May '22 Tips

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Dear Gardening Friends,   As I write this it’s a cold and snowy morning. Don’t know about you, but I’m ready to turn the page on April and hope May brings more consistent spring like weather.   April has been a good lesson in patience. It’s way too soon to even think about buying annuals or other tempting things in nurseries. I have been dividing and moving some perennials within my gardens because they are already acclimated to the weather and soil.   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 of May. You may see frost damage on some plants a few days after a frost.  The leaves or tips of leaves turn black and crunchy.  Don’t panic. Frost damaged leaves can be pruned off.  Most perennials will have a strong enough root system to send out new shoots. 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.    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 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.   If you do buy a perennial or annual and it’s too cold to plant, keep them in a sheltered area until the temps improve. 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, treys & blinds here. I can use pots 4 inches and up and flat carrying treys. 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.   NOTE: For those of you in Amherst who are used to dropping things off at 37 N. Union, the property has been sold so please don’t drop pots off there. THANKS!!!!   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 fort an onsite consult. 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 Garden Native and Perennial Plant Sale.             Saturday, May 21st, 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 Garden are started from seed by Ellen Folts, the owner. I will also have a selection of hypertufa containers, draped concrete planters and birdbaths.   Since it’s been so cold and rainy, I’ve only started potting up and some plants haven’t even come up yet. A list of available plants will be sent out the week before the sale.               Note: all my plants will be 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 27, 8:30 – 3:00, Saturday May 28, 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 28th 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. Plants from Garden Club member’s gardens, great selection.        Happy Gardening! Lyn Chimera Lessons from Nature 170 Pine St. E. Aurora, NY 14052 [email protected] 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|*