13 - Friday, February 3, 1989 - North Shore News WINTER WINDS AND SNOW FALLS Garden needs winter protection through the month of February FEBRUARY IS famous for being fickle. With temperatures ranging from highs in the 70s to lows in the minus teens, it is hard enough making plans for the weekend let alone for the month. If you are able to dodge the rain showers and snow storms and find enough time ‘Setween sailing and trips to the park, try te remember some of these timely tasks for the Contiawe winter protection — Some of your shrubs may have suffered broken tranches after last month’s dumps of wet snow. If the snow falls again, knock it off be- fore damage occurs. And while you're at it, stake newly planted trees, shrubs, and any other plants in need of protec- tion from winter winds and snow loads. Fluctuating temperatures can cause the sap in some trees to alternate between flowing and freezing. This can resuit in the splitting of the bark and the opening of a point of access for pests and diseases. Scrape clean any such areas and app!y a latex based pruning paint. These temperature changes can also cause bulbs to begin © sprouting. If severe frosts should occur after the appearance of some premature shoots, cover them with a four-iach layer of fallen leaves. Begin praming — Even though you could have begun pruning in January, it is sometimes preferable to wait until February. Warmer weather will encourage new buds to swell, allowing you to better determine where to make your cuts. For this reason, plants such as roses should be left for another month. The District of North Vancouver parks department puts on a free pruning demonstration every spr- ing no later than the first Saturday of March. Be on the lookout, it is usually held at Maplewood Farm. Dormant sezson spraying — Lime-sulphur and dormant oil are commonly used at this time of the year to ‘clean up’ deciduous shrubs and trees before the advent of the growing season. Over-wintering insects such as scale and diseases such as peach. leaf curl are easier to control at this time of the year. The use of mikily toxic dormant sprays now is much preferred over the applica- tion of more toxic products later in the year. If you have a problem with peach leaf curl, try using copper spray; one application in mid- November and another aow. INCREDIBLE 3 AMAZING FRAMING Flower and vegetable beds — If you get an early start now by ap- plying dolomitic limestone, com- post, and bonemeal, you will have better results come planting time. Take the time to remove any weeds that ray appear; a little extra ef- fort now will eliminate hours of work in the summer. Seed starting — There are a few flower and vegetable seeds that need to be sown indoors now to ensure an abundant production of blooms or vegetables in the sum- m er. If you have a cold frame or a cloche you could start many more varieties now and get a real headstart on the season. A trip to your local library will provide you with all the information you need to build and make use of these great season extenders. Sammer flowering bulbs —~ The NEEDLEWORK FRAMING Your work deserves the best. Find out why Regis stretches and frames more needlework than anyone else in Western Canada and SAVE 25%. 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Regis DICTURES &fRAMES rth Vancouver 984-8469 513 All stores open 7 days a week — late opening Fridays Richmond 5311 No. 3 Road Downtown 1168 Robson Kitsilano 2857 W. Broadway 37th & West Bhd. West Vancouver 1432 Marine Drive Kerrisdale 922-3513 Lougheed 1074200 North Rd. zasden centres will have all of the spring bulbs in this month. If you would like to plant some begonias, dahlias, gladiolus, etc. get in early to assure yourself the best selec- ton. You can root the tuberous begonias in the house now. Because these plants take a while over the garden gate Geoff Tobiasson to get started and produce the best results when reaching a larger size, an early start is highly recorm- mended. Lawn maintenance — If the weather permits, you should begin reconditioning the lawn. Most of you will have moss problems which will require treatment this spring. Those of you who were smart enough to give the lawn the best of care last year, can now relax while the rest struggle with acrators, de- » moss killer, and the lawn rake. If you are one of the unfortu- natc ones, this is the proper se- quence of events. First ‘power- rake’ or de-thatch, aerate, apply moss killer, dolomite lime, fertit- izer, and then look after it. Plasnizg — This is one I con- tinually harp on. If you want to achieve the best results with the least amount of money and effort, do it on paper first. Whether it be the layout for this summer’s hanging baskets or a major landscape renovation, plan- ning is still the route to perfection. That is enough. I better quit or you might stop reading me; then who would I have to abuse and overwork? ——_ TOUCH | INTERIORS