, on the other hand, that autumn weather is usually more predictable, and for most types of plants, autumn is a better time for planting than spring. Since the expansion of con- tainerized trees, shrubs, evergreens and many other types of nursery stock, it has been possible to plant an entire garden al virtually any time in the year from the time frost leaves the ground in the ear- ly spring until hard frost in the autumn, There is, however, one distinct’ advantage that autumn planting has over summer plant- ing. For plants such as hedges, cer- tain shade trees, and many deciduous shrubs, autumn plant- ing means being able to obtain bare-root plants from the nursery or garden centre. These are always priced flower than containerized or balled-and-burlapped plants of the same variety sold during the summer. It is simply a case of less labor involvement equating to a lower price. And in the autumn, the nurseries and garden centres which offer bare-root piants have fresh-dug materials that have been in full robust growth for all of the summer The optimum time for planting hedges and shade trees such as maples, ash, locust, and a host of others, is immediately after the first hard frost that kills the leaves on the plants. Since there is no water-loss through the leaves (as there can be in the spring, when the leaves begin to grow soon after the plants are transplanted), trees, hedge planis and shrubs make the needed root growth for a head-start the following spring. The Canadian Garden Council also reminds gardeners the soil is at its warmest in the autumn, and thus the newly-acquired plants are able to cstablish a good feeding root system before real winter conditions set in. In spring, the opposite is true, and it’s often several weeks before the soil warms up sufficiently to allow new plants to pul out a vigorous new feeding root system. Horticulturists generally em- phasize the importance of autumn planting, and its advantages — particularly the warmer soil and ability of the new plants to devel- Op new roots without any loss of moisture from newly-opening foliage as is the case in the spring. There are still other advantages of autumn planting. If there is a shortage of a par- ticular type of tree or shrub, ob- viously once the available plants are sold, they are gone. It may be that an additional supply can be obtained from another part of the country, or from another country, but that is not always a sure thing. The shortage can sometimes be industry-wide. This means that if you buy your plants in the autumn, you get the first choice of what is available — ahead of all those people who will be pur- chasing that item the following spring. baby lock: PRO LINE” Sew Like A Pro Baby Lock with QTS Baby Lock is proud to arinounce QS. the first and only quick threading system for a serger! Simp- ly push a léver and the lower looper is threaded, turn the dial and the needles are threaded! No more frustration. I's quick and easy. * Exclusive 4/3/2 thread sewing * Built-in narrow roiled hem x Differential feed © Rent To Own * Adjustable width dial © Only $50 Per Month * Free Lessons * 3 Mo. No Interest Custom Built Closet Organisers & Mirror Doors Eliminate waste space and mess Create more useable space in any closet INSTALLED OR DO IT YOURSELF WOODLINES i Custom Built Furniture for the home & office SHOWROOM OPEN MON. - SAT. 9-5 = CANADIAN CLOSET << "A family owned business since 1984” “a, 1385 Crown St. N. Van. 986-4263 €state Sale at the Bay Park Roya! | Main floor - next to o Jewellery Dept. Thursday to Sunday - October 17-20 AFFORDABLE SPLENDOR! *We would like to welcome you to the Bay Park Royal Dro by, say “hi” and view our fabulous collection of: nique heirloom pieces Antiques & collectibles *Gold *Silver *Gold watches Rings, bracelets, necklaces from 9 to 24 carats “Georgian silver *Precious and semi-precious stones *Something for every taste and every budget CREDIT CARDS jae ~=WELCOME iso OS macnon