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H & G 20-The Canadian Champion, Friday, April 3, 1998 Great Gardens The secret ta beautiful gardens is found at root leve-in mhe soit. Sa dont covet your neighbour's fabulous flowers, stunnir shrubs, venerable vegetables and iusciou< I tg is -i MaCKINNON WATERFALLS & PONDS Corne in and see why GARDEN PONDS are becoming sa papular this spring. Ask us about our iFREE semninars ta help yau build your awn water feature. Drop by our showroom, or caii for more information. 876-2836 724 Main St. E. Milton (Locted ocrosa rom Buns Master) Or isit aur Web Site @ www.Hultan HiIs.com.MacKinnan - CIL & PAiuKWOOD LAWN FERTIIERS ~MLJL<a><i25% OFF cla oerd. 878-3100 iîofnthIe "-SeEEE1EEEfIEE *~ ~ Lw 824-104 misîL il I2 ~ riania 05, rds F iarO, 798,aoiRegaRas~~s i . At Root Level AIRCO sIIOIN M.A.R.C.H. " Water Fumace Systenis * Oas Propane and " Heat Pumps - Air. Ground Eecisc uraces & Water Sources - High Efficency Air Fifers " Centrai & Rooni Air & Humidiiers 785 Main Street East 876-1138 (Service) 875-2700 (Sales) DEIREX ALUMINUM LimiTrED *Auminum Awnings -Canopies *Eavestroughs -Sormn Doors .Rooting -Windows *Siding -Fascia *Sofit in Living colotirs Aso e fuit fine of replacemnent wvindows 877-5383 MASTER GLOSS LTD. Vînyl & Alumînura 116 Royal Cr5,1 Dasr Sîdîng & Ilndows 5" SeamlesaCutters ERROL MCPHEE 32 Years soperiesce (91)5) 878-5337M1 M.A.R.C.H. MECHANICAL LTD. PARTS FOR Washers * ryers.- Ranges - Freezers -Reingerators -ishwasîrers 785 Man Street Easit 876-1138 Across tramthie GO Station Sp%4tg 1 i kem!e1 Advertise in Who Does t! this esn It gets your message across! Cati 878-2341 Aditon -Tie WwDlhlydecor aie te Caiu oa!87-8251 Jewl epyueclonaetehm SEIC AK UNO aRetNoble Led. ieo 50f os frcrsiglavins, 3 aio ispaed otwrk asrey eercoiored or duesiy ai ppe (190) 63-043A8. Pru18ng Tv... a fr rond Shvs, 3bradiouitchdIrucsmigsrventu Over 35years ep e e te Educate rsne cnada r ucongedrdone ltispetaernc trst rine rter7ed6 CALL.2 YEARSEPEREUWE -90-87-467m 3egin i lawns; build mhe foundation needed for a yard that wili rival Eden. Plant roots require sait thaf is laamy and neutral, with the capacity for goad drainage and fuît of arganic materiai. Chances are mhat the plat of earth mhars your property daes- nft possess ail these character- istics. Do a quick quality check ta determine the condition of your sait. Scoop up a handfui of dirt and studq ifs texture. IfifVs tmick and iumpy and ciings tagether in a bail, ifs heavy dlay. Plant roats have a hard time penetrat- ing dlay, and they wili starve due ta iack of air and water. Luckily, one sait amendment wili take over where Mather Nature, or the develapers, leh off. Canadian sphagnum peat mass impraves the texture and performance of ail salis, bath gaad and bad. Il wili aerate dlay, bind sand, dramaticaity reduce the ieaching of nutrients and hold up ta 20 times its weight in water. A general rule of thumb is ta wark a two-inch layer inta the top six inches of soit. For year- round sait canditioning, add Canadian peat mass ta the gar- den in bath the spring, before ptanting, and in the fait, after harvesting. Determine Sal pH And Fertilize Properly The pH level of yaur garden shauld aisa be anatyzed s0 necessary adjustments can be made. The pH, or level of aika- tinity or acidity, is measured on a scale of one ta 14. Seven is neutral; numbers abave indicate aikaline sait and numbers belaw show acidic conditions. Sait amendments and fertilizers may M I- RPSERVILT -aKESN -t 1 affect the acidity or alkalinity of your planting bed. Canadian sphagnum peat moss is again beneficial because it has a pre- dictable pH level of 3.4 ta 4.8. A soit test wvill help deter- mine accurately mhe pH of your soif, but there are regional clues that can also, be of help. Acid souls occur throughout mhe Nartheast and in parts of mhe country that have high humidity and cmer conditions that leach out calcium and magnesium. Ground limestone s tme antidote. For aikaline sals, spread sulfur ta increase acidity. Remember-lawns, vegetables and mast flowers prefer a neu- tral ta slightly acid sait, such as pH 6.0 ta 7.0. Plants require mhree major nutnients: nitragen (N), which encourages grawth of plant tis- sues; phasphorus (P), which stimulates celI develapment, fruiting and disease resistance; and potassium or patash (K>, which helps plants forra starch- es and sugars as well as resist disease and draught. Fertilizers are labeled with three-number formulas, such as 5-10-10 or 10-10-10, referring ta the per- centage of N-P-K within the mix. From Ancient Bogs To Gardens Everywhere An arganic praduct harvest- ed tram bogs .7,000 ta 12,000 years aId, sphagnum peat mass is found in cold, wet climates north af the 45th parallel. Canada, the Russian federatian and Germany are major praduc- ers of sphagnum peat mass. Sphagnum mass was one of mhe first plants ta graw an land as the glaciers receded at mhe end af the Ice Age. Over the centuries, the rRE Expressvu 18 Thovipsos Rd. iC of olMan St. & Tho.sPuRd) perennial sphagnumn plants have grown and formned tayers. As mhe tayers decompose, they became sphagnum peat mass, an endurng, fibrous substance wifh large cavi- ties mhat absorb air and water mhe way a sponge does. Harvesting Canadian sphagnum peat mass for horticultural use is an ingeniaus, energy-efficient process. First, the top 1/2 inch of mhe peat bog is raked and le ta dry in mhe sun. Once dry, it s picked up by large vacuum-like machines. Then if is screened ta remove roots and amer debnis and pressed in bales. Not Ail Peat Is Sphagnumn There are amher types of peat mass, such as those formed f rom the remains of sedge and reed grasses, which are found in more temperate climates. These "peats" are mare highiy decomposed than Canadian sphagnum peat mass and, therefare, do nat ast as long. Because Canadian peat has a stronger structure than ather peat praducts, t has a greater capacity ta pravide plants wimh the proper balance of air and water. Camposted Canadian Peat- A Rich Alternative There is an alternative ta pure Canadian peat: campost-enriched Canadian peat mass. Vegetabie peelings, iawn and garden debris and caffee grounds needn't waste away in the city dump. Mixed in a 50-50 ratio with Canadian peat mass, compost makes an excellent nutrient that also impraves the texture af the soit. Peat wili deodorize the compost and soak up excess moisture, which ohten cal- lects in camposting receptac!es. Just add a shavelfut or twa of garden sait or stream- sterilized manure as wetl as two cups of limestone, and blend the ingredients. Canadian Peat Mss- The Natural Choice Canadian peat is nat just an excellent sait conditianer; ifs aiso a great value for mhe dollar. Packed in campressed baies mhat double in volume once apened, lang-lasting Canadian peat stores and reteases nutri- ents and moisture ta roots siawiy, thereby cutting dawn an the frequency plants need ta be watered and fertilized. At a time of increasing concem about enviranmentai issues, if s camfarting ta knaw that this soit conditioner is a cara- pleteiy natural resource. A baie of Canadian sphagnum peat mass is free af insect ife, weed seeds and harmful salits and chemi- cals. Make sure the baie cantains pure sphagnum peal mass by laaking for the wards "Canadian Sphagnum Peat Mass," the slogan "Heaithier Growth, Naturaliy," and Canada's symbai, the maple teaf.