BIS-Lanoster Farming, Saturday, April 2, 1994
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Fanning Staff
LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.)
“Rick the right plant for the
right conditions and save yourself
a lot of trouble.” said Dr. David
Sandford to about 200 people
attending the Penn State Garden
Symposium held recently at the
Farm and Home Center.
The day-long seminar touched
on design, selection, and disease
control of flowers, shrubs, and
trees. Often problems with disease
stem from the ivrong amount of
sun, moisture or soil conditions.
Most problems with dogwood
trees stem from “lawn mower dis
ease,” according to David Sanford,
horticulture professor. Bumping a
tree with the lawn mower causes
stress.
Plant varieties selected from
northern climates are usually more
vigorous than those purchased
from the south. Scab, powdery
mildew, leaf spot, and brown cank
er are other problems that can be
•. pei
shrubs are used for better weed control and easier
maintenance.
Bulbs planted In groups create more of a visual Impact than those planted sparsely.
Water gardens are easy to construct with the many new materials on the market,
easy to maintain, and beautiful to look at.
Secrets For A Bloomin’ Garden
diagnosed by an extension agent if
a sample leaf is submitted.
One of the big attractions of the
day was learning how to create a
flower garden that looks entirely
natural but in reality is planned in
detail. Brent Heath of the Daffodil
Mart of Gloucester, Va., told how
bulbs can be used to create visual
design. He said that his first daffo
dil blooms in January and the last
one in May.
He encouraged the audience to
think of their lawn as a large can
vas for painting with flowers.
For visual impact in large areas,
plant SO to 100 bulbs in a group or
plant in clumps.
After the flowers of bulbs die,
the leaves and stems must be left to
mature the bulb for the next grow
ing season. Do not knot or tie the
leaves with a knot or rubberband.
Instead, interplant perennials in
front of the dying foliage to hide it
Peonies and daylilies are good
choices for hiding the dying
foliage. Another possibility is to
Speakers at the Garden Symposium, from left, are Wolfgang of Oahe Van Sweden &
Associates Inc.; Dr. Irwin Riehman, professor; Dr. David Sanford, professor; Brent
Heath, The Daffodil Mart; H. Bruce Hellertck, extension agent; and Alan Michael,
extension agent.
plug in impatients or other annuals
between die daffodil foliage.
While spring seems an easy sea
son to fill with color by using daf
fodils, tulips, and azalea bushes,
other seasons are a bit more diffi
cult to plan and people often rely
upon annuals. But Mr. Wolfgang
from Oehme Van Sweden & Asso
ciations, Inc. in Washington. D.C..
said that as a landscape architec
ture. he introduces perennials for
four season interest
Strive for low maintenance and
plants that cover the area quickly
to solve weeding problems. . ■
Wolfgang and many of the
speakers demonstrated their talks
with colorful slides.
Water gardening is the newest
fad in gardening. Virginia Crum of
Lilypons Water Gardens explained
the requirements to plan, stock,
and maintain a water garden.
Go with as much sunlight as
possible. At least six hours or more
of direct sunlight a day give more water lilies. All lilies open at 10
options for blooming. It works best a.m v and close at 4p.m., butif It is
in a level area, away from trees desired to have a lily open for
with falling leaves. evening hours, Viriginia suggested
Many different materials can be it be cut and put into the refrigera
used for the construction,, but tor until the party is ready to begin,
fiberglass is the longest lasting, place it back in its position and it
Polyvinyl chloride is the least should remain open for several
expensive and more flexible fix' hours,
design. in addition to providing a good
Chose between tropical (frost location, the balanced stocking is
tender) or hardy (survive winter)
Brent Heath shows some of the daffodils that he grows at
the Daffodil Mart, where daffodils bloom for five months.
Daylliles hid* the dying foliage of bulb* that should bs
allow to stand 12 wssks to mature the bulb for the next
growing season.
(Turn to Paflo B 19)