December 2023 Tips

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.