Gardening

TheReview Wednesday, December 12,1990 — A118

Buy a live Christmas tree this year and take care of it —

You aren’t going to believe this!
Remember those tulip bulbs I
decided were expendable, and put
in pots over bottom heat just over a
week ago?

Well, I looked at the pots yester-
day and believe it or not, there are
tiny roots coming out of all the
drainage holes. Not a sign of
anything above the soil, but at any
time now I feel sure leaves are
going to thrust through.

This is going to be a bits-and-
pieces column, starting off with
how to tend to your living Christ-
mas tree. It makes me happy to see
so many of them for sale, instead
of all those trees that have been
unceremoniously hacked off just
above soil level, and will be heart-
less burned, still trailing tinsel
finery, sometime in early January.

Having got rid of that short
sermon, let’s get on to looking
after your live tree. Bring it into
the house to decorate as close to
Christmas Day as you can.

Put the root ball in a large pot
lined with plastic, or failing that,
water it very thoroughly, and wrap
the roots in a plastic bag. Do put
the lights on with extreme care,
avoiding breaking off any of those
little growth buds on branch tips.
We have the evidence of what
happens if you do have an acci-
dent.

It is a whopping Austrian pine
which started off as a Christmas
tree probably twelve years ago. In
attempting to attach the angel to
the tree top, the topmost growth
buds were broken. Our handsome
huge tree now has two trunks
instead of one, which is both
strange and potentially dangerous.

Boy, it really takes me ages to
give directions, doesn’t it? The

next thing is to get your tree back
outside just as soon as possible
after the holiday season.

I don’t think misting the needles
actually helps the tree during its
stay inside, The needles will be
dry again in about half-an-hour,
and you just might cause an elec-
trical short in your tree lights with
the dampness.

Not worth the effort, if you ask
me! Plant it just as soon as
possible, choosing its location
with care. Most smallish trees sold
at Christmas time will be gigantic
when fully mature.

Digging the hole right now
might be sensible, just in case it
tums very cold. Covering the heap
of excavated soil might also be a
good idea ... it might dry out a bit!

The actual planting is done
exactly as you would with any
shrub or tree, i.e., as you fill the
hole, firm the dirt around the root
ball. Do remove the plastic bag,
and cut any string used to secure
the sacking around the roots (but
you've already done that of
course!).

‘Put the roof ball in a large pot lined
with plastic, or failing that, water if
very thoroughly, and wrap the
roots in a plastic bag’

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Now when the tree is planted,
water it thoroughly. I know with all
the rain we are having, this seems
idiotic, but water should fill all
nooks and crannies to force out
any air that remains around the
tree roots.

To keep your tree upright until it
has a chance to attach itself to the
soil, I’d put in three stakes so that
your tree is at the centre of a
triangle. Carefully attach ropes to
the trunk, and to your stakes, and
you will have finished a great job,
and earned yourself a warm spot in
front of the TV. :

As promised: Mrs. McKay’s

poem, dating back, she says, many _

years.

“Since Adam’s day, when sin
began

Weeds have been the curse of
man;

And, Lord, I feel I must declare

That of this scourge, I’ve had my
share!

Within the confines of my plot,

it seems to me I’ve had the lot!

Name any one that comes to
mind

and I have met that very kind:

From dandelion, shepherd’s
purse,

To daisy, groundsel, and, what’s
worse,

The dreaded couch grass in the
rockery

And bindweed in the hedge — a
mockery —

Because I’ve tried so hard to
make

A little plot for beauty’s sake,

Where I might sit a little while

In silent musing, or beguiled

A few sweet moments with my
friends,

and replace him.

Onion

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whole pails,
That surely, penance I have paid
For mis-deeds past, or Sill

To talk of flowers and season’s
trends:
But how can one admire the rose

When stinging nettle round it unmade.
grows? : So, when I’m called to Heaven,

And willowherb kills bergamot, Lord —

And chickweed chokes forget- Stull on my knees, with heart
me-not? : outpoured —

Lord, on my knees I’ve crawled Lord, for one thing my spirit
around pleads —

So far within my garden ground A little garden — without

Removing with my broken nails, weeds!”

Those weeds, and filling up — Sid Willis*

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