June 2016 Tips

Dear Gardening Friends,   Upcoming Garden Events:                       Lessons from Nature Classes: To register call 652-2432 or e-mail [email protected]             Hypertufa Planter class: Hypertufas are light weight concrete planters. The cost is $30/person including materials. Each person makes 2. The scheduled classes are filled. If you would like to learn to make one let me know as I will be scheduling more classes for June. Check my website: lessonsfromnature.biz, for pictures and details.   Concrete Birdbath and Stepping Stone Class: Make your own garden art birdbaths and stepping stones. The cost is $30/person including materials. Each person makes 2. . If you would like to learn to make these let me know as I will be scheduling classes for June. Check my website: lessonsfromnature.biz, for pictures and details.   Garden Consultation: Now that the perennials are up, it’s an ideal time for a garden consultation. I can help you decide what needs to be moved, divided or removed from your garden. We will cover whatever questions and concerns you have from maintenance to disease and insect control. Just give a call or e-mail.   Lewiston GardenFest: Saturday, June 18 & Sunday, June 19 This June marks the 11th Lewiston GardenFest. Located along Center Street, this year’s Lewiston GardenFest includes demonstrations, a free local garden walk and vendors selling flowers, plants, garden art and more to beautify one’s outdoor space. There is also a container gardening contest which is open to the public. All proceeds from the event are given back to the local community for civic beautification and scholarships.           Buffalo Style Garden Art Sale: June 25 & 26, 10:00 – 5:00. This garden art sale has become so popular it’s been expanded to 2 days and moved to the grounds of the Buffalo Botanical Gardens. There is an expanded Plant Society Avenue where you can get lots of information on a variety of horticultural topics. The Master Gardeners will have a Q&A booth so stop by with any gardening related questions. This year they are also adding a series of short   Garden Tips:        Looks like we’ve skipped June and gone right into July! The following are some tips for this hot, dry start of the summer:   Watering: The dry weather has created a definite need to water.   It’s better to water deeply once or twice a week than a little bit each day. The water needs to penetrate the soil 6-8 inches. That’s where the roots are. Shallow watering evaporates quickly and causes the roots to stay up near the surface, thereby drying out sooner during dry periods. Any newly planted or moved plants should be watered almost daily depending on how much sun they are in. It’s best to water them before they get droopy as drying out saps their strength and makes them weak. Watering is most effective when done early in the morning or when the sun is low in the evening. Most of the water evaporates when you water in the sun. Watering the lawn at this point is not really necessary. Grass will go dormant (turn brown) after a long dry spell and will green up again when the rain returns. Don’t forget to water trees and shrubs. They need water too. Except for newly planted trees and shrubs watering should not be done at the base of the trunk, rather out where the feeder roots are.   Lily Leaf Beetle:  This is a relatively new invasive insect that attacks true lilies (not daylilies). I’ve had them on my lilies this year for the first time although they have been in northern areas for a few years. They are small, under ½ in and bright red. Actually they are a beautiful insect however all stages of the lily leaf beetle eat all parts of a lily plant. Because of their bright color they are easily spotted on leaves. If you see one you can squash it or nock it into a container of soapy water. The eggs are very small, bright orange/red and laid along the veins on the underside of the leaves. They are easily rubbed off. Once hatched, the larva cover themselves with their own feces so look like an oval piece of wet mud. These can be rubbed off (definitely wear gloves). For more information about the lily leaf beetle, pictures and control method go to: https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2450e   Garden chores: Weeding is an ongoing task. Keeping up with it is easier in the long run than letting them go until it’s a major chore. It’s much easier to weed after a rain or watering. Ordinarily June is a good time to divide and move perennials. However, due to the hot dry weather I’m waiting until fall to do some major moving I haven’t yet gotten to. The plants are so big now they won’t react as well to being moved in this weather. Start keeping an eye out for fungal diseases like powdery mildew. Mulching now will really make a difference in reducing weeds and watering needs during the summer. Avoid the new colored wood mulch products. The dyes are not good for the environment and they do nothing to add nutrients to the soil.   Alfred Austin Quote: “The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.”   Happy Gardening! Lyn Chimera Lessons from Nature 170 Pine St., E. Aurora, NY 14052 716-652-2432 [email protected] 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