CHow and “When to “Plant 
Practical Suggestions for Everyone 
Based on Experience 
Tested by Time 
HOW TO PREPARE THE SOIL 
It is important to have the ground adequately prepared before 
any planting is done. Average existing topsoil throughout most 
of the Cape is thin and sandy, with unfertile sand and gravel 
subsoil directly beneath. 
Loam For success in new plantings, remove the unproductive 
subsoils and deepen the topsoil by adding new fertile 
loam to the following recommended depths: 
For flower beds, vegetable gardens, and most ground cover plants, 
10 to 12 inches minimum; 15 to 18 inches is that much 
better. 
For flowering shrubs, floribunda roses, hedges, bush fruits and 
most evergreens, 16 to 18 inches. 
For climbing vines, 24 inches deep and as wide as space 
permits. 
For trees, both evergreen and deciduous, holes at least 6 
inches deeper and 2 feet wider than the full spread of the 
tree roots. 
For hybrid tea roses, special preparation 21% feet deep is ad- 
visable to promote deep rooting and strongest top 
growth, — both valuable insurance against winter killing. 
For good lawns, 4 inches minimum if subsoil is clayey, 
8 inches on light sandy subsoil. Peat will help hold 
moisture and food. 
Manure, Peat and Fertilizers 
Mix with the fertile loam well-rotted cow manure, adding 
about 2 inches for every foot in depth. Prepared manure adds 
food as well as humus and organic content. Good native peat 
also added in the same proportion as manure will further aid 
in retaining moisture in lighter soils. In many cases the baled 
peat moss is more conveniently handled. 
If soils are decidedly acid, lime should be added at the rate of 
5 to 7 pounds per 100 square feet. 
In planting vegetables and annual flowers, work in appropri- 
ate chemical fertilizers (we like the Agrico brands), 4 pounds 
per 100 square feet. For shrubs, roses, evergreens and trees, 
such quick-acting chemicals are best used for top feeding after 
planting. 
HOW TO PLANT 
Digging. In the prepared ground, for each plant dig a hole as 
deep as the roots, and wide enough to spread out the roots to 
their full extent. Work loose soil carefully among roots to 
[ 60 ] 
