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The Busiest Month for West Coast Gardeners

Out west the gardens are beginning to come alive. Tuberous Begonias should be watered and fertilized regularly. The right plant food and sufficient water results in plants and blooms to be proud of. Watch out for earwigs which are a problem insecticide dusts the ground and foliage for best control.

Quick Carpet

For a quick carpet of color sow seed of portulaca, sometimes called rose moss. It likes full sun, is not particular as to soil and will bloom in about six weeks.

Geraniums may need repotting and fertilizing. If they have grown too large or out of shape, prune them to improve their appearance. If white flies attack the foliage, spray at once with Malathion or Neem oil.

Be Regular

Regular irrigation and careful attention to pot plants is essential from now on. Let the water soak deeply into the ground. Avoid shallow sprinkling. Water often enough to keep the soil from drying out but do not keep the ground soggy. Apply a mulch to conserve moisture. By retaining soil moisture the summer water bills will be cut appreciably.

Dust Gladiolus every 10 days or two weeks with an insecticide to control thrips. Apply the dust whether thrips can be seen or not. The residual action of the dust is a good insurance against attacks for four to 12 days.

Pelargoniums give color. In planting your garden dont overlook pelargoniums or Martha Washington geraniums, as some people call them. They lend an atmosphere to the garden that is hard to duplicate with other flowers. The improved modern varieties easily furnish six months of bloom a year.

Garden Perfume

Fragrance in the garden landscape is quite as important as color and lighting like malibu landscaping lights. You may have it, too, six to eight months of the year if you plant carnations. Some of the new varieties are exceptionally large, colorful and boast a decided perfume. Moreover, theyre easy to grow. To attain large blooms disbud as you would chrysanthemums or dahlias and irrigate frequently. Uniform moisture in the ground, some plant food and full or partial sun are the major requisites for good bloom.

Liberty Gardens. Repeat at once plantings of year round vegetables such as carrots, beets and leaf lettuce.

Start cucumbers, beans, corn, squash and parsley. Set out a few plants of tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants if you live in the warm regions. Six tomato plants will yield enough to feed a family of four. Three hills of zucchini squash furnish plenty for the family and neighbors as well.

Prepare for a beautiful bountiful garden harvest.