February 2026 Tips

Dear Gardening Friends,   What a month January has been! It started out warmer than usual with some beautiful days. (Can you even remember that?). However, the last few weeks have been wintry to say the least. For a change it has affected the whole region not just the south towns. There are advantages to a solid snow cover. It’s a protective blanket to prevent temperature fluctuations which can damage plants and their roots. Think of it as Mother Natures protective covering. At these below freezing temps many plants would have been damaged without the protective snow cover.   Tips for this wintry weather:    Luckily, it’s been cold enough that the snow has been light and fluffy for the most part. This makes it easier to gently shake the snow from branches. If branches are lodged in the snow just leave them or if the snow is frozen on the branch, it’s best to leave it. Once the snow melts’ they will lift up by themselves.   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, plants, and the environment in general. Check the contents of any product you use.   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 as well! It’s a little more effort, but worth it.   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. Most places that sell garden supplies have sharpeners. You can use steel wool to remove rust and Goo Gone to remove the sticky sap build up. Don’t forget to clean and sharpen shovels also. It makes a huge difference, and your tools will last a lifetime.   Pruning:   Late winter is a good time to prune. Any day that’s nice enough to work outside is fine. It’s not too early. First check for wind/storm damaged or dead branches. If you can’t tell if a branch is dead scrape a little of the soft bark. If there is green under, the branch it’s alive. It’s best to remove torn or broken branches. A nice clean pruning cut is much easier for the tree/shrub to heal in the spring.   The ideal time to prune non spring blooming trees & shrubs is while they are still dormant, and their buds have not begun opening. Anything that blooms in the spring should be pruned AFTER they bloom.   Usually, spring pruning can be done well into March. Once the buds start to open it’s past the ideal time. Some years that was May! It all depends on the weather. If you don’t get to it before the buds open you won’t kill the plant.   The basic pruning rule is don’t leave stubs. Make clean cuts close to a bud, branch divide or outside the branch collar on the trunk. Sharpen and clean those pruners and loppers before starting. It really makes a difference.   For details on pruning specific plants check online at an “.edu” site or contact me for a pruning consultation.   Annual Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale: The Soil & Water Conservation annual seedling sale is available for ordering now. This is a great way to get inexpensive tree and shrub seedings. The sale runs through mid April with pickup mid April-May. Order early as some things sell out. Go to their website (below) for order forms and compete information on what’s available and how to plant seedlings.   https://www.ecswcd.org/html/treeshrub.html   Educational Opportunities: There are lots of events coming up that will help you learn and get into the mood for spring.   The 20th Annual Community in Bloom Classes: There will be two different topics each day. Cost is $25 per day. Registration is required. To register go to: erie.cce.cornell.edu/events or contact [email protected] or (716) 652-5400 ext176. Time: 9:00 - 11:45 AM. Registration starts at 8:30 AM. Sat., Feb 14, E Aurora Senior Center: Garden Design Using Native Plants Incorporating Native Plants into Your Garden   Sat. Feb 28th, E Aurora Senior Center What’s Wrong with My Houseplants? Pests In Your Garden MG Education Day:   This year MGED is Saturday March 7, 2026 at Classics V Banquet Center on Niagara Falls Blvd. The day runs from 9:00 – 3:00 including continental breakfast and a hot lunch buffet. Cost: $60. Those of you who have attended in the past know what a fun and educational day this is. We have 3 outstanding presenters:   Dan Degal, owner Plantsman Nursery “Understanding Cultivars, Nativars and Native Species” Nell Gardner, owner Flower Fields “Flowers Gone Wild: A Bounty of Bouquets in a Landscape of Beauty” Carl Schimenti, Urban Environmental Scientist at Cornell University School of Integrated Plant Science “Good, Better, Best Approaches to Urban Green Space Management” Trust me, you won’t want to miss this amazing fun day. To register go to: erie.cce.cornell.edu/events or contact [email protected] or (716) 652-5400 ext176. Garden Consult: It’s not too early to start planning for spring gardening, changes and improvements. Just contact me for an appointment to get a head start on the season.       Happy Gardening! Lyn Chimera Lessons from Nature 170 Pine St. E. Aurora, NY 14052 [email protected] 716-652-2432         Copyright © 2023 Lessons From Nature, All rights reserved. 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