THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 4, 1994 TAG: 9411040084
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G2 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
As winter closes in upon us, many turn to houseplants for their gardening endeavors. Be sure to keep all houseplants out of reach of small children and pets.
Most won't cause problems, and it's unlikely that a child or pet would swallow enough of any plant to cause serious harm. But be cautious with the following: Dieffenbachia (dumb cane) and its relatives, peace lily (Spathiphyllum), pothos (Epipremnum), philodendron and anthyrium. Schefflera (Brassaia), English ivy, ficus, ming aralia (Polyscias), oleander and Moses-in-the-Cradle (Rhoeo) are dangerous if eaten. Two popular Christmas plants - mistletoe and Jerusalem cherry - have highly toxic berries and can cause serious illness. ENCIRCLE TREE WITH CARE
As you plant trees this fall, there is a new product to prevent weeds from growing around your trees. Weeds can harbor pests that can transfer to your trees and compete for space, water and nutrients. The Typar Treecircle is a die-cut, 36-inch diameter piece of ``spunbonded'' polypropylene, the same fabric as Typar landscape fabric.
It can be used on existing trees or new plantings. It is slit and has a pre-cut hole for the trunk. Its round shape makes it easy to create a smooth, even circle around any tree. It is dense enough to prevent weed growth and resists tearing, punctures, rotting and mildew. It also creates a safety zone to protect the trunk from damage by lawn mowers and string trimmers, one of the biggest problems trees have.
Typar Treecircle is in garden and home centers. If you can't find it, call (800) 321-6271. TAKE A SPADE TO WISTERIA ROOTS
Now is a good time to root-prune wisteria that has failed to bloom. This will encourage flowering next spring. Cut through the roots with a spade in a circle 30 to 40 inches from the main trunk or stem. TIME FOR SOIL TESTING
If you suspect you have soil problems, this is the best time to have your soil tested. Labs get busy in the spring. Pick up boxes at any library and mail the sample to Virginia Tech. Instructions are on the boxes. In North Carolina, county extension agents have soil sample information. Some garden centers have labs that do soil testing, usually faster than at state labs. CONFINE LILIES TO CONTAINERS
Lilies - not daylilies - are difficult to grow in this area. Genie Diller, lily test chairman for the Garden Club of Virginia, says they can be grown successfully in containers. Pack the bulb in a plastic bag with sphagnum moss and vermiculite and store in your refrigerator until March. Then plant them.
Diller recommends redwood or terracotta containers, not tin or plastic. The container should be 24 inches wide and 24 inches deep. Lily bulbs should be planted 6 inches deep. Good drainage is an absolute. The soil mixture should be one-third each of loam, humus and sand or perlite. Diller places 2-inches of gravel in the container, two inches of soil above that, then a sprinkling of 10-10-10 fertilizer and then 3 more inches of soil. Place the bulb on this and cover with 6 inches of soil and mulch heavily with straw. OBTAINING OLDIES BUT GOODIES
Some of the best garden books are old ones - those that are out of print. Several organizations will help find out-of-print books. Natural Selection, Carrmill Mall, Carrboro, N.C. 27510, will send a catalog of its listings for $3. Quest Rare Books, 774 Santa Ynez, Stanford, Calif. 95305, provides a free price list of used books on landscape architecture, garden ornaments and horticulture. LOOK IT UP IN THE GREEN PAGES
If you need a listing of 5,000 herb-related businesses, publications, associations and suppliers of herbal products, The Herbal Green Pages has released its 1994-95 edition. This new edition lists essential oils, fresh cut herbs and many other products.
The Herbal Green Pages is part of a membership package of the Herb Growing and Marketing Network that includes a bimonthly journal, The Herbal Connection. Cost is $45 per year. If you want only The Green Pages, cost is $20. Order from The Herbal Connection, P. O. Box 245, Silver Spring, Penn. 17575. CAREFUL WHAT YOU COMPOST
Do not put old tomato plants on your compost pile if the vines show blight, wilt or similar diseases. Tomato blights and wilts are common in this area, so be careful. The disease may be transferred to healthy plants through the compost. Be sure your compost pile heats properly, and the finished product is well rotted before you work it into your garden. by CNB