Miniature roses perfect for container gardening FOR THE many people who have neither time nor space for a conventional garden, outdoor coatainer gardening offers a compact, but rewarding, alter- native. One of the most satisfying asd fun-to-grow con- tainer plants is the miniature rose. With all the beauty and charm of full-size roses, minis are the perfect ac- cent plant. They’ Il add a splash of color and style to a deck or balcony, and can be moved about to suit your mood. Best of all, miniature roses are hardy and undemanding. Thanks to recent advances in garden technology, like self-watering containers and specialty soil mixes, growing them is easier then ever before. Miniature roses come in all shapes and sizes. An average mini, like the oid favorite, ‘‘Tom Thumb,” grows 12 inches tall or less in containers. “Macro” minis reach two feet tall or more, and may bear blossoms two inches across. There are climbing minis that wil grow to six or seven feet, and tree minis under two feet tall. Minis come in colors to complement any decor, from red, lavender and pink, through salmon, apricot and bronze to bright orange and yellow, to white and even green. Garden centres usually offer several varieties or you can order minis from a mail-order pursery. Miniature roses are sold potted at garden centres or Tips aid shipped through the mail with the rootball protected in a moisture-retaining wrapper. Mail-order plants should be planted as soon as they arrive. Plant them slightly deeper than their nursery level to encourage new roots along the stem. Any container that provides at least six inches of soil depth and good drainage will do for minis. Choosing the correct soil mix is critical. Roses need a lightweight mix that drains quickly yet retains moisture well. © Culture: Place containers where they’ll receive at least six hours of morning or afternoon sun daily. Keep soil uniformly moist, but not soggy, and feed regularly with a complete fertilizer for roses. © Indoors: If you want to display your minis in- doors, allow them to remain outside until they come into flower. Then bring them inside and place them in asunny spot. They should continue to bloom for sev- eral weeks. Keep soil moist and provide added humidity. If your planters do not have a water reservoir, set the pots on trays of pebbles and water. When blossoms fade, it’s time to return containers to their outdoor locations. Most roses bloom heavily in June and again in September, with some flowering in between. Bloom- ing-size minis planted in containers this spring should be in full bloom by early summer. in storage plans From page 11 meet their needs. Suggestions include: © Utilize all the space in corner cabinets by fitting them with lazy Susan spin shelves and tambour (similar to the material used for roll-top desks) appliance caddies. ® Most standard-sized wall cab- inets can be accessorized with spice racks. However, when a spice rack is mounted on a door, it decreases the depth of cabinet shelves. © Wall cabinets can house most shelves stacked several cans deep, the modern version features slide- out storage racks that allow every can to be seen. ® Molded plastic holders end the scramble for spices by displaying each bottle in a step-like fashion that makes identification and ac- cess easy. ¢ Fresh fruit and vegetable bins, a near-necessity in Europe, are gaining popularity. eSome ventilators cam be in- stalled in wall cabinets and the hoods tilted out when cooking. © Pull-up appliance accessories keep small electrics neatly tucked away, but always a-cessible. Because they fold down into a base cabinet, some storage space is sac- rificed. © Serving tray partitions keep oversized cookware neatly stored and dent-free. e Some custom manufacturers provide a trash cabinet with selec- table basket size. There are even models that will open the trash lid simultaneously with the opening of the door. microwave ovens. Make certain that you follow the microwave manufacturer’s recommendations for clearance and ventilation re- i ts. ® Wine racks can be incor- porated into wall cabinets, but not near ‘‘hot spots’? that can turn a prized collection into wine vinegar. © Cutlery dividers, the most- requested cabinet accessory, are available in molded plastic or wood. © The pantry has made a come- back, but with a twist: Instead of FABRICS — SALE ENDS APRIL LONSDALE 7th/89 Ps WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO... AND BLINDS Closed Mondays #235 The Village Square 1425 Marine Drive. 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