There was the Snowvember storm in 2014, which brought down trees and damaged mature shrubs.
Even if you were lucky enough to have missed that, all of us in Western New York have experienced high winds, heavy snow and brutally cold temperatures this winter.
And every year many gardeners contend with deer and rabbits, which can cause damage to our landscapes.
Find out what you can do about damage to your landscape at a free talk by gardening expert Sally Cunningham at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14 at Lockwood’s Greenhouses, 4484 Clark St., Hamburg.
The talk is free, but the class may fill up, so registration is necessary. Call 649-4684 to register. Please register as soon as possible. Lockwood’s will consider adding a second class if the first fills up.
In her presentation called “After the Storm: Assess and Correct (or Live with) the Ravages of Winter,” Cunningham will discuss what you can fix and when you can fix it. If branches have cracked and a shrub is lopsided, can you cut it all back and will it re-grow? Which shrubs and trees can be salvaged and which are best replaced? If you are replacing a damaged plant, what evergreen or deciduous choice would be smarter?
“It’s not all bad news,” she said.
What’s especially nice is that in addition to the great information that Cunningham will provide, there will be time to ask questions about your own yard. You can even bring photos of the shrub or tree that you’re concerned about.
Cunningham is a certified nursery and landscape professional with Plant WNY and former Cooperative Extension educator.
Lockwood’s will also hold a pruning class at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 28 led by Cunningham and gardening expert Ken Brown. The 2 ½-hour seminar will focus on corrective pruning and maintenance pruning of shrubs and small trees. As more details are available, they’ll be posted on our Events page and the Lockwood’s website.
It is always good information to know what plants will recover from winter damage and loss. Many clients will assume that a tree or shrub is lost when branches can grow back after damage.