THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509220083
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G2 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
IF CHICKWEED invaded your lawn last spring, it's probably there again now, showing up as tiny seedlings in bare spots. It has small, round, almost heart-shaped leaves. It's smart to kill it now before it gets larger and harder to eradicate. Use Roundup or a lawn weed killer. Check again in a week to make sure the weed killer has worked. PLANT FALL CROPS NOW
It's time to plant spinach seed. Keep it damp and cool for two weeks. If you don't grow your own plants, buy cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts plants and get them in now. COMPOST CARE
Covering a compost pile with clear or black plastic will speed decomposition, because the plastic increases the heat. Keeping the pile moist and turning the pile every two to three weeks also speeds decomposition. SPRAY, FEED AND WATER MUMS
Spraying chrysanthemums weekly with a mixture of Maneb and Malathion or Diazinon may be necessary to control insects and diseases. Fertilize old mums, not newly planted ones, at least once this month with garden fertilizer.
Flower size of mums is influenced by water supply. Keep plants well-watered during any dry period. Camellias also need to be watered every five to seven days during dry weather, because this is when flower buds are forming. BUY THE BEST BULBS
When buying or ordering bulbs, order jumbo or number one bulbs. Don't sacrifice quality for quantity. Daffodils and narcissus that can be depended on to bloom year after year in this area are:
Daffodils - Fortune (yellow-orange cup), Helios (yellow-orange edged cup), Brooksville (white-yellow cup), Geranium (white-orange cup), Ice Follies (white-yellow cup), Dick Wellband (white-yellow cup), Spring Glory (white-yellow cup), Mount Hood (pale cream), Carlton (yellow), February Gold (yellow), Peeping Tom (yellow) and Silver Chimes (white).
Narcissus - Thalia (white), Trevithian (yellow), Paper White (white), Pearl (white) and Golden Sceptre (yellow jonquil). CAMELLIA SHOW AND WORKSHOP
If you'd like to learn more about growing camellias, visit the Norfolk Botanical Garden at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Virginia Camellia Society will conduct a hands-on workshop demonstrating proper culture in the Hofheimer Camellia Garden at the botanical garden. Included will be proper planting, disbudding and use of gibberellic acid. Wear work clothes and be on time. Admission to the garden applies. Call 855-7907.
The camellia society also will hold its fall show at Chesapeake Square Mall on Nov. 4. Anyone who joins during the show will receive three free camellias. If you join both the state group and the American Camellia Society, you'll get six free camellias. If you don't want to join, you can buy camellias at $6 each at the show, including many varieties not available in garden centers. WATCH OUT FOR WEED SEED
It's time to re-seed your lawn, and wholesalers say their is a shortage of fescue seed, which also means prices will likely be higher. John Parrish, former Norfolk extension agent and now department manager for Turf and Garden division of Todd Inc., says that if you use Kentucky 31 fescue or annual rye grass be sure to check for weed seed content. ``Crop seed'' on the label equals ``weeds,'' which include annual bluegrass (poa annua, a real winter pest) orchard grass and many other hard-to-control weeds. ANOTHER NATIVE PLANT
I was recently asked about Allegheny pachasandra and had never heard of it. Experts at the Hampton Roads Research Center say it's ``the native pachasandra and can be found in the mountains of Pennsylvania and other states.'' If you're interested, it should be available from nurseries selling native plants. GARDEN WALKS FOR SENIORS
The Norfolk Botanical Garden will have special walks for seniors the fourth Wednesday of each month, beginning this Wednesday. The tour guide is Fred Adams. Other dates this year are Oct. 25 and Nov. 22. Regular garden admission applies. Call 441-5839. by CNB