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Show I 6D Lakeside Review North, Wednesday, May 4, 1983 Gardening for H2y Mean Liffe-Scav- er One of his more unusual specimens is a Manchurian apricot. The tree started out as a small twig. Now its one of the biggest ones and its fruit is very large and tasty, said Pitch- By SHELLEY KANCITIS Review Correspondent Malcolm Pitchfords ROY is beginning to come garden alive. Several rows of tiny seedlings dot the rich black soil. When it reaches maturity, x Pitchfords plot will spill over with at least 16 types of vegetables ranging e from huge heads of cauliflower to tiny, green peas. Next to the vegetable garden is an orchard containing seven varieties of fruit trees. Interwoven throughout the yard are 30-fo- ot ford. He also has an apple tree which produces four different varieties of apples including both yellow and red delicious. The nursery where I bought it had grafted on the four types, said Pitchford. It produces so much fruit, he had to build a wooden frame and tie the branches to it for support. 60-fo- ot snow-whit- I G . 4 flowers and rosebushes. Pitchford even has a rock garden covered with tarns, a low lying evergreen bush. I call it a rock garden, laughs Pitchfords wife, Lee, because no matter how fast we haul the rocks away, they seem to grow Pitchford also, tends his back. Pitchford, who grew up on farms in Nebraska and Colorado, spends at least 30 hours a week on gardening during the growing season. It has literally saved his life. In 1970, Pitchford l had a heart attack and was forced to retire from his railroad career. As physical therapy, he turned to gardening. Ive always liked to raise my own fruits and vegetables. They taste so much better, said Pitchford. Beginning in early spring, Pitchford begins working in his orchard. First he makes a aped indentation around each tree so it will hold water. This enables the tree to get a good soaking. He uses an iron stake with a pointed end to poke holes at foot long intervals around the trees drip line. Then e Pitchford pours fertilizer into the holes to insure 4m S. near-fata- o V XX ' ) d i i a xJ saucer-sh- time-releas- PRUNING dwarf fruit tree in his home orchard resident, Malcolm Pitchford. continous, slow fertilization. I recommend planting dwarf fruit trees if a person has a is Roy small yard. The fruit is just as good as from the trees, said Pitchford. full-size- d grapes and an assortment of berries in the spring. Last year, he had strawberries the size of golf balls. To ensure large berries, Pitchford always has several patches each season. He takes new runners from one crop of strawberries and plants them in a prepared area. The secret of producing big berries is to keep the new plants producing and to pull out the older plants, which make the smaller berries, said Pitchford. Each patch has a productive life cycle of about three years. Pitchforeds vegetable garden preparation begins in the fall. I spade up the soil to kill insect eggs. It also helps the ground absorb winter moisture better. In addition, Pitchford mulches in grass clippings and compost from a carefully maintained like. I think the spading is as good as using a tiller, said Pitchford. In the spring, the soil is soft and ready for planting." For garden fertilizer, Pitchford primarily uses compost with smaller amounts of com- - ' Hot Tub Popular Intame FVjestf As the home remodeling mar- both physical and Pitchford uses seedlings to start the cabbage, cauliflower, eggplant, tomatoes and pep- pers. The rest of the vegetables are grown from seed. He recommends planting the tomato now are turning attention to popular start he removes from four to are which leaves six inches above the ground. Pitchford said tomato lovers should know that a new blight entered this area several years ago. He suggests consulting a nursery about recommended sprays. Last year, Lee Pitchford was especially delighted with the cauliflower he produced. To keep the sun from turning the plants brown, Pitchford folds the leaves over the white part of the cauliflower and fastens Many-peopl- cone-shape- d Build Wood Decks Plain or Fancy Wood decks for outdoor living are catching on all over the country. With good reason. They add pleasurable living space much of the year, even in cold climates. Theyre easy and fun to build. And with the use of pressure-treate- d wood, theyre inexpensive and last a long time. All you need is a few simple g lumber. HOME HANDYMEN Hot tubs, spas. When they getting taller, seedlings so only a few inches ..them shut with toothpicks. He occasionally opens the leaves to check for bugs and worms, but said they are infrequent. Pitchford uses a minimum of chemical spray on his vegetables. He suggests Liquid 7 as an effective, mild spray. Up until several weeks ago, be moved around. He also rethe Pitchfords continued to en--. locates plants like potatoes to joy fresh produce from last lessen the chance of blight left years crop. Pitchford left a in the soil from the precious partial crop of potatoes in the year. ground and covered them with six inches of mulch so they Pitchford puts trellises around tomato plants would not freeze. what youre doing is sawing and lumber nailing pressure-treate- d just as you would with any use. for support. remain above ground. plant them too shallow. When planting seeds and seedlings, Pitchford is careful to change the location of vegetable groupings each year. Peas produce nitrogen which enriches the soil so they need to free-standin- tom of the shell. The effect on the skin is light and vibrant like a fingertip massage. The second type pumps large volumes of water through small hydrotherapy jets. The velocity creates a suction that mixes air with the incoming stream of Both spas and tubs operate on mental provided through these swirling pools of hot wa- the same principle. Water is ter, very few have a clear pic- heated and recirculated ture of what these products of- through jets that create a soothfer or how to bring the hot water ing turbulence. The products experience home without get- are equipped with similar pumps, filters, heaters and wating soaked. ' Here are some specific ter jets. All products can be guidelines for choosing the best bought, designed or constructed to accommodate two to twelve form of hot water pleasure. There are several types of hot people. A reputable dealer or instalwater products currently on the market. Hot tubs are generally ler can provide advice on: Local utility costs for naturconstructed of hardwood such as redwodd, mahogany, cedar, al gas, propane and electricity. How many degrees a paroak or teak. However, some tubs are made of wood on the ticular heater will raise the waoutside with fiberglass liners in- ter temperature per hour. side. The vessels are usually Heating and intallation round or oval and are placed costs, depending on whether the above ground. spa or tub will be located inside A hot water spa is generally or outside. Efficient pump horsepower made of fiberglass, gunite or acrylic materials and placed n rating. The number of pumps the ground. Fiberglass spas are divided needed to drive the air or water into two categories depending systems. The selection of a company to on the method used to create turbulence. One type employs a sell, install or build the product blower or compressor to force is important. A primary aid in air through a duct system and choosing a dealer is the emblem up through tiny holes in the bot of membership in the national i mercial fertilizer. He plants marigolds around the edge of the garden to discourage bugs and worms. Herbs scattered through the garden also repel insects. To utilize space, Pitchford plants part of his garden in the orchard. I put squash and melons around the trees, they help keep the weeds down too, carpentering tools, ordinary skills and a little common sense. Whether your deck is or attached to the house, plain or fancy, basically ket makes substantial gains on the new construction market, two unique amenities are popping up again and again spas and hot tubs. In fact, the high cost of housing and the trend toward home improvements rather than buy- water. Portable spas are a popular ing a new house enticed over 100.000 families to add a spa or choice for many families because they can be easily moved tub last year. Te Natinal Spa and Pool Insti- and used either indoors or tute (NSPI) estimates that over outside, depending on available 500.000 families now enjoy the electrical outlets. Jetted bathtubs are now rerelaxing effects of a long hot soak in the privacy of their own placing traditional tubs in many bath remodeling projects. backyards or homes. But, while almost everyone These tubs usually have an acconsidering the purchase of a rylic finish with a fiberglass spa or tub knows the therapeut- backing and are drained after ic value ?er ffeVireinraen? Your lumberyard or building supply center can tell you all you need to know about sizes, spacing and spans. After youve made sure that the ground beneath your deck will give you good drainage, youll need to set pressure-treate- d posts some two or three feet into the ground. You can put the posts on concrete footings if you like, but thats not required. Then you should assemble the decks substructure with beams and joists like those under the floor of a house. For the decking itself, you can use 2 x 4s or 2 x 6s. You should leave a little space between deck pieces for water runoff. You should coat all sawed ends with a preservative that you can get through your lumber dealer. As with any wood construction in an outdoor environment, you should use only galvanized nails to avoid rusting or discoloration of the wood. Youll find a lOd common the most appropriate size. Framing your deck with decking lumber turned on edge will give the job a finished appearance. Trimmings and scraps of re-treated lumber should be used as landfill, and not burned. As with untreated wood, good safety and hygiene practices should be followed, including using gloves when handling and dust masks and safety glasses when cutting, sanding or drilling. Pressure-treate- d wood is ideal for decks. It can be used in direct contact with the ground and is highly resistant to both decay and termites. It can be painted or stained, but it doesnt need finishing. It looks good unfinished, and the preservatives allow for attractive weathering without dehot-dippe- d pressu- terioration. For free information on how to design a deck using pressure-treatewood, please send a self d addressed stamped envelope to: Western Wood Preservers Institute, P.O. Box 748, Del Mar, CA 92014. Spa and Pool Institute. NSPI members subscribe to the Institutes strict standards for design and construction and abide by a code of ethics covering fair business practices. . The Institute also suggests that consumers compare installation fees, investigate the service records of installers, ask for and contact previous customers of a particular company and inspect all manufacturer warranties regarding pumps, jets, filters and heaters. Before signing the contract, make sure it gives maximum protection. Every item of expense for material and labor, including optional equipment should be covered in writing. For a complete package of information, including Sunsets Hot Tubs, Spas and Home send $5 to national Sauntas, Spa and Pool Institute, 2000 K STreet, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. 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