GARDEN LIFE
The green factor(y)
Satish Narula

The lush lawns of the PCPL factory in Dera Bassi (Photo by the writer)

IN this era of growing foreign collaborations and multinational presence, a lot of premium is being put on the ambience and look of factories. Hence the growing emphasis on well-manicured lawns and landscaped exteriors of industrial establishments. Moreover, specific instructions from the Departments of Environment and Pollution regarding tree plantation has also put greening high on the agenda of factories.

Even market committees and religious organisations have realised the need to beautify their premises. This is evident from the participation of more and more market committees, religious institutions and government organisations in garden shows.

EARLIER COLUMNS Prickly treat May 2, 2004 Plain chance for hill plants April 18, 2004 Peach within reach April 4, 2004 Bloomers a blot on flower fests March 21, 2004 Flower shows, a platform for innovation March 7, 2004 Time for plant rejuvenation February 22, 2004 The lawn as a canvas February 8, 2004 Carnation care January 25, 2004 Tree truths January 11, 2004 Nip mango mealy bug in the bud now December 14, 2003

For factory owners interested in getting landscaping done on their premises, it is time to prepare lawns for the ensuing monsoons. Dig as deep as you can and carry out deweeding operations. Keep the soil open for 10 days and repeat this process. The weeds will dry up in the summer heat. So will the insects breeding underground.

The next important step is the levelling of the lawn unless undulation is desired. The levelling can be checked by watering the field. This way it is easy to mark depressions in the lawn and have them filled. Incidentally, watering will also encourage the germination of weeds, which can then be removed.

At the time of levelling, the lawns should also be treated against white ants by adding gamma BHC, the lindane dust. It should be evenly spread on the field. About 1.5 kg of it is sufficient for a 500 sq m plot. Similarly, adding 4 kg of single superphosphate and 3.75 kg of muriate of potash to every 100 sq m of lawn gives the best results. Never add farmyard manure to the soil. It will lead to uncontrolled growth of weeds. The planting of the grass should commence with the rains.
Before planting trees, shrubs and climbers, it is important to prepare the ground. For trees and climbers, one can dig a 2.5-foot-deep pit, while for shrubs a 2-foot-deep pit will suffice. Leave the pit open for a week. Refill it with the topsoil mixed with equal quantity of farmyard manure and sand. Add about 30 gm of lindane dust to ward off white ants.

Once newly planted saplings strike roots, they can be given 2 tbsp full of urea or double the amount of kisan khad, spread evenly in the plant basin and hoed up to the surface soil. Follow this up with heavy watering. Repeat the process every fortnight.