leaves for garden compost in Buffalo NY

Speed up your compost pile by balancing key ingredients

In an earlier article, we told you why you should save autumn leaves and we gave you some basic information on composting. In another article, we gave you more details on what to put in your compost pile. Today we’re going to give you more advanced information on composting. If you’re willing to put in a little bit of work, there are ways to speed up your compost pile. David Clark, horticulturist, shared tips on composting at a recent seminar…...

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cold wave pansy from Mischler's in Williamsville NY

Spring has arrived in Buffalo! Six things to do in your garden today

I spotted my first robin last week. My crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths are blooming. The weather has been amazingly mild– bordering on hot! And the calendar says that today is the vernal equinox. Any way you look at it, spring has arrived in Buffalo, and we gardeners are raring to go. Here are six great gardening tips you can use right now: Spring gardening tip #1 Try new Cool Wave pansies, a frost tolerant plant that trails and spreads. It…...

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'Phantom' petunia sold in Buffalo NY area

Black petunias & annuals that grow in dry or shady areas in Buffalo

We promised to tell you more about annuals that will work well in your Buffalo area garden. Today we’re going to talk about a black annual, a drought-tolerant annual and a shade annual with colorful leaves. Bonus: If you love impatiens for shade, try a new variety that you can plant in sun. These tips are shared by the staff at Lockwood’s Greenhouses, 4484 Clark Street, Hamburg, NY 14075. Lockwoods will exhibit at Plantasia, which will be held at the…...

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closeup in fairy garden in Buffalo NY area

Fairy gardens are fun new trend for Buffalo– great for small spaces, too

Fairy gardens have such a wide appeal, it’s easy to see why they’ve become such a hot new trend in the Buffalo area. Fairy gardens are great for people with limited space, for people who want to share gardening with a child, or for people who just like being creative. “Basically, a fairy garden is a miniature garden planted in a container or in the landscape,” explained Mark Yadon, vice president at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd.,…...

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4 tips on choosing proper tools for your garden in Buffalo area

Using the proper tools in your garden can make your life easier,  save you time and keep you out of the doctor’s office, said Nellie Gardner, horticulturist at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House Complex. Gardner, along with her assistant, Norma Wiegley, will lead a workshop called “The Sharpest Tool in the Shed” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 20 in the Greatbatch Pavilion at the Darwin Martin House, 125 Jewett Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14214. Gardner will showcase all her favorite…...

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Mandevilla Pretty Crimson in Buffalo NY area

3 annuals that perform well in container gardens in Buffalo area

In a previous article, we told you that using annuals in your Buffalo area garden can help give you constant bloom. Today we’ll tell you about three more great annuals that work well in containers. These suggestions were provided by the staff at Lockwood’s Greenhouses, 4484 Clark Street, Hamburg, NY 14075. Mandevilla “These are some of the best plants you can have,” said Jill Kisker, grower at Lockwood’s. The flowers of the mandevilla have a lovely shape and come in…...

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Superbells Cherry Star Basket at Lockwood's in Hamburg NY

3 great annuals for constant blooms in your Buffalo-area garden

My garden is built around perennials, and I would recommend that strategy to anyone. But this year I vow to use more annuals. Yes, perennials are great because they stay in your garden year after year–you don’t have to spend money buying them every year. Plus, they tend to spread. You can start with a small garden and expand it from year to year. The problem with perennials is that while the plants are there all year, the blossoms come…...

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grassless front yard in Buffalo NY

You don’t need grass in your front yard– make it a garden!

You don’t have to have grass in your front yard. I loved the grassless front yard of Anne Gareis, which I saw on Garden Walk Buffalo in 2011. A spectacular evergreen takes up most of the space in the front yard. She could have planted grass in the space around the tree, but instead she extended the garden from the front of the house to the tree. “Grass is boring,” Gareis said. Ferns, hostas and other shade-tolerant plants fill in…...

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patriotic heart light for garden in Buffalo NY

Decorate your Buffalo garden for Valentine’s Day with these lights

by Connie Oswald Stofko Your garden in the Buffalo area might not have much color this time of year, but you can change that by making your own Plexiglass light toppers. You can decorate for Valentine’s Day and other holidays, show your support for the Buffalo Sabres or other teams, or express your personal interests with these simple lights. This idea comes from Ben Sperandeo of Buffalo, who shared views of his yard as well as his lights with visitors…...

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garden closeup in Amherst NY

What does climate change mean for Buffalo-area gardeners?

by Mike Van Der Puy Climate change is here. What does that mean for gardeners and farmers in Western New York? Should we alter our growing plans? If so, how? Evidence that the climate is changing in Western New York You may have noticed migratory birds arriving earlier than they used to or see some bushes budding in January. Those are clues that the Western New York climate is slowly changing. However, we have more than anecdotal evidence that climate…...

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