January '23 Tips

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Dear Gardening Friends,  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! We are all ready to start a new year with hopefully no more storms! Mother Nature has sure packed a wallop so far this winter. As I write this the storm is over and the snow is melting quickly. The good thing about all this snow is that the ground is well insulated and protected from the harsh temperatures. The following are some tips. Some are the same as last month due to the continued snow.   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. There are many arbs and other shrubs that are totally bent over. It’s so tempting to try to straighten them but leaving them for now is the best approach. If a whole tree has come over and you can right it and cover the roots wit soil it may survive. You’ll probably have to stake it for support until next summer when the roots have taken hold. Gathering lower branches from discarded Christmas trees makes an excellent winter mulch to protect tender perennials from temperature fluctuation  This is a good time to spend time with your houseplants. Give them a bath to wipe off the accumulated dust and grease. This is especially important for plants in the kitchen where grease is more of an issue. If the plant is small enough, you can take them to the sink and spray them with tepid water. It’s also good to let the water drain through the soil. This helps rinse out accumulated salts. For larger plants you can wipe down the leaves with a mild soapy water cloth or sponge. Then wipe with clear water. Give your plants a haircut. Remove damaged or dead leaves or prune to control size. Check for insects. Sticky residue on leaves or surfaces around the plant is caused by insect droppings. Check the plant carefully to see what insect is there. The most common are aphids, spider mites, white fly or scale. To help in ID check “houseplant pests” on the Cornell website. The site will also have suggestions for control. January is when many of us start dreaming of spring and gardening. It’s a good time to plan for improvements and changes. Make a list of what worked and what didn’t then list ideas for what to do next season. There are some great educational opportunities coming up that can help in your planning.   Communities in Bloom Classes (February 2023)   We’re offering a day of 2 great gardening topics on 2 days at two locations. BOTH DAYS WILL BE THE SAME PROGRAMS, just the location changes. The first will be held on February 11 at The Parkside Lodge in Buffalo near the Zoo & the second offering on February 25 at Cornell Cooperative Extension in E Aurora. Both days are the same schedule:   9:00 am – 10:30 am - Resources for Home Composting & Soil Testing, Discover a variety of methods for composting, how easy and important it is to improve your soil and the role of soil testing in successful gardening. 10:45 am – 12:15 pm - Getting Ready for Spring, covering what to do with plants you’ve overwintered, and easy at home methods for making more plants from what you have.   Advanced registration for the program is required. The cost for these events is $30 for MGs and $35 for the public. The day begins with registration from 8:30 – 9:00 a.m. To register contact Cornell Cooperative Extension 652-5400, ext:176 or online at: mgerie@cornell.edu.     Master Gardener Education Day:     The annual 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 on 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. Just thinking of spring and seeing beautiful plant photos is uplifting for winter blahs. Registration information will be in the Feb. Garden Tips.     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|*