November 2018 Tips

Dear Gardening Friends, What happened to fall?! If you’re anything like me there are lots of garden chores that still need to be done. With all the rain and cold it was difficult to get outside to work. On top of that snow is coming and there are still leaves on many trees. The bright side is whatever doesn’t get done now can be done in the spring. The following are some priorities: - If you have problems with deer, rabbits or other critters now is the time to put up defenses. - The trunks of young trees can be wrapped with trunk wraps to protect them from the nibbling of mice and rabbits and rubbing of deer. You can also use chicken wire cages or hardware wire. Be sure the protection goes high enough so critters don't sit on top of the snow to browse and spread chicken wire over the ground about a foot around the plant so they can’t dig under it. - If deer are an issue heavy duty deer mesh works well. For shrubs like taxis and arbs you can just wrap the shrub in the netting or burlap. For other shrubs use stakes to attach the mesh and form a protective circle around the shrub. Remember to make the barrier high enough. Deer can stand on their hind legs to eat. - Shrub coats and burlap tents are good for protecting from wind damage as well as deer. Basically you are fortifying your yard for the winter! - Check stored firewood for insect infestations. Remember not to use or move firewood out of your area to help prevent the spread of invasive insects like the Emerald Ash Borer. It’s illegal to move firewood more than 50 miles in NYS. - There are some critter sprays that work in the winter cold. One that golf courses use had to be professionally applied. It leaves a white film on the branches but is effective. - If you have any products in an unheated garage like deer spray or anything that would be exposed to freezing temps move them to the basement or other location where they will not freeze. Freezing ruins the effectiveness of some products. Gift Ideas: If you need a gift for a gardening friend a Lessons from Nature gift certificates for a garden consult or plants next spring is a much appreciated gift. I also have a good stock of hypertufa planters, draped concrete planters and concrete birdbaths and stepping stones. The gift certificates can be ordered through my e-mail. For the concrete items you have to come to my home in E. Aurora. Happy Thanksgiving and have a wonderful Holiday Season! Lyn Chimera Lessons from Nature 170 Pine St. E. Aurora, NY 14052 [email protected] 652-2432 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