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NEWMARKET 1306 Kennedy Rd. 561 Hespeler Rd. 55 Yonge Street South of Highway 401 Highway 24 South of Davis Drive North of Lawrence Ave. 500 yds. S. of Highway 401 895.2457 755.5345 621.5281
MISSISSAUGA WHITBY UNIONVILLE 335 Dundas St. E. 1242 Dundas St. E. No. 7 Highway East of Woodbine Ave. West of Kennedy Rd. 297-3330 West of Thickson Rd. East of Anderson St. 668-7505
East of Highway 10 West of Cawthra Rd. 2772727
Open 7 days a week
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The NEW worry-free way to water your plants when you re away from home. How it works:
e AQUA-TERRA granules store water in the soil. Plants take water when needed..
e AQUA-TERRA extends watering 3 to 5 times longer.
e AQUA-TERRA prevents over-watering. andunderwatering. Eliminates root rot. Buy AQUA-TERRA at Sheridan Nurseries, Weall & Cullen, Reeves Florist and Nursery Woodbridge, White Rose Nurseries and The Civic Garden Centre.
Give and learn as a volunteer at the Civic Garden Centre
We ship the year round and offer a wonderful selection. Writefor 1981 catalogue to
Box 255T, Port Credit P.O. Mississauga, Ontario L5G 4L8
March 1981
Volume 8, Number 2
In this issue
Cover photograph: All-America Selection Impatiens Blitz Hybrid
All-America Selections 1981 Award Winners/5
Build Green Fences/8
Plant Dogwoods and Willows for Winter Color/10
Now is the time/14
Unusual Herbaceous Plants for home gardens/18
Horticultural Advisory Committee
Gerda Ferrington, Hal Price, Ken Reeves, Otto Richter, William Rock, Laurie Scullin
Executive Director: Clive E. Goodwin
Editor: Fredrik Kirby
Advertising: Shirley Kirby (416) 226-0996
Graphics and Printing Thorn Press Limited, Toronto
G eneral Information 1ssn 03801470
fg Trellisis publishedin the months ofJanuary, March, May, July, September, and November and distributed on or § about the 15th of the month previous by the Civic Garden Centre, 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2. Telephone: (416) 445-1552. The Centreis locatedin Edwards Gardens, at Leslie Street and Lawrence Avenue East, the geographical centre of Metropohtan Toronto. Itis a non-profit gardening and floral arts information organization with open membership. Subscriptions to Trellis are only available through Centre membership (10 per year). Opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the Centre.
You can enjoy all these benefits when you subscribe to TRELLIS horticulture and gardening magazine.
You become a member of The Civic Garden Centre. You will receive special members rates on all courses. You receive TRELLIS by mail every two months. It contains timely articles by outstanding authors; how-to-stories and seasonal suggestions; news of events and courses held at The Civic Garden Centre.
4. You may register for craftcourses, see specialshows, hearqualified speakers.
5. You can borrow free from over 4,000 gardening books.
6. You SAVE 10% on purchases over $2.00 at the Garden and Book Shops.
TO LEARN MORE CALL 445-1552 AND EXPRESS YOUR AREA OF INTEREST
CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE HOURS
I wish to subscribe to TRELLIS and become a member of THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE. Enclosed is my cheque for $ made out to THE CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE, 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Don Mills, Ontario M3C 1P2.
NAME ADDRESS
POSTAL CODE PHONE
Donations will receive receipt for tax. (Reg. No. 0228114-56-13)
All-America Selections 1981 Award Winners
All-America Selections testsnewflowerand vegetable introductions againstthe most appropriatevarietyavailable worldwide. Eachjudge evaluatesthese competitorson the basis of home garden potential. For 1981, three winners were chosen bythejudges: Blitz hybrid impatiens, Apricot Brandy dwarfplume celosia and Gypsy hybrid yellowsweetpepper. There aretwenty-nine flower trials in the USAand Canadaandtwenty-eightvegetabletrials.
Impatiens 'Blitz' Hybrid 1981 Bronze Medal Winner
Forthe firsttime in its 49-yearhistory, All-America Selections hasawarded a medalto an impatiens, the new orange-scarlet Blitz hybrid. And itis a dandy!
The best large-flowered scarlet impatiensand Blitz were in trial side by side across the USA and Canada. Blitz aced outthecompetition, excellingin flower - size, production and brilliance in beds, pots and hanging baskets. The vivid 2 to 21/4 inch blossomsshiningagainstthe lustrous bronze-green foliage provided quite a contrast!
Plants of Blitz are compact, averaging 10-12 inchesin heightat maturity and 12-16inchesinspread slightlymorein humid, longseasonareas. However, as withallimpatiens, gardenersareadvisedtogoeasyonthewaterandplantfoodto avoid stimulatingexcessive vegetative growth.
Like all modern hybrid impatiens, Blitz will tolerate full sun except in areas where intense sunlight tendsto fade orscorch summerflowers. Undersuch conditions, afternoon shade is recommended. Should Blitz overgrow late in the season, itwill bloom again after pruningorshearingto size.
AMERICA Dwarf Plume Celorsia Rpricot Brandy LI 198 Bronze Medal Winner
Celosias are one ofthe garden s flower staples ... the dependable typeofflower thatgardenersrelyonfor summercolor. Buttheprevailingcolors ofscarlet, orange and gold are abit garish forsome gardeners.
Now, alongcomes Apricot Brandy with amellowcolorthathas gainedthe admiration oflandscapersand flower arrangersinpreviewgardensacrossthe USA and Canada. Asoft apricotorange, this newcelosiaoffers all sorts ofpossibilitiesforflowerand garden arrangements.
Plants of ApricotBrandy reach 14-18 inches in heightand spread at
maturity. These base branching plants are remarkably uniform in size and in the number, colorand shape of plumes.
Celosia seeds need extrawarmth to sproutquicklyandreliably. All-America Selectionsrecommends you concentrate your plantings in asmall area that can be covered with a clear plastic hood totrap solar heat. As soon astheseeds begin sprouting, raiseoneedgeofthe hoodto prevent overheating.
Transplantthe seedlingssingly orin bunchesof2 or3 to retain a rootball andto minimize shock.
AMERICA Jweet Yellow Pepper 'Gypsy Hybrid
1981 Bronze Medal Winner
Let Gypsy be the otherpepper in yourgarden. Why settle formid-season green bell peppers orhotchili peppers alone? Gypsy can give you early crops while addingcolor and flavorvarietyto your saladsand dips.
Gypsy bringshybridvigorandheavyproductionintoyourgarden, alongwith resistance to tobacco mosaic virusdisease. Widelyadapted, Gypsy will bear heavily in cool, as well as hot areas.
The wedge-shaped, slightlycurved fruits of Gypsy are notasthick fleshed as thebiggreen stuffingpeppers butaretenderandcrunchy. Fruitsaverage 3 to 4 inches in length. Leta few fruits ripen on the plants, to tumn orange-red and gain extra sweetness.
Plants are 12 to 20 inchesin heightwith 14-18inch spread, slightly more in humid, longseason areas.
Gypsy hybrid can produce fruitswithin 55 daysfrom transplantingto the garden. Onegardeneraveraged 12 to 18fruits perplantin a preview garden last summer.
Freezesurplusfruitsof Gypsy . Sliceordice, andfreezewithoutblanching. The frozen peppers retain good flavorand texture forcooked dishes.
rean
by Russ Gomme
You don t have to resortto fencesto define property boundaries orcreate private areas. Evergreens and shrubs can be used in a variety ofways as hedges throughoutthe garden. These living fences can be also usedto screen undesirable views, divide areas ofyourgardenorprovideawindbreak.
First, decide whether a formal (trimmed) hedge or an informal (natural) hedge best serves the purpose. Some shrubs adaptwellas pruned hedges for example, privet while others appear more attractive growingnaturally forexample, vanhoutti spirea.
Both evergreen and deciduous plants can be used as hedge plants. Evergreens make splendid hedges because they retain theirvivid green color allyear. However, evergreens needtime to grow, and they are often more expensive than deciduous shrubs.
When you select hedge plants, be sure to choose the best plantfor existingconditions. Somehedgeplants thrive in sunlight, while others prefer partial shade. Some plants adaptwell to dampconditions, and others grow best in hot, sunny areas. Some plants, suchascaragana, seem toenjoy conditions in northern parts ofthe province.
Awide range ofplantscan be used forhedges in the Ontario climate. Your local nursery staffcan help you select
suitable plants foryour area ofthe province.
Whento Purchase
Earlyspringandmid-autumnarethe besttimes to purchase and plant hedges. Determine the numberof plants required by measuringthetotal length ofthe planned hedge. The higherthe hedge, the fartherapartthe plants are spaced.
Usually, nurseries, garden centres and outlets have quantity prices for hedge plants. The more plants you purchase, the lowerthe price. Smaller-sized plants are a good buy, because they are usually less expensive, and establishthemselves more easily in new surroundings.
Hedgesto be maintained at 0.3to 0.6 metres (1 to 2 feet) can be planted asclose as25 centimetres (10 inches) apart. Hedges in the 0.6- to 1.2-metre (2- to 4-foot) range should be planted
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38 to 45 centimetres (15 to 18 inches) apart. Taller hedges should be spaced 0.6 to 1.2 metres (two to fourfeet) apart depending upon the ultimate height.
Planting
Drive astake in at each end ofthe proposed hedge. Tie a cordto each stake end, making sure the cord istaut. Use a sharp spade to edge one side of thetrench. Turnthefirstspadefulofsoil on one side ofthe trench, and the second spadeful likely subsoil on theoppositeside. Thetrenchshouldbe at least 45 centimetres (18 inches) deep. Digdeeperifthe soil isnotwell drained, and fill in with 45 centimetres (18 inches) of stones.
Cut a wood stake the same length as the space between hedge plants, and use itto help achieve uniform spacing. Each plant should be planted about5 centimetres (two inches) deeperthan it was growingatthe nursery. This allows forsoilsettlingand encourages more new growth atthe base. Addtopsoil aroundthe roots and a mixture of subsoil and peat moss nearerthe surface. Firmthesoilaroundeachplant with your heel.
Usingthe same cord and stakes, establishalinetoprune aboutonethird ofthe top growth. Afterpruning, soak the plantsthoroughly with water.
Forspring planting, fertilize the plantswithabalancedfertilizer, suchas 7-7-7, at the rate of0.45 kilograms (1 pound) offertilizerforevery4.5metres (15 feet) of hedge.
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Ifyou plan a low hedge upto 1 metre (3 feet) try alpine currant, euonymus vegetus, boxwood (evergreen), privet (iodense), or Caraganapygmy. Hedge plants in the medium heightrange upto 1.5 metres (5 feet) include cotoneaster acutifolia, privet (common), privet (ibolium), vanhoutti spirea, Japanese yew (evergreen), white cedar, and hemlock. For high hedges upto 2 metres (7 feet) try Amur maple (ginnala), Caragana arborescens, hawthorn, laurel willow, Norway spruce, and honeysuckle. Checkwith yourlocal nursery tofind outwhich plantsarerecommendedforyourarea.
RussellGomme isdirectorofthe Horticultural SocietiesBranchfortheMinistry ofAgriculture andFood.
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Prant Dogwoods and Willows for winter color
byBurkeMcNeill
Many of our ornamental shrubs present a gorgeous display during the spring and summer, but provide little color to brighten the garden during the winter.
Evergreens are always attractive, winter and summer. However, there are few other plants we can use for color during the winter. Dogwoods and willows are the most popular plants for this purpose.
Mixing dogwoods and some of the less vigorous willows together with other plants can add a great deal of color to the winter landscape.
In a small lot, willows usually become too large, and because of this their usefulness is limited. In areas where there is plenty of space, many types of willows can provide excellent bark color. The Yellowstem or Golden willow creates a beautiful golden glow against snow or a dark background. To achieve an interesting contrast, plant this variety with the red-barked Redstem willow.
For the homeowner with an average-sized town lot, dogwoods are the most useful plants for winter color. These plants won t become too large, and can be very attractive. Many dogwoods have variegated foliage which provides excellent contrast with other plantsin the garden. In winter, their bright red or golden bark brightens the winter scene.
PRUNING SPECIALIST
All types of trees and shrubs pruned properly
Tree pruning Insured
Willing to barter Winter Rates
Brian Sinclair 762-5828 anytime
Inordertomaintainthe winter colorofdogwoodsandwillows, properpruningisrequired. The bright colorismostvivid on the new shoots.
Pruningoutthe oldertwigs at ground level eachspringwillpromote newshoots. Pruningshouldbe done on an annualbasis. In addition to promotingthenice, brightcolored bark, pruning also reducesdisease problemsthatoften affect dogwoods.
Ifyou are in the process of landscapinga new home, or renovatingthe landscape ofan existing home, plan to use dogwoods and willows, where feasible, to brighten thewinterscene. X
Burke McNeill is an extension horticulturist with the OntarioMinistry ofAgriculture and Food.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE CENTRE
Horticultural and Centre Events in March and April
IN THE GALLERY in March Paintings by M. A. Miller
March 2
March 4
March 7
March 16
March 21
March 26
March 28 29
March 30
BotanicalArtCoursebegins.
Japanese Flower Arranging Course (Intermediate) starts. Home GardeningforBeginners Course starts.
BUS TOUR TO TORONTO AREA GREENHOUSES 10:30 a.m.
VEGETABLE GROWING MADE EASY 10:00a.m.
A freeworkshopforeveryonewhowantspointers on this populartopic.
WHITE ELEPHANT SALE 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
Come earlyforthe bestselection atthe Centre ssecond White ElephantSale. Notethe sale runs foroneday only this year. Ikenobo Ikebana Show.
Cordon Bleu withoutFood one dayworkshop on table settings.
IN THE GALLERY in April Chinese Brush PaintingbyMoiraMudie and
sculpture by Daniel Pokorn.
April2
April 6
April11 12
April 15
April 15
April21
April25
April27
Experiments in Creative Design.
Intermediate Needlepoint Course starts.
Toronto Gesneriad SocietyShow.
FlowerArrangingBasic [ Coursestarts.
CIVIC GARDEN CENTRE HORT. NIGHT & ANNUAL MEETING
Business meeting 7:30 p.m., Hort. night8:00 p.m.
Clive Goodwin, the Centre s Director, will be showingslides of gardens, flowers andbirds in Western Canada. First ofthespring s weekly8:00 a.m. BIRD WALKS.
INTRODUCTORY HERB GROWING Course starts. Floral Craftlectures begin.
SeeJanuary Calendarissuefordetailsofcourses orcallthe Centre for information.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 15, inthe Dunington Grubb Floral Hall. To approve accounts, elect directors, appoint an auditorand transact any such other business as maycome before the meeting.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR SPRING
Events and activities notlisted in theJanuary Calendarhave now been arranged.
On March 16, we re organizingatriptothree METROTORONTO GREENHOUSES: theEtobicokeGreenhousesinCentennialPark,the HighPark Greenhousesand, iftimepermits, AllanGardens. Highspotforhorticulturistswill betheworkinggreenhousesinHighParktowhichaccessisnotnormallypossible. The buswillleave the Centre at 10:30 a.m. Lunch orafteroontea willbe arranged. Finalcostisnot set atpress time buttelephonethe Centre for information and reservations. You can mail in your payment.
OnApril21 at8:00a.m., theweeklyspringBIRDWALKSwithClive Goodwin start. Meetatthewestendoftheparkinglot, dresswarmly andbringbinocularsif youhavethem. Thewalkslastaboutan hourandcoverpartofWilketCreekpark aswellasEdwards Gardens. Specialoutingclothesarenotrequiredandthewalks are cancelled in the eventofrain. Theyare gearedforthe absolutebeginnerbut more experienced naturalistsfindthem usefultoojudgingfrom the numberof people who return each spring.
The Centre spopularTOUROFPRIVATEGARDENSisplanned againthis yearandforthefirsttimewillincludesomefallgardensaswellasspringandearly summer gardens. Set the dates aside now: May 22 24: June 19 21; September 12 13. Watch for more details in the May TRELLIS. However, we expectticketswillbeavailablebythetimeyoureceivethisissue. Atacostof$3.00 forallthreeweekends, thegardentoursrepresentoneofthebestbargainsaround as we hope to offerthree gardens each weekend. Out of courtesy to the owners, the names and addresses of gardensto be visited are not published in advance. Mostofthe gardensthisyearwillbe newforthe 1981 tours.
CORDON BLEUWITHOUT FOOD, a new one day workshopon table settings, will be conducted by Miss MargaretDove. The workshopruns from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Monday, March 30. Fee is $10.00 for members.
HORT GROUPS FEATUREDONWEEKENDS. Beginningsoon, members of specialized horticulture societies and groupswill staffthe Centre s reception area on weekendsto answerquestions both abouttheirown specialtiesand hort mattersgenerally. Watchforthescheduleofdatesforparticipatinggroupsposted in the Centre lobby.
We invite you totake advantage ofthis exceptional newprogramme to learn more about specific aspects of horticulture and the special interest groups.
Civic Garden Centre Bookshop
See Our Excellent Selection e Horticultural Booksfor all Interestsand Ages e Nature Craft Books e Bird Study Books o Gift Book Suggestions
Hours:
Weeltddyst ool R S S 9:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Saturdays s e e LS AN T e10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Sundays and holidays X2 s e s A e e s 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
We FillMail and Phone Orders Promptly
CENTRE PIECES
Herd in the White Elephants!
DonationstotheWhiteElephantSale, March26, canbebroughtinanytimebut we ve specificallyset aside March 9 to 24to receivethem. (March 25 is allocated forpricing.) Small appliances, ornaments, books and household items are all welcome. We acceptused clothing but oncondition thatit has been cleanedwith thecleaninglabelattachedasassurancetothebuyer. Clothingshouldbebrought in between March 20 24only.
Volunteers Welcomed
Many members may notrealizethatthe helpfulpeoplewho staffthe Centre s sales areas, workshop, libraryand reception deskare mainlyvolunteers. Ifyou wouldliketojoinourablegroupofvolunteers,workinpleasantsurroundingswith people of similar interests, please call the Centre at 445-1552. We ll match your interestsand background with the volunteeractivitythatappealsto you most.
Spring Plant Sale
Don tforgetto set aside some plants forthe Centre s SpringPlant Sale on May 15. The date forreceiving plant donations isMay 14. Annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables and house plantswill allbe welcomed.
Milne House Giant Geranium Sale
Ifyou wantto order geraniumsfrom the Milne House Garden Club sgiant geranium sale, please call Margaret Elliott (889-2034) or Hazel Lyonde (445-0942) before March 25. One flat (12 4" pots) is $12.00. Yourchoice of red, coral orwhite. Ordersto be picked up in the Edwards Gardensparkinglot, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., May20.
Bequests and Charitable Donations
Ifyou believe as we dothatthe Centre s programme is worthwhile and you wouldlike to help assure itsfuture expansion, you might considera bequestto the Civic Garden Centre, either personally or ftom someone close to you. The kind ofvigorous, excitingprogrammethatwe wantto provide iscostly. Contributions through bequestscanbuilda base forexpandingouractivities. If horticultureisclosetoyourheart, hereisoneofthebestwaystostrengthen itinthe Toronto area.
Charitable donationsare alsowarmlywelcomed. AstheCivicGarden Centres anapprovedcharitableorganization, itisauthorizedtoprovidereceiptsforincome taxdeductions. Please callthe Centre if furtherinformation is required.
Deck the Halls a Smashing Success
Thanks from everyone atthe Centre tothe talented and hard-workingwomen ofthe Garden Club ofToronto forstagingthe mostsuccessful everChristmas ShowandSalein December. Itwasacclaimedbyallasamostexcitingeventand we ve rarelyseen the Centre look so attractive:
PLANNING AN EVENT?
Reserve space early.
For rates and dates phone the Civic Garden Centre: 445-1552
Now isthetime
by ErnestPope
March 1st April 30th
It's March again, the peak month for indoorseeding of annuals with April nextin line.
April is alsothe idealtime forrooting cuttings, suchasColeusandImpatiens. These are taken from old plants or overgrown cuttings, carried over from last fall forthis specific purpose.
Indoor Seeding
Herearesuggesteddatesforseeding some of the more popular annuals:
March 15th .. .Ageratum*
March 1st. . ...Coleus
March 1st. . ...Gloriosa Daisy
March 1st .. ...Impatiens*
March 10th .. .Petunias*
March 15th .. .Salvia*
March 15th .. .Snapdragons*
Aprl ItAster
April 1st . .....Marigold (African)
April 15th ... Marigold (French)
*Seed needs lightto germinate adequately.
Mostseed failures are those ofthe lightresponsive type. There are two main reasons forthis.
1. Covering the seed, whereas it should be planted on the surface, and merely pressed into contactwith the medium.
2. Failure to coverthe container. This will cause undue loss of moisture, especially if bottom heatis used.
The bestway to condition the soil mixistomoisten itatleastadaybefore seedingso thatwhen used itcrumbles to the touch but is nottoo wet ortoo dry. Ifitistoowet, thesoilandseedwill stick to the tamper used to press the seed into the soil.
Afterthe seed has been sown and pressedintothemedium, thecontainer should be set into a pan oflukewarm waterlongenough to thoroughly moisten the entire surface. Moisture is drawn up by capillary action through the drainage holes in the bottom ofthe plantingcontainer. Under no circumstances should the water in the reservoir be high enough toflood over the edges onto the seed surface.
The receptacle should then be coveredwithaclearplasticbagorpane of glass and placed directly underthe lightsaboutsixinchesfromthetubes. If thesoilhasbeen adequatelymoistened no additional wateringwill be required until germination has been completed, even for slow seeds such as begonias (15 days).
Do not be concerned ifbeadsof moisture appear on the coveras this indicates that there is moist air around the seed.
Itcanbeseenthathumidityandlight are paramount. Placing light sensitive
Marigold Goldstrike. Bright golden yellow, crested variety, about 12 inches tall. Photo: courtesy Ball Seed Co.
seed containers on the furnace pipes is a risky business because on acold day they may get as hot as 80°F, and dry everything out, even ifcovered. Also the extreme heat and lack oflightcan cause the seedlings to come up overnight and become drawn and spindly before they can be placed in sufficient light.
Slowing or Advancing Growth
Ifyou growyourseeds under fluorescentlights, and you find you have either plantedtoo early orthat they are growing too quickly, you can slow the growth by reducingthe numberof hours oflight by an hour or two per day. If you are using 14 hours thiscan be cutto 12 hours or conversely, if growth is too slow, then increase from 12 to 14 hours.
Somerecentexperiments have been triedbyleavingthelightson aroundthe clock. For a few daysthis has shown a markedspeedupin growthbutarather languid performancethereafter. Until proven otherwise, this practice would seem contrary to nature which gives us darknessatnight, obviouslyforrest, for bothpeopleandplants. Evennocturnal animals sleep during the day.
DAHLIAS
Ifyou divide and startthe tubers indoors in mid-April, you will find that you get the plants to bloom amonth earlierthan those planted outdoorsin late May. This should resultin continuous bloom for at leasttwo months. The divided tubers with at leastoneeyeshowingareplantedApril 15th in flats orpots filled with damp peatmoss, and kept moist but notwet until May 24th planting-out time.
Ifthe sprouts are more than two inches high at thetime ofstarting in the flats, they should be cut back to that height. Ifno shoots are showing itis betterto plant the whole clump and then divide it when they appear. Otherwise you will not know whether each prospective division will have an eyeornot, anditmayendupblindand is ofcourse worthless.
BOOKREVIEWS
The vine-ripenedtomato is considered to be the favourite of all North American vegetable growers. A newbookentitledThe Great American Tomato Book by Robert Hendrickson, is a complete and excellent guide to growing and using tomatoes everywhere. The bookis available in the Centre s lendinglibrary, and is also for sale in the bookshop.
Two excerpts from the book are most interesting:
1. Neverbuy a plantwith flowers or fruit on it. One of the commonest mistakesgardenersmakeistopurchase expensive plants already setting fruit withtheideainmindthattheywillhave earliertomatoes than anyone in the neighborhood. While theydo yield a few early tomatoes, these costly plants do so atthe expense oftheirvegetative growth. As a result, plantgrowth and total yield are drastically reduced. I have time and again seen young, healthytransplantsoutgrowsuchgiants within a few weeks and go on to produce more fruit. In fact it is best to remove flowers and fruits from all transplants; thiswillenabletheplantsto establish better root systems and produce more foliage for photosynthesis.
2. Wheneverthe plants (indoor transplanted seedlings) appearto be gettingtoo thin and leggy, pinch them backby nippingoutthe growingtip withyourthumb and forefinger. This will make them stockierand resultin more blooms perplant.
April 1stis agood date to start the seed. Priorto thatyou may get excessive growth. Startingthem in individual pots eliminatesindoor transplanting. A good ideaistofillthe four-inchpots only halffullofsoil, plant the seed, andthen fill in graduallywith soil aftergrowth starts. This willcause the buried stem to grow additional roots as tomatoes, like lilies, are stem-rooting plants.
Ifyou are concerned aboutsowing onlyone seed perpotthat mightnot grow, plantthree seeds perpot and if theyall germinate, which they usually do, ruthlessly pull out the twoweakest. Do not set out in the open ground until May24th at the earliest.
If, in spite ofwhat has been said above, youplanttheseedtooearly, do notdespaireven ifthe plants growtoo tall and fall over. Plant them outdoors with the entire stem buried in the ground, eitherhorizontallyorvertically, andleavingabouttwoinchesofthetop growth showing.
Plantsyou buy atthe nurseries are shortand sturdy becausethey have been treated with an inhibitorwhich controlsthe height and growth. Once they are planted, however, there is no reasontobelievethattheywillproduce more orearlierfruit than your own uncontrolled ones. Park sSuccess with Seeds is an excellentbook putout bythe Geo.
HOBBY PLANTERS
All wood planters and fluorescent stands to your specifications. Match your own fumiture. Phone 889-3293
Park Seed Co. of Greenwood, South Carolina, the largest supplierof flower seedsbymailinAmerica. Ithasbeenin businessfor 113 years. Thebookwas written forthecompany byAnn Reilly an unusuallytalented garden writer and horticulturist , assisted bythe staff ofPark Seed Co. ltis an outstanding reference bookthatevery gardener who grows annuals, perennials, houseplants andvegetables from seed should own. It covers the uses, habit, germinationandcultureofhundredsof different plants.
It also contains averyvaluable appendixincludinglists ofseeds that require special treatmentsuch as those thatrequire lightto germinate, those that need darknessto germinate, those that require soaking before sowing, those that need stratification before sowing, those that need cold temperature to germinate plus an extremely useful pronunciation index offloral names. Probably the most practical book everwritten on the subjectwith 364pages, and all illustrations in full colour. Itisforsale at the Civic Garden Centre bookshop.
CATALOGUES 1981
Sheridan Nurseries Limited hasthe most comprehensive landscape nursery catalogue in Canada. Its 128 pages and hundreds ofillustrationsin fullcolourmakeitathingofbeautyand fascinatingreading. Withover2,000 acres ofthefinest growingsoils, Sheridan has an assuredsupply oftop quality hardytrees, shrubs, evergreens, roses, vinesand perennials, plus a completerangeofgrowingaccessories. The costofthe catalogue is one dollar attheircentres refundableon thefirst purchase; $2.00ifmailingisrequested.
The annual catalogue ofStokes Seeds Ltd. is well namedthe Grower sBible andthe 1981 edition is no exception. It is probably the most
informative one ofits kind published in Canadatoday. It hasexcellent and thorough plantinginstructions gathered on each kind ofplant from actual growing experience.
There is awide range ofvarieties including not onlythe old reliables, but especially the new improved hybrids. This catalogue is a horticultural education in itself. The address is 39James St., Box10, St. Catharines, Ontario L2R 6R6 and the catalogue is free. Please mention the TRELLIS ifyou write them. Stokes seedsare also available attwo Sheridan Nurseries Garden Centres: 2827 Yonge Street just south of Lawrence Avenue, Toronto, and Sherway, 700 Evans Avenue, Etobicoke.
EmestPopeison theAdvisory Committeeofthe Civic Garden Centre and an active memberof theMen s Garden Club andNorth Toronto Horticultural Society. He contributes regularly to TRELLIS. Primarily from fish solubles
Disulfoton Banned forHome Use
Disulfotonhasrecentlybeenbanned byAgriculture Canada forhousehold use. It's apotent pesticide that is easily absorbedthroughtheskinandishighly toxic. Tests indicate that disulfoton is 500times more toxic than malathion.
Gardeners shouldcheck their supplies of pesticides and any product containingdisulfoton should be discarded. Recommended disposal is thatitshouldbewrappeduptightlyand put into the garbage.
Ifyou do use pesticides, followthe directions scrupulously. Some pesticides are far more poisonousthan othercommoditiesthe average person uses and one tends to overlook the inherentdangers. Don triskyour health for a healthy plant.
For houseplants, it s advisable to stick to contact insecticides such as the insecticidalsoaps advertised in TRELLIS.
Promotes sturdy growth
UNUSUAL HERBACEOUS PLANTS for home gardens
by A. Zitnak
There is a limitless variety of plants, native or cultivated, which an ambitious gardener can incorporate into a pleasant and attractive home environment. In addition to grass carpeting, background shrubbery, shade trees and flower beds, commonly graced by annuals and some perennials, there are many herbaceous or semi-woody plants which appear less frequently in our home landscapes. Such plants can be chosen either for their beauty alone or for their multiple utility, such as colour accent and harmony of foliage, herbal fragrance and flavour, shapes and textures, protection of soil and privacy, as ornamental edibles , or simply as curiousity and conversation features.
A good deal of enthusiasm, knowledge, planning and constant care are necessary to reap the apparent aesthetic as well as hidden benefits of unusual plants placed into home garden. This is particularly true for plants adopted from the countryside, or some unusual plants collected by an avid horticulturisttraveller in various geographical regions or climates.
This article does not cover the general architectural aspects of planning a harmonious landscape effect or cultural practices, but rather will focus on some individual plant species or types, herbaceous or semiherbaceous, which can offer an added interest feature or utilitarian benefit to a home environment.
For the discriminating gardener, plants are an unending source of
colours, shapes, sizes, textures, growth habits and chronological sequence of attraction features, and no less a therapeutic source of satisfaction and challenge in mastering the art of growing plants. In the extreme, the gardener will grow plants for sentimental reasons, such as a collection of floral emblem plants, trophies from his travels, or even individual species collections of some perennials, e.g. dahlias, irises, peonies, phlox, etc. Although some may suggest the same peony cultivar scattered throughout a flower bed, how much more interesting could it be with single plants of several cultivars differing in form, colour and flowering time providing a chronological sequence of bloom.
Silver and gray in the home garden
Aside from the short-lived bright colours of most flowering plants and shrubs, the green colour of lawns and foliage of woody plants prevails in the home garden throughout spring and summer. Occasional exceptions occur with crimson and Japanese maples, white bark of birches, or the silvery tone of somejunipers. The silvery and gray foliage plants appear rather infrequently in home gardens although there are a number of such plants which can be used effectively to break the monotony of the garden greenery.
Wooly Groundwort (wooly betony, lamb s ears), an annual with silvery-white, soft and wooly ground leaves, sun and drought tolerant, has attractive purple flowers early in July
on a 20 to 25 cm stem. Plants selfseed readily and when stems are clipped close to the ground after flowering, provide an attractive cushion of silver, provided the plants are spaced about 10 to 12 cm apart.
Common Sage, a semi-woody perennial, shrub-like in form, with distinct gray foliage and mauve to light pink flower spikes in June, will add fragrance and gray colour accent throughout the whole year. Plants are trimmed lightly after flowering, retain a good shape, and are useful as a small hedge about 40 to 60 cm tall or scattered at intervals in the backdrop of a flower bed or on a slope. Plants are heat and drought tolerant and when trimmed back in late fall or early spring, will persist for 10 to 15 years with very little care. As an added benefit, the leaves can be dried as a culinary herb or used fresh for frying after dipping in pancake batter. The dried leaves are afrequent ingredient in herbal bitters and refreshing bitter tea. ; Edelweiss, an attractive alpine perennial plant, at one time near extinction due to unscrupulous collection of plants from their native habitat, can be fairly readily grown for its rosette of sivery-gray underleaves and clusters of star-like woolly flowers (10 to 15 cm high) which can be easily preserved by drying or pressing. Edelweiss can be grown in full sun exposed in a rockery, as an edging plant in raised flower beds for relatively dry over-wintering, or in colonies on sloping dry walls.
Wooly Thyme, a creeping perennial 2 to 3 cm tall, with dainty gray and hairy leaves, is suitable for semi-shade or shady locations planted in mounds or cushions. Requires good loam, moderate to fair moisture and a clean, weed-free environment.
Lavender Cotton, a very fine bushy, bright gray and fine textured plant, grown as an annual in a dry
sunny location. Needs an indoor start (rooted cuttings). Will grow in poor soil to 25 to 40 cm height. It is a gray colour, with yellow flower-buttons, and adds a fragrant accent to the garden.
Dusty Miller, a common name for several silvery, almost white-gray, plants of the Cineraria and Centaurea species. Nowadays they are more frequently available in garden centres as transplants. They grow as annuals in good loamy soil. Occasionally, if low-trimmed and protected, plants will survive the winter.
Moonwort or Silver Dollar is an attractive biennial with dull green foliage and attractive purple flowers in the second year of growth. It is grown mainly for its silvery seed pods as adry flower arrangement item. As the plants are unattractive in the first year, they are best grown in a nursery bed before transplanting them into a feature location. The muchbranched, 45 to 90 cm flower-stock bears seed pods which after dropping the outer scales and seeds and drying will retain the long-lasting silvery translucent discs reminiscent of rimmed spectacles. The plant is also known as honesty or satin flower.
Wormwood. Several species of wormwood will give excellent gray or silver accent to the home garden. The common wormwood, an upright perennial 50 to 80 cm tall requiring some support, has finely lobed silvergray foliage and is tolerant of dry sunny locations and poor soil. Flowers are inconspicuous but numerous along a tall single stem with supporting leaf bracts. The plant reputedly repels insects as it is strongly scented. It hasan additional value as a herbal bitter tonic, or herbal tea ingredient, and is well known for its use in absinthe. There is a large number of plant species belonging to the botanical genus of Artemisia which have feathery lacy
grey or silvery foliage, most of which are sun-loving and drought tolerant. They can serve as very useful accent plants, like the Roman wormwood, southernwood, and old woman ( dusty miller ). Some of these are indoor-started or may survive winter with some protection.
Climbers, creepers and covers
Herbaceous climbing or trailing plants usually require extra work in constructing suitable supports, such as trellises, stakes, tripods, string or wire framing, and the removal of plant debris at the end of the growing season. Nevertheless, their presence even in a small garden can be rewarding and useful in many ways. Such plants need only a small growing area and will provide a screening effect, a vertical landscape accent, a continuous bloom often useful for cut flowers, an attractive plant material for hanging baskets, and can also give a heat-reflecting or cooling effect by covering brick walls of a house. Many trailing or creeping plants are good ground covers for protection against soil erosion and moisture loss, or for their aesthetic value as well as for their low maintenance requirements, other than restricting their spread.
Everlasting Peas, a perennial sweet pea, very hardy, will climb readily 2 to 4 meters on parallel strings suspended from a house overhang. A profusion of pink to purplish or white blooms is present from early July throughout the summer. Flowering can be extended by removing wilted blossoms and by trimming back alternate vines to
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encourage new growth. Other than occasional tying of vines, the plants require little maintenance and are a good source of cut flowers.
Morning Glory. A tender plant started indoors. In our climate it is grown as an annual since it will not survive the winter. Plants are best grown along parallel strings, 15 to 20 cm apart, on partly shaded side of a house. Attractive trumpet flowers, white, pink, blue or striped, open mornings for 1 to 2 days only but are continually replaced by new blooms. Clippings off developing seed capsules will encourage more blooms.
Wild Cucumber, another annual reaching 3 to 4 m in height, can be grown on fences or a tripod ofcedar rails, with a mass of creamy yellow dainty flower clusters late in the summer. Fibrous and spiny fruit pods appear in September and can be dried for decorative arrangements.
Scarlet Runner Bean. A plant normally found in the vegetable garden can be a useful ornamental as a vertical accent using single plants staked at intervals in a flower bed. The foliage is attractive dark green and most forms have bright red flowers. Although somewhat reluctant te set seed in our climate, the edible green pods or greenharvested seeds have a superior flavour far exceeding that of common garden beans.
Moneywort, is a creeping perennial plant useful as a ground cover for mounds or mats in moist, shady or partly shaded areas ofthe garden. It is also suitable for hanging
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baskets and has attractive yellow trumpet-like flowers, blooming from June to August.
Creeping Cinquefoil. A hardy creeping perennial and dense ground cover plant with attractive yellow double flowers, will thrive in part shade or full sun. Plants are vigorous and rampant and should be checked by restrictive barriers or clipping of runners from mid-summer on.
Mother-of-Thyme. An excellent dense ground cover for mats and cushions with a mass of dainty pink or white blossoms late in June and dark green very fine foliage throughout the rest ofthe year. Will stand full sun exposure with periodic irrigation. Requires weed-free and grass-free ground and occasional weeding after rain or heavy watering. The wooly thyme, mentioned previously is a form of the same botanical species.
There are many other plants available for ground cover, either trailing or spreading through underground rhizomes. Their distinct disadvantage for growing in a home garden is their spreading habit and they therefore require natural or man-made barriers to restrict their growth to a given area.
Herbal Fragrance in the Garden
In the past decade a growing interest by the consumer in health foods has rekindled the ancient art of herbalism and herb growing for their culinary or medicinal values. The majority of herbs are distinguished by strong fragrances or spiciness of leaves and seeds, which usually place them into a vegetable or culinary herb. garden. However, a number of herbs can be used readily for decorative or ornamental purposes with the added benefit of fragrances permeating the garden and successfully competing with the scent of other common scented flowering plants, such as lilacs, violets or mockoranges.
Some of the useful herbs such as sage, thyme, wormwood and lavender have been mentioned already. Many others have interesting foliage, shapes and even attractive flowers as useful accents in the garden as individual plants, groups, borders and ground covers.
Chives. A perennialcluster-plant with fine tubular leaves, 20 to 25 cm in height, is a very attractive plant when spaced at intervals in the foreground of a flower bed, with pink flower buttons in June. Foliage clipped to ground after blooming will regrow within 10 days and later in summer a second bloom flush mayoccur. The pink flowers are attractive for small vases either freshly picked or dried.
Garden Heliotrope, Valerian, is a tall upright perennial with exceedingly strong-scented foliage and flowers, blooming all summer in clusters of white, pink or red buttons. In good
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garden soils plants will tolerate hot, dry situations and are useful as accent or border background plants. The root of this plant is also of medicinal value.
Lemon Balm, a tall perennial, grown annually from spreading underground rhizomes, gives off a strong lemon-oil scent throughout the summer. Plants prefer a semi-shady, moist location and will thrive even in poorest soil where other plants would barely survive. For such locations it is useful in mass as a bushy, tall ground cover. Fresh leaves make a delightful, refreshing summer drink. Because of its rampant underground spread lemon balm requires some measure of confinement. Plants also can be trimmed back for regrowth.
Sweet Marjoram. Another strongly scented pot herb which can be useful as a border plant, 20 to 25 cm tall with soft grey-green foliage. Does not over-winter and has to be reseeded annually, although it can be taken indoors as a pot plant.
Chamomile, Roman or True Chamonmile. A low spreading perennial, pleasantly aromatic with apple-like scent can be grown in attractive dark green feathery cushions as a border plant or as a walkway plant in sunny locations. The scent is particularly noticeable when walking over the plants. Fresh or dried flowers make excellent bitter tea as an effective digestive tonic. Although the sweet false or German chamomile has similar fragrance and medicinal value, it needs annual
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seeding and the plants are scraggly and unattractive.
Common Thyme. A tender spreading perennial, bushy and wiry, 15 to 20 cm tall, which may occasionally survive winters. It is best replanted annually. Plants have highly aromatic greyish fine foliage and tiny lilac flowers and are useful as a good edging plant or spreading among or over rocks.
Sweet Violet. Sweet violet is a hardy perennial appreciated for early spring bloom and fragrance. Although not a herb , the flowers can be candied, and used in salads along with the leaves which are very rich in Vitamin C. Violets make beautiful edge or border plantings in partly shaded or shaded moist locations. Plants also can be used effectively as a dense ground cover under a tree canopy even in poor soils if well supplied with moisture. They are, therefore, well suited for the shady side of a house, where little sunshine reaches the plants.
Opportunities Unlimited
The foregoing species represent a small segment of herbaceous plant materials that can add variety and useful features to a small home garden. They can be relatively easily grown in a short time in contrast to some woody shrubs or trees which require more planning and larger space. Herbaceous plants, although requiring a little more attention than woody plants, can provide a multitude of architectural accents,
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variety of shapes, colours, fragrances and even culinary edibles . This article points out some of the attractive and useful features that can be incorporated into a small garden by a knowledgeable garden enthusiast. Herbaceous plants can add variety from the early spring bulbs to the late autumn bloomers.
Identification of Plants
Common names are poor identifiers for plants; therefore, a summary of appropriate botanical names is given below in order of appearance throughout the next text. Names such as dusty Miller , creeping Charlie , old man , old woman , etc. are common or local names often applied to unrelated plant species, as shown for the dusty millers below:
Silver and grey in the home garden:
Wooly Groundwort, Betony Stachys lanata
Common Sage Salvia officinalis
Edelweiss Leontopodium alpinum
Wooly Thyme Thymus lanuginosus
Lavender-Cotton Santolina chamaecyparissus
Lavender
Dusty Millers: Moonwort
Lavandula officinalis
Senecio cineraria
Artemisia stelleriana
Centaurea cineraria
Lychnis coronaria
Common Wormwood
Roman Wormwood
Old Woman, Dusty miller
Lunaria annua
Artemisia
absinthium
Artemisia pontica
Artemisiastelleriana
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Southernwood
Artemisia abrotanum
Climbers, creepers and covers
Everlasting Peas Lathyrus latifolius
Morning Glory Ipomoea purpurea
Wild Cucumber Echinocystis lobata
Moneywort Lysimachia nummularia
Creeping Cinquefoil Potentilla reptans plena
Herbal fragrances in the garden
Herbal fragrances inthe garden-of
Chives Allium schoenoprasum
Garden Heliotrope Valeriana officinalis
Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis
Sweet Marjoram Majorana hortensis
True Chamomile Anthemis nobilis
Sweet False Chamomile Matricaria chamomilla
Common Thyme
Sweet Violet
Thymus vulgaris Viola odorata
A. Zitnakis with theDepartmentofHorticultural Science at Ontario Agricultural College. This article is reprinted from Notes on Agriculture.
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