August 2018 Tips

Dear Gardening Friends, As I write this it’s actually raining! We sure need it (unless you live north or south of Buffalo). Let’s hope it’s a good soaker. The following are some tips for August: - Check your plants regularly for signs of insect or disease. Determine the cause, and if any action is necessary BEFORE you arbitrarily spray a pesticide. Remember pesticides kill ALL insects, the good with the bad. - A few holes in your leaves are not necessarily a disaster. Beneficial insects have to eat too. Remember butterflies and moths come from caterpillars so they are not necessarily the bad guys. - By early August, discontinue fertilizing all plants except annuals. Perennials, trees and shrubs are starting their slow down into winter dormancy. They need to rest, not try and push out new growth. - A good way to prevent seeded annual weeds is by cutting them back and removing the seeds, before they are disbursed. If you don’t have time to weed well, at least you can cut off the seed heads. - This technique works for perennials as well. If you don’t want your black-eyed- Susan’s, coneflowers, or asters (just to mention a few) to seed all over the place cut the seed heads back. If you don’t mind the spread leave the seed heads up to feed the birds during the fall and winter. I love watching the chickadees on the seed heads in the winter. - Mid-August to mid-September is ideal for starting grass seed. However if this hot and dry weather continues, wait a while. - If you have some bare spots or thinning turf, you can over seed during this time. Simply scatter some seed right over the existing grass and bare spots. If the bare spot is larger than a few inches, it’s best to loosen the soil a little with a hand cultivator so the seed makes good contact with the ground. - When buying grass seed make sure to match your sight requirements to the type of seed. - If you want to take cuttings of annuals to winter over, now is a good time. Cuttings need to be taken while the plants are in their prime not after they start to fade. You can get good instructions on line or attend the Master Gardener Fall Gardening Class (info at the end of the newsletter). - Dividing and transplanting perennials is ideal once the weather cools down and we get more rain. Keep in mind, plants that are overcrowded are prone to fungal disease. Transplanting things in late summer allows the roots to set in before winter and saves time in the spring. Educational Opportunity: Master Gardener Fall Gardening Classes: The classes are from 7:00 – 8:30 PM. The same class will be offered at three locations. Sept 6 – Clarence Town Library Sept 12 – Seneca Babcock Community Center Sept 17 – Orchard Park Library All classes are free but registration is required because space is limited. To register go on the Cooperative Extension Website: http://erie-cce.edu/gardening or call 652-5400 or call 652-5400, ext: 150. Topics covered will be: Fall Propagation: Autumn is a good time to increase your inventory of plants and shrubs through propagation. Learn how to take semi-hardwood cuttings of your favorite plants and cuttings of tender annuals to hold over for next year.  The Fun of Fall Gardening: Fall is an ideal time to make changes and improvements in your garden as well as prepare it for winter. Learn some time and money saving tips you can easily use in your garden including fall clean up and overwintering plants and tubers. Don’t forget to contact me for a garden consult. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices as well as answer questions and save you time and money. Happy Gardening! Lyn Chimera Lessons from Nature 170 Pine St. E. Aurora, NY 14052 [email protected] 652-2432 Copyright © 2014 Lessons From Nature, All rights reserved. You're receiving this message because you requested to receive Lessons from Nature newsletters. Our mailing address is: Lessons from Nature 37 N Union Rd Williamsville, NY 14221 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences