snapped off when partly dry, but remove with care

snapped off when partly dry, but remove with care in order not to decrease or prevent bloom next year.

• When planting a new shade tree, consider whether it is messy or neat in appearance, weak or strong-wooded, and long or short lived. Resist the temptation to plant a fast growing, weak tree for quick shade.

Some trees that are messy and weak-wooded include silver maple hybrid popular, mimosa, weeping willow, black cherry, and Eastern cottonwood. Better choices are Chinese elm, Japanese zelkova, pin oak, red maple, river birch, tulip poplar and willow oak.

• Transplants become less stressed when they are set out on a cloudy, calm day. Unfortunately, gardeners may need to transplant when they have the time, regardless of the weather.

Strong sun and wind are hard on new transplants, so set out plants in the late afternoon when the wind comes down and the plants have overnight to acclimate.

Provide shade and wind protection with berry baskets, small crates, or screens. Mulching helps since it lowers the rate at which water evaporates from the soil and controls the soil temperature.

• To control weeds in a garden: prevent weed seed germination, destroy weeds that sprout before they bear seed, and do not use mulches or compost contaminated with weed seeds.

• To ensure pollination of sweet corn, plant several rows together in a block, rather than in one long row. Sidedress with 3 tablespoons of 1010-10 per 10 feet of row when 12 to 18 inches high.

Keep well watered, especially from tasseling time to picking. Hill com plants by pushing a few inches of soil up around the base of the plants when they are fertilized. This provides stability, but take care not to disturb the roots or remove suckers.

• Four to five layers of newspaper will serve as effective mulch in the garden. Cover it with sawdust or straw to reduce the white glare and prevent it from blowing away.