December '22 Tips

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Dear Gardening Friends,  I hope all of you have a HAPPY, SAFE and HEALTY Holiday season and New Year!!   For those of you who experienced the heavy November snow the following are some tips:   If branches are stuck in the snow, don’t try and pull them out. Let the snow melt and the branches come up naturally. Trying to pull them out can cause damage to the branch. Branches that are broken should be pruned back to where they join a main branch, at the base or where you can see a bud for next year’s growth. Don’t leave stubs. Branches that have been bent over from the weight of the snow should be left to straighten out naturally. This could take a long time so relax and let them straighten out when ready.   One good thing about snow cover is it protects plants from 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!)  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! 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 laves 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. Check online at a ”.edu” site for what to do. 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. 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:   MG Education Day:   MGED is Saturday March 11, 2023 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 3 outstanding presenters:   Paul Zammit – Back by popular demand, one of the top garden speakers in the country will present on Container Gardening Tim Boebel – Author of the definitive book n hydrangeas will speak on  Growing Hydrangeas and Flowering Shrubs Dr. Allison Chatrychyan – from Cornell University will talk about Climate Smart Solutions for the Home Gardener   Save the date. Registration will begin Febuary 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 suggestions: There are a few great books I’d like to suggest giving a fellow gardener or treat yourself:  Nature’s Best Hope, by Doug Tallamy. This book covers a new approach to conservation which starts in your yard.  Deer Resistant Native Plants for the Northeast, by Ruth Rogers Clausen and Gregory Tipper. A wonderful resource for anyone with deer issues. Covers detailed information about each plant. A Lessons from Nature gift certificate for a garden consult or perennials from the plant sale next May.   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 lyn@lessonsfromnature.biz 652-2432 Copyright © 2014 Lessons From Nature, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences  *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*