March 2016 Tips

Dear Gardening Friends,   As I write this it sure seems like spring is on the way. It is just the beginning of March, however, so be cautious. The following are some tips for March.   Pruning:  This is an ideal time to prune trees and shrubs that don’t bloom in early spring.  Those that bloom early like lilac and forsythia already have set blossom buds and should not be pruned until right after they finish blooming. The following are a few more that should NOT be pruned now: deutzia, ninebark, beauty bush, some spireas, weigela and hydrangeas that bloom on old wood.  Shrubs that bloom in summer or fall CAN be pruned now. The ideal time is before the buds start opening. These include; rose of Sharon, bright stemmed dogwoods,privet, and hydrangeas that bloom on new wood.  If you are unsure of when to prune check the specific plant on line at an “.edu” web site.  Dead wood can be removed at any time along with weak branches, suckers, and branches that are rubbing or in the way.  Contact me if you would like a consultation on how and what to prune. We can work through it together.   Spring Clean-up:  Reminder - Stepping on wet soil causes compaction which damages the soil structure by removing air pockets where roots can grow. If you leave a foot print, stay off.  Picking up sticks and raking other debris off the lawn is a good early season chore. Just don’t walk on the lawn when it’s wet and soggy.  It’s good to rake up grit from road edges. That contains a lot of salt and road chemicals so the sooner you get it up the better.  Since the prediction is for a warm March I have started selective mulch/leaf removal. Areas where bulbs and early bloomers are will be removed first.  When raking leaves off the perennial beds it’s good to lightly rake off the leaves, leaving a few as a light protection in case we get some freezing temps.   Transplanting and Dividing:   Early spring is a good time AS LONG AS THE SOIL IS WORKABLE.  If the soil is too wet it will stay in a clump in your hand after squeezing it. If it crumbles apart then it’s OK to work in. Soil that is clumpy won’t settle around the roots well, leaving air pockets which dry out the roots.  Signs that a perennial needs to be divided are: die off in the middle of the plant (called a doughnut hole), diminished bloom, weak stems or getting to large for the spot. Most perennials benefit from division every 3-5 years.  It’s best to wait until the crowns of the plant start to grow so you can tell where they are.  Dig out far enough from the plant crown to include the roots and remove the whole clump. If the clump is large you can divide it into sections with a sharp shovel or sturdy knife.  When replanting, prepare the planting hole by adding 1/3 compost to the existing soil.  Make sure to keep any transplanted perennials well watered through the season.   Upcoming Garden Events:   WNED has produced a gardening show Garden Wisdom For WNY & Southern Ontario. I am very pleased to have been a part of this excellent program. It will be aired during the March Pledge drive. The premiere episode is 3/9 which will unfortunately be after you get this newsletter. However the program will be repeated 3/18 at 11:30, 3/19 at 9:30 and 3/26 at 4:30. If you enjoy the program please give your feedback to WNED, perhaps they will produce more gardening programming.   Erie County Master Gardeners Annual Spring Bloom classes:   Same 3 topics at both locations: Nuisance Wildlife Solutions, Plant Propagation, Landscape Design. 8:30 – 2:15 – bring your own lunch. I’ll be teaching the session on Critter Control. It’s an excellent day, hope to see you there.   April 9, 2016   Unitarian Universalist Church 695 Elmwood Avenue Buffalo, NY   April 16, 2016 CCE East Aurora 21 Grove Street East Aurora, NY   To register contact CCE Master Gardener Program, (716) 652-5400, x177, or http://erie.cce.cornell.edu   Plantasia:   Plantasia will be held March 30 – April 3 at the Hamburg Events Center (Hamburg Fair Grounds). It’s always a great way to kick off the gardening season. I will be doing 2 presentations: Sat. 2nd, 12:00: War on Weeds. Learn to identify the most common weeds and what to do about them.   Sun. 3rd, 11:00: Soil is the Key. Understanding the importance of soil and how to improve yours.   For more information and the full schedule of events go to: www.plantasiany.com   Dr. Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home will be speaking at the UB Center for the Arts on Tuesday May 10th at 7:00. This excellent presentation is being sponsored by the WNY Land Conservancy. Tickets are not yet available but will be on sale mid-March. For information: (716) 687-1225 or www.wnylc.org. I have heard him speak a number of times, He is not to be missed. His book is interesting, informative and will change your attitude on gardening!   Garden Consultation:   Now that the season is starting, if you have any questions, concerns or just advice on what to do in your garden, contact me for a consultation. It’s well worth your time.   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