March 2024 Tips

Dear Gardening Friends,  It sure has been a strange winter and looks like spring is trying to come early. The following are some Gardening Tips.               -The tree and shrub buds have started swelling from all the warm weather, so pruning is a perfect job to do now. It should be done before the buds open.   Before starting any pruning chores clean and sharpen your tools. It makes a HUGE difference. If pruners and loppers are sticky and don’t open and close smoothly rubbing alcohol will loosen and remove the gummy substance. If the pruners/loppers come apart easily that is the best way to clean them. Sharpening pruners/loppers is also essential for clean cuts that don’t damage or tear the branches. Most blade sharpening tools will work although there are sharpeners made specially for pruners and loppers. Steel wool helps remove rusty sections on pruners and shovels. Try using the blade sharpener on your shovels too. It makes a huge difference. It’s not too early to prune non spring flowering shrubs. Spring flowering shrubs should be pruned after they bloom. Broken or snapped branches should be pruned off back to the main trunk or nearest branch. DON’T LEAVE STUBS. That’s a basic rule of pruning. Make cuts just over the place where a bud is coming out or if it’s a branch make the cut just outside the branch collar. (a rough section of bark where one branch joins the trunk) Dead or damaged branches can be removed anytime along with branches that are in the way. Also check for branches that are crossing each other and creating a wound from the rubbing. There seems to be a lot of black knot fungus on flowering cherry and plum trees. It can affect ornamental and fruit bearing trees. The affected sections look like swollen black knots on the branches and should be pruned out 8 inches away from the “knot”. This is a highly contagious fungal disease so don’t ignore it. Disinfect your tools after working on an infected tree. For information go to: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/blackknot.pdf   Other timely tips:   Rake or sweep up the road grit from driveway and road edges. Gently rake up mulch/leaves that may be over areas where bulbs and early perennials like daylilies are poking through. It’s good to leave some leaves as protection for late season snow & frost. We are bound to have some of both before consistently warmer weather arrives. Ornamental grasses should be cut back before the new growth starts so now is a good time. Wear long sleeves as they have “razor” edges which is why deer don’t eat them. This is a perfect time for “wishful thinking”. What changes do you want to make, plants to add, move, divide, or remove? First consider the site, light, type of soil etc. THEN research plants suited to that site. Consider a native plant for the site. It’s too soon to plant or divide perennials. The soil is too wet and cold and who knows what the weather will be like in March. It’s questionable we will be able to do anything other than clean up and prune by the end of the month. If you’ve left plants up from last fall don’t be in a hurry to cut them back. Many beneficial insects overwinter or lay their eggs in the stems and litter around the crown. The same goes for leaf litter in the garden. There are a lot of insects and larva living in the ground litter. Just let it be for now. If you need advice on how to transplant, divide, prune, what to plant etc. contact me for a consultation. It’s going to be interesting to see what March brings. It could be Spring or Winter. Patience is the basic recommendation. We’re all anxious to get going but doing things under the wrong conditions can cause damage.   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.   I’m also available for a pruning consult. You can learn proper pruning techniques so you can do it yourself in the future.   A garden consult or pruning consult will save you time and money in the long run. 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. You're receiving this message because you requested to receive Lessons from Nature newsletters. unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences