| @ things to learn ... «tome & Garden Various soils and their needs Clay soils need a lot of help, although they are usually wonder- fully fertile, since nutrients don’t leach out as readily as they do in a sandy soil. What they need most is sand by the ton to break down their plastic- ine consistency. Failing that, they require the patience of Job while you wait for the rains to let up long enough to dry soils adequately to allow you to dig: without breaking off the handle of your shovel! These soils benefit from the addition of lime, and a yearly application of compost, seaweed, Inside is best for hibiscus These exotic plants with their saucer-sized blooms are a familiar sight in roadside plantings in Hawaii or Southem California, but in this climate we must grow hibiscus inside. But, when they are moved out- side for the summer, given about four hours of morning: sunshine, fertilized once a month with Mira- cle-gro, they look like natives, and blossom so profusely even the greatest sceptics are impressed. Hibiscus require quite severe pruning to keep them from getting too large to live inside, that is, if we are to live there too! I usually prune them in late fall just before bringing them inside for the winter. They will have finished their summer blossoming, although not always, but, since they have to have a rest sometime, a good pruning job gives them pause! These lovely things have no perfume, but their beauty is enough. They come in several shapes and colors. We have had red single petalled ones, double petalled gold ones and a delightful single pink. You aren’t going to believe this, but I lost the lot by leaving them outside too long this fall. _ Remember that early frost and snow? That did it for our hibiscus. Even when you have gardened for as long as I have, there are still one of them being, “Don’t be such an idiot!” (shriek!) WELL ... oO BOOKS All no! included. Store books only. ¢ wide range of colors SOLID HIDE STAIN § “5 1 50s CHOICE ¢ water repellent OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK _| IN SIDNEY ®) #1A-2353 BEVAN AVE. HAVE YOU SEEN THIS WEEK’S FLYER IN THE MAIL? NO2? Stop by today, pick one up, and check out all the FANTASTIC % of WALLCOVERING “Reg. book price. Matching fabric DECK STAIN ° semi-transparent & 655-4322 GSES stirs we \ VP old sawdust, and the planting Gn late October ) of a heavy crop of fall rye grass. The latter is what is called a “green manure.” Sandy soils, on the other hand, need something to help them hold moisture and soil nutrients. They, too, thrive 1f you add sawdust, compost, straw, seaweed and plant a yearly crop of green manure. However, a liberal addition of peatmoss also helps, plus such items as mushroom manure or any rotted animal manures. In the fall, leaves of almost any sort, barring walnut, oak, and ever- green needles, add humus and improve soil consistency. In this part of the world most people plant fall rye seed in Octo- ber, in vegetable beds, to improve soil fertility. There are other crops that will do the same thing and perhaps a variety would be a good idea, but all the others need warm weather to grow. During summer or early fall I usually plant a crop of buckwheat in any beds that will be empty for a month or more. This is wonderful stuff, smothering weeds completely, and adding pounds of spongy, easily brokendown mate- rial to your beds. Other green manures are garden peas and beans of any kind. The latter will also provide the gar- dener with a food crop, before being tilled into the ground. All these organic additives come highly recommended. Wall of water expensive bul helps growth A neat season extender comes in the form of “wall-of-water.” These are an expensive item, but there is no doubt they work. They are a circular series of plastic tubes, which are filled with water, and placed around, say, a cucumber. Because these tubes of water wann up during the day and cool slowly overnight, and also shield the plant from any wind, the protected plants grow much more quickly than those left exposed to the elements. See picture. PAINTER’S CHOICE SATIN LATEX * Available in 18 decorator whites 436 ° waier repellent solid hide colors ey ae World! TheReview Brick in the garden Beautify “Your” Garden This Spring See us for all your brick and masonary needs © Allan-Block-Retaining Wall Products e Tweed Steel Fireplaces * IXL Clay Brick Products PEDROSA masons SUPPLY LTD. ¢ Block ° Interlocking Pavers 6777 OLDFIELD 652-0522 “THE LEADING BRICK & STONE PEOPLE” ° Hydra-pressed patio slabs * Large selection of Natural Stone ace ® / IDICKICS / Lee) STONEWASH OVERALLS $397? Reg. $49.99 WORKWEAR WORLD Work Jeans STILL ONLY $197? PAINTER PANTS JUST 22” ENTER AT Go WOR EN AN WORLD in SIDNEY to WIN a Gift Certificate for “100 worth of anything at SLEGG LUMBER © WORIKWERR AN WORLD — a SATURDAY 9 am.5:30 pm. SUNI “AND HOLIDAYS 10!a:m.-5: Am. - : Wednesday, March 18, 1992 — A19 WINNER TO BE DRAWN APRIL 3rd