Category: Gardening Tips

May 2021 Gardening Tips

4/29/2021

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
lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
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

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December Gardening Tips

12/1/2020

Dear Gardening Friends,

I hope all of you have a HAPPY and SAFE and HEALTY Holiday season. This is a very different year for all of us and we can only hope with the new year will come happier times.

Luckily, we have our gardens to distract us and the following are some things you can do now.

With the lack of consistent snow cover, it’s important to protect your plants from temperature fluctuations. An easy way to do this is to lightly cover plants that were new this year or have shallow roots. A few options are:

- Pine boughs – they make an easy and excellent winter mulch. As soon as people discard their Christmas trees I go around and clip the larger branches from the bottom then place them over plants that needed protection. You can also check out your local the dump (where the village/town takes all the trees) and cut enough for the whole yard in a short time. It’s a wonderful way to get some quick and easy mulch. So, take advantage of this free resource. (Just don’t collect from my neighborhood!)
-- Straw – can be used in the same way and purchased at a garden or farm supply store. The important thing is not to use hay which would drop seeds and turn your garden into a hayfield. Trust me, I speak from experience!
-- This is a good time to prune away any branches that have been or might be damaged from winter wind. Make sure to trim back to a branch join and not leave stubs.
-- Picking up downed branches and debris is always a good winter job. Just be mindful of walking on soft garden or turf.

Houseplants: This is the time of year when some houseplants are probably needing a little attention.

-- Trim off yellowing/ browning leaves or branches.
-- Give your plants a shower to wash off the dust. Either in the sink or tub. The aves of larger plants can be wiped down with a natural sponge or soft cloth.
-- Check for insects. If there is sticky residue on leaves or areas under a plant that is a sign of scale, aphid or white fly. Check online at a”.edu” site for what to do.
-- If your plant has a white crusty residue on the soil or water runs righty through the pot when you water, the plant should be repotted. Use a good lightweight potting mix.
-- By mid-February you can start repotting and taking cuttings of overwintering annuals or houseplants.

Misc.:
- This is a good time to look through catalogues and plan for the upcoming season.
- Don’t just look at the pretty flowers in catalogues, be sure to match any plants you plan to use to the growing conditions you have and consider adding a few natives.

Educational Opportunities: What better way to spend a winter’s day than attending a gardening class. It will help you improve your gardening and get you in the mood for spring. There are 2 excellent Master Gardener events coming up via Zoom.

Annual Spring Bloom Classes:
Dates: Tuesday, February 9, 6:30 – 8:00 pm, Thursday, February 18, 6:30 – 8:00 pm and
Saturday, February 27, 10:00 – 11:30 am

Topics:
- What Gardeners Need to Know About Insects and Diseases
- Meatballs, Volcanoes and Other Garden Malpractices
- Growing Fruits and Vegetables.
Fee: $15/class, $45 for all three

Check the website for which date each topic will be presented. When I’m writing this tips,
matching dates with topics has not been determined based on presenter availability.
http://erie.cce.cornell.edu/events

MG Education Day:
Master Gardener Education Day, March 13, 2021
Those of you who have attended MGED in the past know what a worthwhile event it is. Each speaker will present one session.
Rick Darke - Co-author with Doug Tallamy of The Living Landscape will present:

Dynamic Design and Stewardship of Living Landscapes.
This richly illustrated talk will present ideas for plant selection, design and care of home landscapes that are beautiful and joyfully livable. Our garden is our home habitat. For most of us, it is the landscape we spend the most time in. When designed to support a great variety of life, it will be full of surprises and add intrigue, beauty, and interest every day. The presentation will feature Rick's own high-resolution photos of gardens and designs that have proven to be practical, durable, conserving, and affordable.

Paul Zammit, professor at Niagara College in Ontario and past Director of Horticulture at the Toronto Botanical Gardens and international speaker will present:

Planning and Planting for All Seasons.
Who puts a garden to bed, and why would you? For Paul, gardens do not have a yearly start or end date. He believes that they transition from one season of display to the next, including winter. Each season has its shining stars and Paul will highlight some of his favorites during his lively and energetic presentation. Join Paul, as he shares his passion for plants and other possible garden additions while taking us on a journey through the seasons where he
will remind us how we can all plan and plant a garden with year-round appeal.

MGED will begin at 9:00 AM and run until 12:45 PM via Zoom. The cost will be $35 for the public and $30 for out of county Master Gardeners and CNLP’s. Registration will begin on January 1 st . To register go to http://erie.cce.cornell.edu/events

Trust me, you won’t want to miss this amazing and fun day.

Garden Presentations:

There is a full listing of the presentations I offer on garden related topics on my website: lessonsfromnature.biz, or let me know and I will send you the listing.

Winter Garden Consultations: Yes, I do winter consultations. If you’re planning changes in your landscape this coming season getting an early start planning now will be helpful. Having a Garden Consultation in the winter is a good way to start. Just call me for an appointment. Appointments can be done virtually during the current restrictions.

Happy Gardening!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
652-2432

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November Gardening Tips

11/1/2020

Dear Gardening Friends,

If it makes you feel any better, I am a long way from having fall garden chores done. Mother Nature just isn’t cooperating. It’s been either too cold or too wet to get much done and I’m not a particularly wimpy gardener. It seemed like when there was a nice day, I was busy with something else. Oh well, whatever doesn’t get done can wait till spring.

There are many perennials that are still looking good and even a few annuals. Even so, there are a few things that should be done before winter.

If you have problems with deer, rabbits or other critters now is the time to put up defenses.

- The trunks of young trees can be wrapped with trunk wraps to protect them from the nibbling of mice and rabbits and rubbing of deer. You can also use chicken wire cages or hardware wire. Be sure the protection goes high enough so critters don't sit on top of the snow to browse and spread chicken wire over the ground about a foot around the plant so they can’t dig under it.

- If deer are an issue, heavy duty deer mesh works well. For shrubs like taxis and arbs you can just wrap the shrub in the netting or burlap. For other shrubs use stakes to attach the mesh and form a protective circle around the shrub. Remember to make the barrier high enough. Deer can stand on their hind legs to eat.

- Shrub coats and burlap tents are good for protecting from wind damage as well as deer. Basically, you are fortifying your yard for the winter!

If you have any products in an unheated garage like deer spray, Neem oil, liquid fertilizer or anything that would be exposed to freezing temps move them to the basement or other location where they will not freeze. Freezing ruins the effectiveness of some products.

Hoses should be emptied and brought into the garage or basement. Leaving them outside to freeze can cause sections to burst and leak. A handy way to store them is to coil the hose up and tie with twine in 2 places. That prevents the hose from getting all tangled and you can stack or hang them easily. This is easier to do on a warmer day as the hose won’t be as stiff to coil. If it is sunny lay the hose in the sun for a while and it will be more pliable.

Tools should also not be left outside. Clean off tools before you store them as any dirt left on over the winter will cause them to rust or corrode. You can sharpen them now or in the winter when you’re dreaming of spring.

Check stored firewood for insect infestations. Remember not to use or move firewood out of your area to help prevent the spread of invasive insects like the Emerald Ash Borer. It’s illegal to move firewood more than 50 miles in NYS.

If you have a rain barrel, drain it before freezing sets in. A good idea to use the water that’s left is to syphon the water out and use it to water house plants during the winter. I attach a hose to the faucet on the rain barrel and run it from the rain barrel into 2 large, covered garbage totes in the basement. Gravity does the work for you and your houseplants will thank you.

Gifts for gardeners:
Lessons from Nature offers gift certificates for Garden Consults or perennials. They are the perfect gift for any gardener. Just contact me for details. I can send the gift certificates to you via email or directly to the person you’re giving it to.

Have a safe and HEALTHY winter!!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
652-2432

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October Gardening Tips

10/1/2020

Dear Gardening Friends,

Here we go with October. The time is going by so fast I feel like I’m living in a time warp. October is a wonderful month for gardening. It’s cooler and hopefully we’ll have more regular rain. The following are some tips for this time of year.

-If you haven’t planted spring bulbs yet it would be advisable to do it soon so the blubs can establish some roots. Technically you can plant any time before the soil freezes, but you’ll have a better chance for a good bloom if you don’t wait that long.

- If you have any plants left outside that you plan to bring in for the winter stop reading these tips and do it now. Seriously, the nights have been cold, and some areas have had frost so there is no time to waste. Be sure to rinse them off well and check for critters before bringing in.

-With the dry weather we’ve had during September the leaves of many plants, especially spring bloomers, have already started dying back. I usually don’t cut many plants back in the fall. The crowns help protect the roots over the winter and provide good habitat for beneficial insects. The exception to this is any plants that have disease. Those should be cut down and removed. Do not compost diseased material. Hosta are another exception. Their leaves turn mushy and get funky, so I cut those back. Hosta come up late in the spring. If you leave some of the bloom stems up, they will overwinter and signal where the plants are in the spring.

-If you had problems with 4-lined plant bug (evidenced by small round brown spots on the leaves) cut those stems back to the crown as the insect lays its eggs in the plant stems.

-Moving perennials now is still possible but not ideal toward the end of the month. Just like the bulbs, perennials need time to develop roots. Anything moved this fall needs to be kept well watered until the ground freezes.

-There is still time to plant trees and shrubs. They are going into dormancy so should do well if kept well watered.

-Weeding is a priority. There are some weeds in my garden that are taller than the perennials! Truth be told I’ve not done much in the garden in the last month and it shows. It’s important to remove the weeds. If they are perennial weeds, they will be much easier to remove than next spring when they will be bigger and nastier. Seed heads from annual weeds removed before they drop seeds prevents a ton of weeding next year.

-As your annuals fade, pull them out roots and all. It’s easier to remove them before the frost
makes them mushy.

-Although fall isn’t the best time to prune many trees and shrubs, any dead or damaged branches should be trimmed. This will eliminate the possibility of them breaking during a winter storm, and damaging home, garage, etc. Any branches that have grown large enough to be in the way or in danger of poking someone in the eye should also be removed.

-If you have little flying fungus gnats in the house all of a sudden, they likely came in in the soil of some plants you brought in to overwinter. Keep the soil on the dry side and that will solve the problem. The larva of the gnats live in the top 2 inches of moist soil. If the soil is dry, that will break the cycle. You can also spray with Neem Oil.

Educational Opportunities:

One of the good things resulting from the pandemic is there are a wealth of educational programs available online. Check Botanical Garden sites, Universities like Cornell and Pen state and some of your favorite authors. I’d suggest staying away from sites selling you products. If you have any questions, I’m just a click away.

Happy Gardening!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
652-2432

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September Gardening Tips

9/1/2020

Dear Gardening Friends,

Here we are in the beginning of September. What a summer this has been! The temperatures are cooling down and we are getting more regular rain. If this weather pattern keeps up it will be time for fall gardening chores. The following are some things you can do:

The first step is to assess what you think needs to be done. I like walking around the
garden with a notebook and writing down ideas of what should be divided, moved, or
eliminated as well as what you’d like to add or change for next year.

Second, I prioritize chores into things to be accomplished this fall and those that can wait
until spring.

Moving and dividing: Due to the wet spring many perennials are extra large, crowding each other, and will need some attention The basic strategy is if it blooms in the spring divide it in the fall and if it blooms in the fall divide it in the spring. This, however, is a generalization that has lots of exceptions. My priorities are to take care of the spring blooming perennials first then see how much time and energy I have left. Signs that a perennial needs to be divided are: overcrowding, reduced blooms, not doing well in that location &/or a “doughnut hole” in the center of the plant which is an indication it needs to be divided. When moving any plant try and get as many of the roots as possible and dig the planting hole no deeper than the root mass but twice as wide. It’s also good to add 1/3 compost to the planting hole to give the soil a nutritional boost. Extra plants can be shared or potted up for use next season.

To winter over potted perennials, you can sink them in the ground and cover them with leaves or put them together in a sheltered area like next to the garage or house and cover with leaves. I have had good luck sinking them in my compost pile. - Other fall chores: It’s a good time to plant trees and shrubs. Check local nurseries for sales. Perennials will be on sale as well. Check sale plants, trees and shrubs carefully for signs of insects and disease. An unhealthy or infested plant is no bargain.

Trees and shrubs, as well as perennials should be planted when they will have at least 4 weeks for their roots to settle in and should be well watered until the soil freezes. This is a good time to cut back stems on plants that are past their prime. If it looks more brown than green you can cut it back. Any diseased plants should be cut back and the cuttings discarded, not put in the compost. It’s not necessary to cut back all the perennials.

Leaving plants with seed heads intact is good food for winter birds. The crowns and leaves of the plants also serve as a protective cover for the plants against temperature changes during the winter. I tend to leave most plants intact for the winter and leave fallen leaves in the garden beds. It’s good for protecting the roots from temperature fluctuations as well as providing necessary winter habitat for many beneficial insects and their larva.

Early September is a good time to bring in annuals for the winter or take cuttings. This should be done BEFORE the nights get cooler and your furnace goes on. It’s also best to take cuttings or bring plants in when they are in their prime. They will not do well after they start diminishing.

Bulbs can be planted now for best results as they will have time to set some roots before winter. That being said, you can technically plant them up until the ground freezes. If you have problems with critters digging up your bulbs, put a square of small gauge chicken wire over the planting hole (under the top surface of soil so it isn’t visible) or you can use pea gravel. The bulbs will grow right through the chicken wire/gravel. Don’t add bone meal to the bulb planting hole as it actually draws critters. If you use any fertilizer mix it into the soil so it doesn’t burn the bulbs.

Lawn care: Fall is a good time to reseed or over-seed your lawn. It’s also a good time to apply fertilizer if your lawn needs it. Applying fertilizer when the lawn is brown and dormant is not advised. Natural fertilizers are much better than chemical fertilizers. However, if you mow high, leave the grass clippings on the lawn and lightly spread some compost over the grass. That’s all you need to do.

Educational Opportunity:

Master Gardener Fall Classes:
The classes will be presented via Zoom and the cost will be $15.00/ class or $40 for all three
classes. Mark your calendar and plan to attend any or all of the following: Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 - 8:00 pm Carol Ann Harlos will present Bulbs and Tubers and Corms, Oh, My! Learn what’s new just in time to plant for a spring show. Wednesday, September 23, 6:30 - 8:00 pm Peggy Koppmann will present Fall Propagation. Autumn is a great time for home gardeners to propagate plants. Learn how to take cuttings of
shrubs and overwinter them. Phyllis Lobbins will discuss the popular Winter Sowing technique
for starting perennials. Gather your milk jugs now.

Saturday, September 26, 6:30 8:00 pm Linda Mayer will present Happy Healthy Houseplants.
Houseplants are the fastest growing area of gardening with new and unusual varieties appearing in nursery centers everywhere. Learn how to keep them happy and healthy.

Register at:
https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/2020_FallGardeningClass_214

Garden Consult:

Late summer is when you can assess your successes and failures and make improvements for next year. What to keep, what to get rid of or what to move. A Garden Consultation can help you decide what worked, what didn’t, why these issues occurred, and what you can do about them. Call or e-mail to set up an appointment.

Happy Gardening!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
652-2432

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July Gardening Tips

7/2/2020

Dear Gardening Friends,

Looks like our unusual weather is continuing. We’ve had wet and now we’re hot and dry. Time to get out the hoses. The following are some tips for July:

Unfortunately, I’ve already found a few Japanese beetles. If you get the first ones you will decrease the total amount that find you. Get out a container with a few inches of soapy water and knock the little buggers in. Gives me great satisfaction. For more info: https://blogs.cornell.edu/willow/files/2014/10/Japanese-Beetle-Popillia-japonica-fact-sheet-16vi6b4.pdf

Another insect I’ve had a lot of evidence of is 4 lined plant bug. It’s a small yellow and black striped true bug that has a piercing mouth part that leaves small round dark circles in the leaves. Fortunately, this doesn’t damage the plants, but it is unsightly. They lay their eggs in the stems of the effected plants so at the end of the season cutting down those stems helps reduce the infestation next year. For more info: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/four-lined-plant-bug/

Watch for signs of fungal disease like powdery mildew and begin treatment with an environmentally safe fungicide specific to your problem. Remove affected leaves and disinfect your pruner and hands before moving to another plant. Fungal disease can be diminished by giving the plants good air circulation. With the hot weather watering will be very important especially for new plants that were planted or transplanted this season. They do not have root systems established and will need supplemental watering.

For garden watering in general take a trowel or shovel and make a divot down 6 inches. If it’s dry down at the root zone it’s time to water. You can’t tell just by the dryness of the surface soil. In this heat with intense sun the standard 1 inch of water a week may not be enough. It’s much better to water deeply less often that daily shallow watering. The water has to reach the root zone. Pots are another story. Most will need daily watering if they are in the sun. If you fertilize your plants, it’s best to do it when the soil is moist.

Natural fertilizers are much better for the plants and soil than chemical ones. Chemical fertilizers contain salts which kill the natural microbes in the soil which are what feed the plants. Moving plants this late in the season is not advised. Wait till the fall which is an ideal time for moving and adding plants, trees and shrubs. If any of you are having problems with the lily leaf beetle (a small red beetle on true lilies) try a squirt of Dawn dish liquid in a spray bottle of water. A few people have said that helps. I’ve seen them on tricyrtis (toad lily) this year so check out those as well. For more information check: http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2001/07/cornell-cooperative-extension-master-gardeners-spot-invasive-unpleasant-beetles-new

Then there’s weeding… Just when you think you’re finished more pop up. Try and keep up or at least remove or deadhead weeds before they drop seed. If you haven’t mulched this will help control the weeds.

The deer tick population is increasing as has the incidence of Lymes disease. People are finding them in their gardens. Wherever there are deer and black footed mice there is a chance of ticks. For complete information and suggestions check out the Department of Health in Erie County’s website: http://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=ticks-lyme-disease. It has a video of how to remove a tick and info on how to prevent as well as identify.

Gardening events in July:

Even though Garden Walk Buffalo and most of the weekend community garden walks have been canceled Open Gardens on Thursday and Friday are still happening. My gardens are open on Fridays from 10-2. Please stop by. Masks and safe distancing will be required.

Garden Walk Buffalo and the East Side Garden Walk are sharing gardens differently in 2020 with a program called Garden Views.
Activities will happen every day in July and will include strolling by front yard gardens, seeing backyard gardens on video, hearing live gardening experts and hearing garden stories all virtually. For information and schedules go to https://www.gardensbuffaloniagara.com/ or buffaloniagaragardening,com

Master Gardener Online Garden Fence Chats
Join our CCE Erie Master Gardener hotline volunteers as we host virtual hotline hours or ‘Garden Fence Chats’ which are now held Monday and Wednesdays at 10 AM instead of daily. Monday’s chat is on a specific topic and the Wednesday chat covers what’s happening in our gardens.

REGISTER FOR GARDEN FENCE CHATS HERE https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/vpYvcu6trTspMthpDqjMUzrOiSoFqWp1eQ?fbclid=IwAR3qWjL-oua5i7Sjqm6y6lXaanBXl1inS_GOQu3wfjUjA0KaGwZSTrsvGdU

This will be an opportunity to chat with Master Gardener hotline volunteers real time and share your gardening questions either by phone or the computer. The link above will also list the topics for Mondays. They are also listed on Buffalo-niagaragardening.com.

Don’t forget to contact me for a garden consult. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices as well as save you time and money! It’s not too late for improvements.

Happy Gardening!
Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz
652-2432

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June 2020 Gardening Tips

6/9/2020

Dear Gardening Friends,

First, I want to thank all of you who ordered plants from my plant sale last month. It was very successful, but I missed seeing everyone at the sale. Hopefully, next year we will be back to normal.

It’s JUNE How did that happen?! I know this cold snap is temporary, but it still feels like March to me. One of the lessons learned from the extreme weather swings we’ve had over the last 3 months is that nature survives. We may have lost some things to the heavy freeze in May and had transplants wilt in the extreme heat last week, but overall plants survive.

I was fascinated at how fast the trees leafed out during that hot week. Some of my ferns grew seemingly overnight. Others are not even up yet, and I’m concerned. Yet, looking at gardens they seem lush and green. We are lucky we have our gardens to distract us during these difficult times.

The following are some tips for this time of year.

There are quite a few things happening in the garden based on all the rain we’ve had. One of which is the plants are growing lush and large. Good air circulation is helpful in preventing fungal disease so you may need to cut back on some plants that are crowding each other.

Another resulting factor of the moist soil is slugs. In my garden I have been experiencing an over abundance of the little buggers. There are many products on the market that are not toxic, yet effective at getting rid of slugs. I hand pick everyone I see but with gloves or a paper towel. The slug slime is extremely difficult to wash off your hands. I can attest to this firsthand! Once you make that mistake you won’t do it again.

Watch out for any insect issues you have had in the past. As soon as you notice damage, take action. Identify what the insect is and research the best and most ecological way to deal with it. It’s much easier to control at the onset than once a lot of damage is done.

With the cooler weather I am still dividing and moving some perennials. Once they get large or form flower buds it’s best not to disturb them. This will probably be my last week for moving plants.

If you do move a plant, protect it from the intense sun for a few days to prevent the plant from wilting. It’s a major shock for a plant to be uprooted and in combination with the intensity of the sun this time of year, shade helps reduce the shock. Bushel baskets work well, empty plastic planting pots, boxes, even an umbrella works.

The deer tick population is increasing as has the incidence of Lymes disease. People are finding them in their gardens. Wherever there are deer and black footed mice there is a chance of ticks. For complete information and suggestions check out the Department of Health in Erie County’s website: http://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=ticks-lyme-disease. It has a video of how to remove a tick and info on how to prevent as well as identify.

Educational Opportunity:
Master Gardener Online Garden Fence Chats
Join our CCE Erie Master Gardener hotline volunteers as we host virtual hotline hours or ‘Garden Fence Chats’ Monday –Friday via Zoom from 10:00 am to noon.
REGISTER FOR GARDEN FENCE CHATS HERE https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/vpYvcu6trTspMthpDqjMUzrOiSoFqWp1eQ?fbclid=IwAR3qWjL-oua5i7Sjqm6y6lXaanBXl1inS_GOQu3wfjUjA0KaGwZSTrsvGdU
This will be an opportunity to chat with Master Gardener hotline volunteers real time and share your gardening questions either by phone or the computer. The link above will also list the topics for the week. They are also listed on Buffalo-niagaragardening.com.
We will open each day with a short presentation covering a timely topic or frequently asked question and then keep the line open for people to call-in or virtually stop-by with questions. Come hear from your garden friends what is happening in their gardens and what they are learning.

We reuse pots so please drop off left over pots and trays at my home, 170 Pine St (driveway on Lawrence) or 37 N. Union in Wmsvl. (behind the house by back door). I do not use 6 packs or pots smaller than 4 inches. THANKS!

Don’t forget to contact me for a garden consult. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices as well as save you time and money! It’s not too late for improvements.

Happy Gardening!

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May 2020 Garden Tips Pt 1

4/29/2020

Dear Gardening Friends,
I’m so glad April will be over and am hoping May will be more hospitable for garden work. It seems to me I got more done in the garden in March than April. Maybe March was really April and April was March. At least it seemed that way.

News about my plant sale and a Master Gardener opportunity are at the end of these tips.

Hard to believe but we still must be patient as the soil is cold and wet. The following are some tips for May:

One big issue that requires patience is waiting until your perennials come up before walking in the beds or starting to dig. Unless you know exactly where every perennial is, it is safer to wait until they show up. It is so tempting to step into a bed to get at that weed but resist! I have crushed crowns of plants with my feet and/or dug into them by not waiting to see where they are.

If your soil is workable (not so wet that it forms a clump in your hand) you can transplant perennials that are already in your garden. They are acclimated to the weather and should be fine.

It’s way too soon to put out any nursery grown perennials or annuals. Our nights continue to be well below 50. Plants from greenhouses haven’t been acclimated to outside temperatures. If the cooler weather continues it may be the end of May before it’s safe to put out tender annuals.

Weeding should be a priority. There are a few weeds to watch out for that are starting to bloom now.

-          Lesser celandine is another weed that is in full bloom now. This is an extremely invasive plant that unfortunately is very pretty. It’s a short (2-3 inch) ground cover with heart shaped waxy green leaves and bright yellow flowers. It dies in back in early summer like a tulip or daffodil so you must weed them out now before you can no longer see them. These do not pull up easily, so you must be sure to dig out all the roots and the very small bulbs at the end of the roots. Luckily, they are in bloom so will be easy to find. For more information and pictures go to:http://www.nyis.info/index.php?action=invasive_detail&id=71

Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden Annual Native and Perennial Plant Sale.

            Many of you have inquired about our annual plant sale. Obviously, we won’t be able to have our regular plant sale due to the covid 19 restrictions. Instead we will both be having a sale by pre-order and pre-pay with pick up the week of May 25-30.

            I will send out a list of available plants the second week of May. All orders will be first come first served. I will indicate which plants I have a lot of and which ones only a few. Prices vary according to the size of the division so I will include price ranges as well. Email me your order and I will let you know the cost. Then you can mail me a check and I will prepare your order. ALL ORDERS MUST BE PRE-PAID.
Plants from Amanda’s Garden can be ordered by email or phone:You can check the website for plant lists:  www.amandasnativeplants.com
ellen@amandasnativeplants.com
(585)750-6288

Amanda's Garden Native Perennial Nursery specializes in locally grown  native plants for woodlands, meadows and wetlands. These will also be available for pick up at the same week here at my home in E Aurora. Order by checking plants on Amanda's Garden website and email your order. Ellen will email you an invoice for pre-paying.

All my plants are dug fresh from my garden and those from Amanda’s Garden are started from seed by Ellen. Foltz, the owner. I will also have a selection of hypertufa containers, draped concrete planters and birdbaths.
Master Gardener Online Garden Fence ChatsGet Ready for Spring!Join our CCE Erie Master Gardener hotline volunteers as we host virtual hotline hours or ‘Garden Fence Chats’ Monday –Friday via Zoom from 10:00 am to noon.

REGISTER FOR GARDEN FENCE CHATS HERE:

https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/vpYvcu6trTspMthpDqjMUzrOiSoFqWp1eQ?fbclid=IwAR3qWjL-oua5i7Sjqm6y6lXaanBXl1inS_GOQu3wfjUjA0KaGwZSTrsvGdU

This will be an opportunity to chat with Master Gardener hotline volunteers real time and share your gardening questions either by phone or the computer.

We will open each day with a short 10-15 minute presentation covering a timely topic or frequently asked question and then keep the line open for people to call-in or virtually stop-by with questions. Come hear from your garden friends what is happening in their gardens and what they are learning.

Our Garden Fence Chat space will be staffed by Master Gardener volunteers and our Consumer Horticulture Educator

Garden Consults: Done at a safe distance with masks.
A Garden Consult can help identify plants, problems, and improve your garden and gardening practices. This will save you time and money.

Happy Gardening!

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May 2020 Gardening Tips Pt 2

4/29/2020

Dear Gardening Friends,This is a special edition of our Garden Tips to bring you up to date on a few things. First how to handle this frigid weather. This is a perfect example of NOT gardening according to the calendar, rather following natures lead.

If you have planted anything recently or have a small tree or shrub coming into bloom, it will need to be protected on the nights frost is expected. You can use a towel, blankets, light plastic, cardboard boxes, even garden pots inverted over the plants. Covers should be removed in the morning.
Don’t plant or move anything now until the weather warms up. If you have purchased plants keep them in a sheltered place. You can keep them in the garage overnight and bring them out during the day.
If you have any frost damage it doesn’t mean the whole plant is lost. If there are browned tips on your daylilies or other plants, you can just prune the browned parts off. This works for buds that were zapped as well. On woody plants, shrubs and trees the leaves may regenerate so give them some time before pruning.
Hang in and hopefully next week will be better!!

Now for some good news!!

The WNY Land Conservancy is offering a FREE online talk by Doug Tallamy author of Bringing Nature Home. He is one of the people who has made the biggest ecological impact on home gardening. Info and registration info is below.

Upcoming Plant Sale:

            Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Garden Native and Perennial Plant Sale.
            170 Pine St., E Aurora, corner of Pine & Lawrence.

Obviously, we won’t be able to have our regular plant sale due to the covid 19 restrictions. Instead we will both be having a sale by pre-order and pre-pay with pick up at my home the week of May 25-30.

            I will send out a list of available plants AFTER the second week of May. Due to the cold weather many things aren’t up yet! All orders will be first come first served. I will indicate which plants I have a lot of and which ones only a few. Prices vary according to the size of the division so I will include price ranges as well. Email me your order and I will let you know the cost. Then you can mail me a check and I will prepare your order. ALL ORDERS MUST BE PRE-PAID.
Plants from Amanda’s Garden can be ordered by email or phone:You can check the website for plant lists:  www.amandasnativeplants.com
ellen@amandasnativeplants.com
(585)750-6288

Amanda's Garden   Native Perennial Nursery specializes in locally grown  native plants for woodlands, meadows and wetlands. These will also be available for pick up at the same week here at my home in E Aurora. Order by checking plants on Amanda's Garden website and email your order. Ellen will email you an invoice for pre-paying.

All my plants are dug fresh from my garden and those from Amanda’s Garden are started from seed by Ellen. Foltz, the owner. I will also have a selection of hypertufa containers, draped concrete planters and birdbaths.

Educational Opportunity:

On Wednesday, May 13th from 7:00-8:30 p.m., the WNY Land Conservancy will present a very special evening with renowned writer and native plant gardening expert, Doug Tallamy, who Edward O. Wilson calls "one of the most original and persuasive present-day authors on conservation."

In his new book, Nature’s Best Hope, Tallamy urges homeowners to turn their yards into conservation corridors that provide wildlife habitats. During this free, virtual event, you will learn practical, effective, and easy steps for taking environmental action in your own yard.

There will not be a live Q&A, but if you have questions for Doug, email them to Kyle Semmel, communications manager, at ksemmel@wnylc.org prior to the event.

Preregistration is required. To register go to: info@wnylc.org
  Master Gardener Online Garden Fence Chats

Join our CCE Erie Master Gardener hotline volunteers as we host virtual hotline hours or ‘Garden Fence Chats’ Monday –Friday via Zoom from 10:00 am to noon.
REGISTER FOR GARDEN FENCE CHATS HERE   https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/vpYvcu6trTspMthpDqjMUzrOiSoFqWp1eQ?fbclid=IwAR3qWjL-oua5i7Sjqm6y6lXaanBXl1inS_GOQu3wfjUjA0KaGwZSTrsvGdU
This will be an opportunity to chat with Master Gardener hotline volunteers real time and share your gardening questions either by phone or the computer.
We will open each day with a short 10-15 minute presentation covering a timely topic or frequently asked question and then keep the line open for people to call-in or virtually stop-by with questions. Come hear from your garden friends what is happening in their gardens and what they are learning.
Our Garden Fence Chat space will be staffed by Master Gardener volunteers and our Consumer Horticulture Educator

Don’t forget to contact me for a garden consult. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices. They can be done with masks, outdoors and with safe distancing.

Stay safe and be well!!!!

Happy Gardening!

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April 2020 Gardening Tips

4/1/2020

Dear Gardening Friends,

I hope you are all staying safe and healthy. During these challenging and difficult times, I am so grateful to have a garden. Even though it’s early and the soil is too wet for many garden chores, I can walk around on the paths and see how things are coming up and have a respite from the outside world. Spring is a time for hope and new life, and we must focus on the fact that we will get through this just like our gardens come back every spring.

Patience is still the word for this spring. Keep in mind it is just the beginning of April even though some of these warm sunny spring days makes it feel like it’s already May. There are many things you can do now that you have the time to prepare for when the garden is in full swing.

- Taking care of your tools is always a good thing to do. Clean, get rid of the rust (I use steel wool) and sharpen your tools. You can even sharpen your shovels. Any blade sharpening tool will work. You can get special sharpeners for pruners and smaller tools. Wooden tool handles can be cleaned with soapy water and a brush. Let dry well then sand down any rough spots and treat with linseed oil. After the shovel has been cleaned and rust removed treat with any oil you have. This coats the blade and helps prevent the spread of rust. You’ll have the best tools in town!

- Clean out containers. Brush off old dirt (I use an old toilet brush) and scrub off the white residue that may be on the outside. Steel wool or a wire brush works for this. Then dip the pot in a 10% Clorox solution. If the container is too are to dip the solution can be sprayed on.

- Start some vegetable, annual or perennial seeds. If you’ve never done this there are lots of directions online. It might be a good year to start a vegetable garden if you have the right site.

- This is a great time to rejuvenate your houseplants. Trim off older or withered leaves and prune for shape if necessary. If the plant has been in the same pot repot it to a larger pot or trim back the roots if you want to keep it in the same size pot. Give your plants a shower getting the spray on the undersides of the leaves as well as the tops. If the plant is too large to move, you can wipe off the leaves with a soft sponge. It’s a perfect time to start cuttings from houseplants also.

- There are probably many weeds that can be reached without walking in the garden beds. Removing weeds always makes you feel better!

- It’s still a good time to prune. Look on line for specific directions on how to prune a particular plant.

- As you observe your garden coming back to life take some notes as to what needs to be done: moving, dividing, removing and planning additions and improvements. I am available for phone consultations but am sheltering in place as advised. Please call or email if you have any questions or concerns. As for my annual plant sale I will just have to wait and see how things are going. I will have plants to sell but may have to do it without a big one-day sale.

Meanwhile stay safe and be healthy!!!!

Happy Gardening!

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