July, 1922 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST 



149 



The Time for Planting Perennials 



W. E. Groves, Hamilton, Ont. 



IN the growing of hardy flowers we have 

 rather unfortunately got the impres- 

 sion that planting has to be done only 

 during the spring. Though it may be 

 conceded that the two planting months 

 of April and May are suitable for a large 

 number of varieties, it does not follow 

 that even these varieties may not be 

 planted at some other time and further it 

 should be remembered that the early 

 autumn months are much more suitable 

 for some of our favorite flowers. The 

 more enthusiastic we are in our garden 

 work the more evident it is that there 

 are really very few ironclad rules to be 

 followed. The plants we grow are usually 

 so accommodating that planting with 

 ordinary care can be done at dates that 

 would shock the worker who governs his 

 operations by worn out theories, or 

 possibly the state of the moon. 



More Time in Fall Season 

 More than one reason might be ad- 

 vanced in favor of doing all the fall 

 planting possible. One is that there is 

 usually more time. In any garden there 

 are of necessity a number of details that 

 have to be attended to in the spring ; no 

 other time will do. In the fall, the 

 general garden operations are cleaning 

 up and preparing for winter. As plant- 

 ing is possible for quite a number of 

 weeks before things freeze up, there is 

 never so much need for haste as at other 

 times. Then as planting is often done by 

 way of development or improvement, it 

 naturally follows that with the summer 

 effect of the garden fresh in the mind, it 

 is much more easy then to decide on 

 alteration or necessary improvement than 



some months afterward. When favorite 

 flowers such as roses or peonies are in 

 bloom is always the time when the specia- 

 list decides on the new kinds he needs. 

 This same principle applies to the subject 

 under consideration. In September the 

 garden lover will have a mind photo- 

 graph of the summer effect and with this 

 quite fresh he may well set about his 

 plans for the future. 



Divisions More Easily Made 



There is a still further reason. If the 

 planting is being done to increase a 

 variety and well-established stocks are 

 being divided, there is an advantage in 

 doing this in the fall. The old plants 

 have not completely died down, and 

 divisions are more easily made, and made 

 with less haste than at other times. 

 There is also no risk in buying from a 

 nurseryman at this season, for plants 

 will at least be quite as robust, if not more 

 so, than those purchased in the spring. 



There is, of course, no intenton of ad- 

 vising the planting of any and every kind 

 of hardy plant at this season of the year, 

 as there are some kinds that resent the 

 treatment. The exceptions are few and 

 roughly speaking are chiefly the kinds 

 that root very near the surface, with a 

 few other varieties that have fleshy roots. 

 Early autumn is of course the accepted 

 time for planting paeonies and iris, though 

 the latter may be handled at almost any 

 time after blooming. Divisions of pyre- 

 thrums might be made when the flowering 

 season is over, and if these are kept in a 

 semi-shady spot for the summer months 

 they may be planted out safely in the fall. 

 The same treatment applies to such 



things as Phlox subulate, and doronicum, 

 with this exception ; both these could be 

 transplanted to their permanent quarters 

 after blooming if watched carefully for a 

 little while during extreme heat. There 

 aie few other hardy flowers that resent 

 handUng during the fall months. If the 

 work is attacked sufficiently early there 

 is time for the plants to settle down 

 before the winter weather arrives, and 

 many will positively make some roots 

 right away. 



These notes are not intended to deal 

 with the operation of planting, but a 

 word or two on division of old roots 

 might be allowed. Strong growing kinds 

 such as sunflowers, helenium, aster and 

 phlox, take much food from the soil, and 

 should be divided quite frequently. The 

 best method to follow is to dig the old 

 stool up, selecting a few healthy looking 

 bits to plant back. If they are to go in 

 the same place the ground should be 

 thoroughly dug and manured. Much 

 better results are secured by just planting 

 single stems, even if it means the dis- 

 carding of a large part of the old root. 

 Two Precautions 



There are just two things to specially 

 bear in mind when fall planting is done. 

 Do the work when the soil is in good con- 

 dition, and not wet, planting firmly. It 

 is obvious that a little extra care should 

 be taken in protecting during the first 

 winter, especially in the case of the more 

 tender varieties. With these simple pre- 

 cautions and the ordinary care given by 

 any flower lover there is no reason for 

 hesitation when the autumn season 

 comes around. 



A Splendid Specimen of Fr<iu K.irl Drubchki. 

 Thi« WM lecurcd by I Raton o( lyondoii as « premium (rom the lorcil llijrticuUural Society, five years ago. It is cut 

 clinvti to a (cw incites each sprinx, is a strong grower nud flowers twice a season. 



QUESTION BOX 



I W. E. GROVES 



AT this season of the year there are 

 usually all kinds of problems and 

 difficulties facing the gardener, and 

 it should not be forgotten that this 

 column is open in an honest effort to 

 help any and every enquirer. Will 

 readers who need advice have no hesita- 

 tion in writing. It would also help some- 

 one else if any reader who has met and 

 solved a growing problem of any kind 

 would give us the advantage of his ex- 

 perience. Will you for the sake of the 

 other garden lovers send us your notes 

 along these lines. The column is being 

 run for the mutual benefit of everyone. 

 Please let us have your enquiries freely. 



Rhododendron Outdoors 



" Can rhododendrons be grown ourdoors in, say, 

 Toronto? Are there any varieties hardier than 

 others, and is any particular care, or cultivation 

 necessary?'' — F. R. J., Toronto. 



The hardier kinds of rhododendrons do 

 quite well in this district if given a fairly 

 good position. Those most suitable are 

 grafted on the Catuwbiense stock, this 

 type being ([uite liaiclv Soil with lime 



