• Home
  • Consulting & Coaching
  • Programs
  • Gardening Events
  • Articles & Tips
  • Book
  • Contact Me
  • Home
  • Consulting & Coaching
  • Programs
  • Gardening Events
  • Articles & Tips
  • Book
  • Contact Me
Lessons from Nature
  • Home
  • Consulting & Coaching
  • Programs
  • Gardening Events
  • Articles & Tips
  • Book
  • Contact Me

    Author

    Lyn Chimera is a Master Gardener, consultant and lecturer.

    Categories

    All
    Annual Plant Sale
    Article
    Gardening Tips

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    RSS Feed

Back to Blog

December 2023 Tips

12/1/2023

 
Click to set custom HTML

Dear Gardening Friends, 


I hope all of you have a HAPPY, SAFE and HEALTHY Holiday season and New Year!! Let’s hope for a good upcomming garden season.
 
Mother Nature came through with some rain at the end of November which will help our trees, shrubs and plants get through the winter. A good snow cover will also help protect plants by keeping the soil from freezing and thawing with temperature fluctuations. If there is a lack of consistent snow cover, it’s important to protect your plants from these 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 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 that works well. So, take advantage of this free resource. (Just don’t collect from my neighborhood!)
  • Large pine boughs can also be used around small shrubs to keep the deer from munching. Simply stick the stems in the ground so the boughs are upright and cover the sides and top of the shrub. Works like a charm, it’s free and easy to do.
  •  Straw can be used as winter mulch 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!
 
Houseplants: This is the time of year when some houseplants are probably needing a little attention along with any annuals you are wintering over.
 
  • Trim off yellowing/ browning leaves or branches.
  • Give your plants a shower to wash off the dust. Either in the sink or tub. The leaves of larger plants can be wiped down with a natural sponge or damp 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. I just discovered some mealy bugs on one plant and will examine all the plants carefully. Check online at a”.edu” site for what to do with a particular pest.
  • If your plant has a white crusty residue on the soil or water runs right through the pot when you water, the plant should be repotted later in the winter when the days get longer. Use a good lightweight potting mix. Meanwhile, you can scrape the crusty soil off and cover with some fresh potting soil. 
  • It’s best to wait on repotting and taking cuttings of overwintering annuals or houseplants until late Feb. Right now, they are resting for the winter and best not to disturb their “nap”.
 
Educational Opportunities:
 
MG Education Day: save the date!

 
This year MGED is Saturday March 8, 2025 at Classics V Banquet Center. Those of you who have attended in the past know what a fun and educational day this is. We have 2 outstanding presenters:
 
Kim Eierman - environmental horticulturist and landscape designer specializing in ecological landscapes. She is also the author of numerous books. She will give two presenttions:
Keynote: Beyond Sustainability:  Using Our Landscapes as a Source of Environmental Change
Creating a Succession of Bloom in the Native Garden
Margaret Lapp - Director of Planning & Curation - Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. She is also a Landscaper and certified Arborist. Her topic will be:
 Purposeful Plant Selection for Sustainable Garden Design
 
Save the date. Registration will begin January 1st. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this amazing and fun day. More detailed registration information will be in January Garden Tips.
 
     Gift suggestion:
Lessons from Nature gift certificates for  garden consults or perennials from the plant sale next May would be enjoyed by any gardener. Simply contact me and I can email you the gift certificate.
 
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.

Happy gardening!

Lyn Chimera
Lessons from Nature
170 Pine St.
E. Aurora, NY 14052
[email protected]
716- 652-2432
 
Copyright © 2025 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


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
0 Comments
Read More



Leave a Reply.

Proudly powered by Weebly