May 2023 Tips

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Dear Gardening Friends,    Don’t know about you but I’m ready to turn the page on April. The good thing about the cooler weather is the spring blooms have been fabulous and lasting a long time. Don’t be concerned about some perennials that haven’t shown themselves yet. The cooler weather has delayed some plants. Because of this be super careful where you step and especially dig.   The following are a few tips for May:   Patience is still the best approach. The soil is quite cold and it’s way too soon to even think about planting annuals. Hopefully by mid to end May. If you are tempted and purchase plants that can’t be planted now, keep them in a sheltered place. If the annuals are in flats spread them out so there is good air circulation. Storing them crowded in a flat invites fungal disease. If you leave a footprint on the soil that’s a sign the soil is too wet to work in. It’s easy to compact the soil with every footfall so stay off until things dry out. It’s helpful to have paths or steppingstones in gardens so you can navigate without harming the soil. If a path isn’t appropriate a few rocks or steppingstones placed appropriately are practical and attractive.   I’ve started moving and dividing some perennials. Early May is an ideal time to divide or move perennials already in your gardens. Signs they need dividing are: overcrowding, lower bloom the previous season, and if plant has a bare spot in the center known as the donut hole. If after 3 years in a location a plant isn’t thriving, try moving it to a more suitable spot or share it with a friend. However, don’t move perennials when the soil is too wet. “Workable” soil means the soil will break apart easily after you make it into a ball in your hand. Clumpy soil won’t settle around the roots well and cause air pockets which can dry out the roots.   Weeding should be a priority. Perennial weeds are up now and will be much easier to remove when small. If removed now you also prevent the weed from developing seeds and spreading even more.    The soil is still much too cold to plant greenhouse grown perennials, annuals, and vegetables. Wait until the soil is above 50 degrees. As an example, tomatoes planted too soon don’t do as well as those planted at the end of May. Remember Patience! The final average frost isn’t until late May so don’t get fooled by a few warm days. There are lots of deer and critter sprays available. Basically, there are two types, those that smell bad or taste bad. I always prefer the smelly types as I don’t want deer to munch a bit before they realize it tastes bad. It stinks while you’re spraying but dissipates by the next day. There are also products/granules you spread on the ground. Try a variety of products and rotate the ones that work the best for you. When buying plants look for ones that are deer resistant. There are many excellent lists online including the one from Cornell below:   warren.cce.cornell.edu › gardening-landscape › deer-resistant-plants   RECYCLE pots, trays. I can use pots 4 inches and up and flat carrying trays. No 6 packs. Also, if you are discarding any Venetian blinds or see some in the garbage, please save them for me. I use the blinds for price tags for the plant sale.   Now is the time to make changes and improvements in your garden. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices and guarantee to save you time and money. Contact me for an onsite consultation. Also check out my website for past Garden Tips and articles: lessonsfromnature.biz.   Upcoming Plant Sales & Events: Put them on your calendar now!   Lessons from Nature and Amanda’s Native Garden and Perennial Plant Sale. Saturday, May 20th, 9:00 – 2:00.  170 Pine St., E Aurora, corner of Pine & Lawrence.   Clients and those of you who get my tips can come at 8:00 and beat the rush. We will have a larger variety of native plants on that one day than anywhere in WNY.  All plants are dug fresh from my garden and those from Amanda’s Native Garden are started from seed by Ellen Folts, the owner. Check out her website for availability. Ellen will take orders and deliver them the day of the sale. I will also have a selection of hypertufa containers, draped concrete planters and birdbaths.   I’ve been busily potting up when the weather has permitted. This is looking to be a bumper year for the plant sale. A list of available plants will be emailed the week before the sale. Note: all my plants will be root washed and potted in soilless potting mix due to the threat of the Asian jumping worm. If you’re not aware of this threat, you can get information at: http://ulster.cce.cornell.edu/environment/invasive-pests/jumping-worm   Master Gardener Plant Sale, Friday May 26, 8:30 – 3:00, Saturday May 27, 8:30 – 2:00, First Presbyterian Church, 1 Symphony Circle, across from Kleinman’s. Perennials for sun and shade, natives, annuals, succulents, hypertufa and draped concrete pots, vegetable starts, herbs, shrubs and garden art. Plants are from MG gardens and donated by local nurseries.   East Aurora Garden Club Perennial Sale, Saturday, May 27th 8:30 – till sold out. In the Village Plaza on Grey Street where Tops is. The sale is located under the roof overhang between TJ Max and Pet Smart. A great selection plants from Garden Club member’s gardens.   Special Event: The Western New York Land Conservancy is thrilled to host world-renowned author Tony Hiss, one of the strongest advocates for land protection in the United States, to discuss his seminal book Rescuing the Planet: Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth.  The free event will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 25th at the Montante Cultural Center on the campus of Canisius College (2001 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14208). For individuals unable to attend in person, the event will also be livestreamed, but registration is required to get the link.   Don’t forget to contact me for a garden consult. I can help improve your garden and gardening practices. 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|*