January 2026 Tips

Dear Gardening Friends,   As we start the New Year my sincerest wishes for a HAPPY and HEALTHY 2026. Let’s hope it’s a good gardening season as well.   Don’t waste those Christmas Trees. Anything newly planted this past late summer or fall and shallow rooted perennials will need protection from temperature fluctuations which causes heaving of plants.  Pine boughs will do the trick and make an easy mulch. When people discard their Christmas trees, lower branches can be pruned off and placed over plants covering the crowns and root zones. These boughs are easily removed in the spring and discarded. If there is just a little snow you can put the boughs right over the snow where the plant is. Boughs can also be piled in your yard to offer shelter and cover for birds. This works with the whole tree as well.   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, outside of the pot 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 the soil surface and cover with some fresh potting soil. Crusty residue on the outside            of pots can be scrubbed off. This is caused by leaching salts residue. 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”.   January is when we start getting all those gardening catalogues and dream of the spring to come. Catalogues can be very informative about plant types and their growing conditions. Pay close         attention and don’t order a plant because it looks beautiful in the catalogue. Carefully match the    plant’s growing conditions to those that exist in your garden including final size.   Also, if you’re looking for native plants, pay careful attention to the botanical names. Plants with an   English name attached to the Latin, ( ex: Echinacea purpura- Orange Blossom) are usually            cultivars. Many popular plants like coneflower have been modified for color, size and even shape of    petals. If you’re planting natives to support nature the straight species is always best. Many              cultivars are sterile which means they don’t make pollen, nectar, or seed. Basically, they may look        pretty but don’t feed nature.   If you’re interested in improving your gardening, you will want to attend one or both of the upcoming  Master Gardener events listed below.   Spring Bloom Classes:   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 Boquets 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 and fun day. To register go to:       erie.cce.cornell.edu/events or contact [email protected] or (716) 652-5400 ext176. Happy Gardening!!! Lyn Chimera 170 Pine St. E Aurora, NY 14052 716-652-2432 [email protected]               Copyright © 2023 Lessons From Nature, All rights reserved. You're receiving this message because you requested to receive Lessons from Nature newsletters. unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences