February 2019 Tips

Dear Gardening Friends, It looks like our weird winter weather is continuing. We’ve had a little bit of everything this winter. The following are some tips for late winter in the garden. Pruning: - Usually this would be a good time to prune but with the  probability of more freezing weather I would suggest waiting till the temperatures moderate a little, especially for shrubs. If you prune now and we get a bout of freezing temps it may cause some die back on the newly pruned stems which you would need to be pruned back come spring. - The exception to this is any tree or shrub that has been damaged or broken. Those branches should be removed. - The ideal time to prune non spring blooming trees & shrubs is while they are still dormant and their buds have not begun opening. - For details on pruning specific plants check on line or contact me for a pruning consultation. Garden Chores: - If you are having ice build-up in driveways and sidewalks be cautious of what you use to melt the ice. Salt can be very damaging to the soil and lethal for some plants. - It would be wise to shovel the black nasty salt laden “gunk” in the driveway somewhere other than garden beds. My back garden abuts the driveway so this is always an issue for me. I used to wonder why the plants along the drive never did well! It’s a little more effort, but worth it. - This has been a huge year for deer damage. If you have some shrubs that are being eaten, a quick way to protect them is to drape some heavy gauge deer netting right over them. The deer are spooked when their nose hits the mesh. - With all the temperature fluctuations this winter there is bound to be some heaving of plants. Do not just step on the root base to reposition them. If the soil is not frozen carefully dig the uprooted plant back into the soil and cover with mulch for added protection. If the soil is too frozen to replant use a thick covering of mulch (leaves work well) to protect the roots until replanting is possible. - It’s a good time to pick up sticks and debris. Just be mindful of walking on the soft soil. - If you didn’t clean and sharpen your tools last fall now is a perfect time. They will be ready to go when you need them in the spring. Houseplants: - Now is a good time to spend some time with your houseplants. A mid- winter “shower” in the sink or bath tub would wash off the accumulated dust and make for a healthier plant. - Now that the days are getting longer you can resume a light plant food application. If you use fertilizer look for a natural rather than chemical formula. Just read the ingredients. - You can also start spring repotting houseplants that have become pot bound. If the water drains right through when you water it or if the roots are pushing the plant out of the pot, those are good signs that the plant is pot bound. - Another sign to indicate repotting is crusty salt build up on the top of the soil. This residue may be on the outside of terra cotta pots as well. The pots can be scrubbed off before repotting. - Also check for aphids, mealybugs and other houseplant pests. A good soapy water bath is a solution to many problems. Educational Opportunities: There are lots of events coming up that will help you learn and get into the mood for spring. MG Education Day: Saturday March 16, 2019 at Classics V on Niagara Falls Blvd., 9-3. The cost is, $45 for MG’s out of county and $55 for the public. Hot buffet lunch included. There will also be an excellent basket raffle and door prizes. This year there are 3 excellent speakers who you won’t want to miss. These topics will help you with your major gardening issues, soil, insects and critter damage. Register on line at: https://reg.cornell.edu or call Jolie at CCE, 652-5400 ext: 176. We anticipate another sold out event so get your tickets soon. Managing Munching Mammals by: Dr. Paul Curtis, from Cornell If you’ve ever had a problem with deer, rabbits, woodchucks, moles, voles and other furry critters this program is for you Get the Dirt on Soil by Bob Shindelbeck, from Cornell Healthy soil is the key to having a healthy garden and landscape. Learn what healthy soil really means and how to achieve it. What’s Bugging Your Garden: The Good, the Bad and the Not So Ugly by Dr. Wayne Gall Insects are a necessary part of life yet we often love to hate them. Dr. Gall will show us how to identify the “good guys”, i.e. beneficial insects and what to do about the “bad guys” in our gardens and landscape. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this amazing and fun day. Plantasia: March 21-24 at the Hamburg Fairgrounds. This is the WNY premier garden and landscape show. It includes demonstration gardens, vendors, free educational seminars, hands on activities for children and much more. I’ll be giving 2 seminars: Landscaping Do’s and Don’ts, 3/21 at 1:00 and Spring Gardening Made Easy, 3/22 at 12:00. For a full listing of events go to: https://plantasiany.com/ Japanese Stilt Grass Information Update : Aurora Senior Center, 101 King Street, EA. Monday Feb 25th , 6:00 – 7:30. FREE Learn about this new invasive grass from WNY PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) For more information go to: www.wnyprism,org . Bonsai Presentation: E. Aurora Public Library, March 21, 6:00, FREE Learn about Bonsai from the WNY Bonsai Soc. If you want to learn how to prune or get a jump on planning for this season’s garden, contact me for a garden consult. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices. 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