By: Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature

Would you like to have a healthier lawn and help the environment at the same time? The Safe Home for The Gnomes project is for you.

The Erie County Environmental Management Council (EMC) is an advisory board to the Erie County Department of Environment & Planning. Council members advise county government on local environmental concerns; and provide a liaison between the community and county government.

Reducing the overuse and misuse of chemicals in Erie County is a priority concern for the EMC. Launched in 2017, Safe Home for The Gnomes is a campaign to reduce the use of lawn chemicals. Homeowners pledge to maintain a pesticide-free lawn that is safe for children, pets and pollinators and receive a free lawn sign to let their neighbors know that their lawn is healthy and safe.

Garden chemicals when overused or misused can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife and waterbodies. Collectively, residents control about 900,000 acres of lawn in New York alone - 75% of the managed turf in the state. The good news is there are many ways to care for your lawn that avoid putting family and neighbors at risk. 

Ten EMC tips for a healthy pesticide free lawn:

1.  Say no to pesticides – Make sure the products you choose are pesticide free - read the label - if the product says it’s a hazard to humans or the environment, it’s best to avoid it.
2.  Check your soil - Get a soil pH test. Kits can be found at garden centers or you can contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners for info on how to get a test (652-5400, ext. 137).
3.  Know what feeds your weeds – Different weeds prefer different soil conditions. Use your soil test to make conditions favorable to lawn and unfavorable to weeds.
4.  Feed your lawn only lightly – Use slow-release fertilizers like compost or organic fertilizers. Fall, not spring, is the best time to feed.
5.  Plant a variety of grasses – Mixtures grow better in different sun, shade and traffic conditions. Fall is the best time to overseed bear patches.
6. 6.    Don’t cut grass too short, mow high – 3 inches or higher will help the grass outcompete weeds and better withstand drought and is more resistant to pests and disease. Also leave clippings on the lawn, it’s natures fertilizer.
7.  Water less often but deeply – You may not need to water at all. Grass naturally goes dormant with drought and greens up when the rain returns. If you do water,  water deeply (down to the roots) about 1 inch/week.
8.  Aerate to open the soil surface – Over time the soil under grass can become compacted and may become crowded with a layer of thatch. Thatch looks like a thick layer of brown roots above the soil level. In lawns with a thatch layer of more than 1/2-inch core aeration in late summer is recommended.
9.  Eliminate grubs with nematodes – Lawn grubs are rare in a healthy lawn but if you have more than 10/square foot you can treat with beneficial nematodes. These are naturally occurring microscopic worms that are not harmful to humans or pets but eat grubs. They are available at garden centers in a powder form which is mixed with water.
10.  If you use a lawn service make sure their treatments are pesticide free – More lawn and landscape companies are offering natural, chemical free treatments. Ask the company t to explain their methods and check references.

Having a pesticide free lawn will save you time AND money as well as eliminate harmful effects on the environment. For more information about Safe Home for the Gnome and managing a pesticide free landscape please visit the Healthy Lawns page at: ERIE.GOV/HEALTHYLAWNS.

NOTE: Our Native Plant and Perennial Sale will be Saturday, May 22, 9-2. Between Amanda’s Garden and Lessons from Nature we will have the largest selection of native plants in WNY along with a good selection of perennials for sun to shade. A GREAT place to get healthy plants at a reasonable price.

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Annual native and perennial plant sale
Saturday, May 22, 9-2
170 Pine Street, E Aurora

Dear Gardening Friends, 
 
We’ve had a year’s worth of weather during April. We had winter, then spring then summer and back to winter again. As I write this it’s a lovely, sunny fall temperature day. Hopefully spring is here for good now.
 
If nothing else April has taught us how resilient nature is. Most plants will be just fine. This type of weather is also a good reason to grow native plants. They are used to this changeable weather and will survive.  You may notice frost damage on the tips of some plants, trees & shrubs. The leaves or tips of leaves turn black and crunchy. They can be pruned out or just left to drop off if it’s just a leaf or two.  It looks like the only plant I have that was severely damaged was a rare hydrangea from Japan. Am hoping the roots will be fine and send up new shoots. Don’t give up on a frost damaged plant. Cut back the damage and hope for the best.
 
 
The following are a few tips.
 
-       Patience is still the best approach. The soil is quite cold and it’s way too soon to even think about planting annuals. Many greenhouses have perennials and annuals out for sale. If you by an annual keep it in a sheltered place until it’s time to plant.
 
-       If you leave a footprint on the soil that’s a sign the soil is too wet to work in. It’s easy to compact the soil with every footfall so stay off until things dry out.
 
-       It’s helpful to have paths or steppingstones in gardens so you can navigate without harming the soil. If a path isn’t appropriate a few rocks or steppingstones placed appropriately are practical and attractive.
 
-     If you left the leaves down in the fall lightly rake them away from the crowns of plants so the plants don’t get smothered. The leaves can be left on the ground and will make an excellent mulch as well as weed suppressant and habitat for beneficials.
 
-     Weeding should be a priority. Perennial weeds are up now and will be much easier to remove when small. If removed now you also prevent the weed from developing seeds and spreading even more.
  
-     The soil is still much too cold to plant greenhouse grown perennials, annuals and vegetables. Wait until the soil is above 50 degrees. As an example, tomatoes planted too soon don’t do as well as those planted at the end of May. Remember Patience! The final average frost isn’t until late May so don’t get fooled by a few warm days.
 
-     Perennials currently coming up in your garden that need to be moved or divided can be moved since they are used to the current soil temperature. However, don’t move them until the soil is “workable” which means the soil will break apart easily after you make a ball of it in your hand. Clumpy soil won’t settle around the roots well and cause air pockets which can dry out the roots.
 
-     If you have problems with deer, rabbits and other critters start your spraying, fencing, caging or whatever you do. I’ve already had damage and quickly put up some caging. Will spray on a non-rainy day. Since the plants are growing fast now I spray susceptible plants every week until they reach full size then cut back to every 3-4 weeks.
 
RECYCLE pots, treys & blinds here. I can use pots 4 inches and up and flat carrying treys. No 6 packs. Also, if you are discarding any Venetian blinds or see some in the garbage, please save them for me. I use the blinds for price tags for the plant sale and won’t have many left after this year. Just drop them off in front of the garage. The address is below.
      NOTE: For those of you in Amherst who are used to dropping things off at 37 N. Union, The property has been sold so please don’t drop pots off there. THANKS!!!!
 
Now is the time to make changes and improvements in your garden. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices and guarante to save you time and money. Also check out my website for past Garden Tips and articles: lessonsfromnature.biz.
 
 
Upcoming Plant Sales & Events: Put them on your calendar now!
 
            Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden Native and Perennial Plant Sale.
            Saturday, May 22th, 9:00 – 2:00.  170 Pine St., E Aurora, corner of Pine & Lawrence.
Clients and those of you who get my tips can come at 8:00 and beat the rush. We will have a larger variety of native plants on that one day than anywhere in WNY.  All my plants are dug fresh from my garden and those from Amanda’s Garden are started from seed by Ellen. Fultz, the owner. I will also have a selection of hypertufa containers, draped concrete planters and birdbaths. A partial list of what plants is at the end of these tips. Since it’s been so cold and rainy, I’ve only started potting up and some plants haven’t even come up yet. So, in addition to the list there will be more surprises.
 
            Note: all my plants will be potted in soilless potting mix due to the threat of the Asian jumping worm. If you’re not aware of this threat you can get information at: http://ulster.cce.cornell.edu/environment/invasive-pests/jumping-worm
 
 
Master Gardener Plant Sale, Friday May 228, 8:30 – 3:00, Saturday May 29, 8:30 – 2:00, First Presbyterian Church, 1 Symphony Circle, across from Kleinman’s. Perennials for sun and shade, natives, annuals, succulents, hypertufa and draped concrete pots, vegetable starts, herbs, shrubs and garden art. Plants are from MG gardens and donated by local nurseries.
 
East Aurora Garden Club Perennial Sale, Saturday, May 29th 8:30 – till sold out.
In the Village plaza on Grey Street where Tops is. The sale is located under the roof overhang between TJ Max and Pet Smart. Plants from Garden Club member’s gardens, great selection.
 
          
Happy Gardening!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
[email protected]
652-2432
 
 
Partial Plant List for Perennial Sale 2021
 
Some varieties there are only 1 or 2 of, others quite a few. A few items aren’t even up yet so additional plants will be added during the weeks to come. First come first served.
 
Shrubs:
 
                                                           
Purple leaf sandcherry                                     Potentilla, Gold Drop
Lynwood Gold Forsythia                                 Hydrangea – Anabelle
Viburnum alnifolium
                                   
   
Sun:
                                                                                                                                               
Monkshood                                                     Siberian iris (white & blue)                            
Perennial geranium                                          Shasta daisy                                         Sundrops                                                         Zig-zag goldenrod
Variety of asters                                              Tansy
            Phlox                                                               Obedient plant                                    
Black-Eyed-Susan                                           Coreopsis                               
Filipendula                                                      Graceful sedge                                    
                                                                                                                                                                       
Part Sun:
                                                           
Forget-Me-Not                                                Anemone – white, pink, & ruffled
Dwarf  Solomon’s seal variegated                   Candelabra primrose                                      
Ladies Mantle                                                  Kirengeshoma
Astilbe (dwarf)                                                Corydalis –Yellow & white                            
Astilbe – Ostrich                                             Blue lobelia                                        
Astilbe – variety of colors                                Sundrops
Golden ragwort                                               Bouncing Bet
Bachelor buttons                                                         
                                                                                                                                   
Shade:
                                                           
Dwarf Comfrey                                               Hosta – a few varieties, minis
Persicaria                                                         Primrose
Toad Lily – 2 varieties                                     Pulmonaria – a few varieties
European Ginger                                             Lenten Rose, white, pink & deep purple 
Curley Ginger                                                  Native ginger
Epimedium – pink & yellow                           Primula kisoana – rare variety
Twinleaf                                                          Ajuga                                     
Corydalis                                                         Astilboides tabularis   
Candelabra primrose                                       Soloman’s Seal - 3 varieties   
 
                                                                                                                            
            Natives:
 
Evening Primrose                                            Tall Meadow Rue
Solomon’s Seal                                               Twinleaf
Ginger                                                             Golden Ragwort
Gold Star                                                         Amsonia
Viola - purple                                                  Big leaf aster
Wood anemone                                               Early Meadow Rue
Jack-in-the-pulpit                                            Ostrich fern
White Wood Aster                                           Wood Poppy
Snakeroot                                                        Creeping phlox
Tickseed                                                          Bloodroot
Filapendula                                                      White violet
Flowering raspberry                                        Lobelia – blue
Northern Sea Oats                                           White wood anemone
Waterleaf                                                         Zig-zag goldenrod                                          
Carolina Phlox                                                 Field goldenrod
            Asters – many varieties                                   Monkshood
Waterleaf                                                         Graceful sedge
Broad-leaf sedge                                                         
Shrub – viburnum alnifolium