THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 29, 1996 TAG: 9609270105
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G3 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: 81 lines
NOW IS THE time to dig and divide crowded perennials. The rule is if it blooms in spring, divide in fall. If it blooms in fall (such as chrysanthemums) divide in spring.
You can also seed larkspur, snapdragons, foxglove and poppies directly onto a good seed bed. Slightly rake in the seed and keep it watered until the plants are up and growing. IMPROVE YOUR OWN SOIL
North Carolina State Extension specialist Bruce Williams reports in the North Carolina Nursery Notes magazine: ``Most of the material sold as topsoil is simply dredged muck from low areas, swamps or wetlands and usually has very poor fertility. I have tested some of these black `topsoils' that are more acid than vinegar. The best strategy is to improve your own soil by soil testing and then added the recommended amounts of dolomitic limestone, phosphorus and potassium. Use lots of organic mulches and add to them every year.'' TURNING COLORS TOO SOON
If your trees are turning color earlier than they should, your trees may be in trouble, say representatives of the National Arborist Association. Early color changes in leaf color can be a sign your tree is stressed and susceptible to insect and disease attack. Compare your trees to others in your area. If yours seem to have gotten a jump-start on fall, consult a professional arborist.
``Premature color change can be an indication that a tree isn't strong enough to withstand the usual changes that occur when the weather turns cold and daylight becomes rare,'' explained Peter Gerstenberger, director of education with the association. If your trees are suspect, you can find the NAA-member arborist closest to you by calling (800) 733-2622. WAYS TO KEEP DEER AWAY
For you folks with deer problems, recent North Carolina testing has determined that Deer Away was the most effective commercial product. Hinder was also an effective repellent, while Tree Guard was the least effective product tested. The most effective repellent was simply three eggs mixed with a gallon of water. But during application the substance quickly clogged the sprayer nozzle, and it's doubtful the egg mix would be effective after rains. BUY BULBS WITHOUT WORRY
The first North American ``Good Bulb Guide'' has just been released by The American Horticultural Society and Fauna and Flora International. The guide lets gardeners choose bulbs from companies that have pledged to never sell or to clearly label any bulbs that have been collected from the wild. Despite controls to prevent the problem, American gardeners unknowingly still purchase a million bulbs each year that have been collected from the wild, particularly in Turkey. Bulbs collected from the wild are likely to be damaged, diseased or misidentified, especially snowdrops, hardy cyclamen and Sternbergia.
For a copy of the ``Good Bulb Guide,'' send $1 to AHS, 7931 E. Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Va. 22308. START A PILE
Leaves are falling, which is an ideal time to start a compost pile. Some folks are reluctant to compost, because they think it takes a lot of work. You can just stack leaves in a pile and let them decay naturally without mixing. It takes a little longer this way, but you'll still end up with compost.
If you want a faster method, use leaves, lawn clippings and other organic material. Avoid branches, sawdust or greasy kitchen scraps. Apply one cup of high-nitrogen fertilizer or a bucket of manure for each 10 square feet of a 6- inch layer of compost. Covering with clear or black plastic during the winter will speed decomposition, because it increases the heat under the plastic. Keeping the pile moist and turning it every two to three weeks will also speed decomposition. BEAUTY OF FRANCE
The French Landscape and the Forest of Fontainebleau are yours to enjoy at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York from Oct. 8 through Jan. 12. Included are drawings, prints and photographs by photographer Eugene Cuvelier. On Oct. 29, the art of Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, one of France's greatest landscape painters, will go on exhibit and remain through Jan. 19.
If you're in New York during that time, you may want to include a visit to the museum at 1000 Fifth Ave. Call (212) 570-3951 or fax (212) 472-2764. by CNB