Garden tips Archives - Page 50 of 98 - Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com

climate change illustration copyright Stofko

What WNY gardeners should know about climate science

by Connie Oswald Stofko Climate change is real We can see the effects of climate change in our area. Our gardening zones in Western New York were changed to reflect our warmer temperatures. The US Department of Agriculture website unveiled a new map of gardening zones in 2012 and noted: “The new map is generally one 5-degree Fahrenheit half-zone warmer than the previous map throughout much of the United States.” One of the effects of climate change in our area…...

Monthly Subscription Membership Required

You must be a Monthly Subscription member to access this content.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

Jan 31, 2017

Keep garden fountains filled by using a faucet adapter

by Connie Oswald Stofko Do you like to keep the water in your fountains splashing on high? Bernie Grosser and Jim Jankowski of West Seneca do. The sound is soothing, especially since there is a noisy convenience store nearby. If some water splashes out of the fountain, it it helps to water the nearby plants. The problem that the West Seneca residents had was that the water level in the fountains would get low, and they had to keep refilling…...

Monthly Subscription Membership Required

You must be a Monthly Subscription member to access this content.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

Jan 31, 2017

New group forming on permaculture; intro presentations set for Feb. 4 & 11

by Connie Oswald Stofko A new group called Permaculture of Greater Buffalo will hold an introductory presentation on permaculture from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4 in Ashker’s Juice Bar & Cafe, 1002 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo. The same presentation will be given at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 at Ashker’s. The room is small, so attendance is limited to 15 people at each meeting. Please RSVP online. At the group’s very first meeting, held earlier this month, an informal…...

Monthly Subscription Membership Required

You must be a Monthly Subscription member to access this content.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

Jan 31, 2017

Choose the right plant to keep gardening fun; hear author at PLANT WNY event

by Connie Oswald Stofko There are hydrangea plants that have blue flowers only when planted in acidic soil. In neutral soil, the flowers are pink. That means that if you want blue flowers and your soil is neutral, you have to add a lot of acid to your soil to get the flower color you want. You may be making more work for yourself than you want. “Ornamental plants should only bring you joy,” said Andrew Keys, writer, plantsman and lifelong…...

Monthly Subscription Membership Required

You must be a Monthly Subscription member to access this content.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

Jan 24, 2017

moon gate at Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens

Water features create sense of calm in new Asian exhibits at Botanical Gardens

by Connie Oswald Stofko The photos here give you a glimpse of the new Asian exhibits at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, but it’s something you really should experience in person. The first thing you notice on entering the space is a new water feature, which creates a rhythmic pattern as it swirls the water. In the distance you can see the tall waterfall that has been transformed to look like a mountainous outcropping. To the left is…...

Monthly Subscription Membership Required

You must be a Monthly Subscription member to access this content.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

Jan 17, 2017

Prune oak trees now to protect against spreading disease called oak wilt

Pruning oak trees in winter can help protect the oaks from becoming infected with oak wilt, a fungal disease that can be deadly for oaks, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The disease was discovered in six new locations in New York State last year and can be spread by beetles that are attracted to freshly cut or injured trees. Benefits of winter pruning: Diseases are rarely spread during this time, since insects and fungi are inactive. A tree’s…...

Monthly Subscription Membership Required

You must be a Monthly Subscription member to access this content.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

Jan 17, 2017

What to do about mealy bugs on houseplants

Mealybugs can be a problem for your houseplants during winter. Find out what to do about this pest in the newest edition of WNY Gardening Matters, published by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County. Mealybugs are tiny, but they’re a problem because they suck fluid from plant, weakening the plant and making the plant susceptible to diseases. Save Save Save Save Save…...

Monthly Subscription Membership Required

You must be a Monthly Subscription member to access this content.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

Dec 13, 2016

Another idea for using autumn leaves: make a path

by Connie Oswald Stofko I was very fortunate to be able to go outside yesterday afternoon and work with my leaves– and I have lots of them. My wonderful neighbor raked her leaves into my driveway so that I could crunch them up with my lawnmower. Another friend cleaned up her mother’s yard and said I could have the leaves– which she delivered to my house! And if that wasn’t enough, there are still leaves on the trees in my…...

Monthly Subscription Membership Required

You must be a Monthly Subscription member to access this content.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

Nov 29, 2016

patio with walkway from A Growing Business

6 tips for working with landscapers– #1: Get on list quick for spring work

by Connie Oswald Stofko “Don’t wait until April to call a landscaper if you’re hoping to have your landscape done in May,” said said Claire Brown, CNLP, president and designer at A Growing Business, 11554 Wyandale Rd., Springville. That’s her first tip on what a gardener should do when working with a landscaper. The earlier you call, the better. “It would be awesome if people called in fall before the snow gets deep,” Brown said. That way, she explained, the…...

Monthly Subscription Membership Required

You must be a Monthly Subscription member to access this content.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

Nov 22, 2016

soap slivers to keep deer and rabbits out of your garden

Simple and cheap tips for preventing deer & rabbits from eating your plants

by Connie Oswald Stofko You can never have too many tips for keeping deer and rabbits away from our plants. Even if we find something that works, the animals often get used to that technique and we have to try something else. Here are a bunch of tips. One is from me, but the rest are ones that local gardeners have shared with me. (These tips are often shared in quick conversations, so I often don’t have the name of…...

Monthly Subscription Membership Required

You must be a Monthly Subscription member to access this content.

Join Now

Already a member? Log in here

Nov 15, 2016