by Connie Oswald Stofko Here’s a question from a reader: Hello , I was wondering if you know if it would be OK for me to deadhead my oakleaf hydrangea or if that would negatively affect next year’s blooms somehow. Seems OK to me but thought I would check before I do it! Donna, Town of Tonawanda First: Deadheading means cutting off the dead flower. I’m not a gardening expert, but there are lots of gardening experts in Western New…...
College and technical school students interested in a career in garden writing, photography or blogging can apply for a scholarship from the GWA Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable partner of GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $1,000 per student and include a complimentary full-year membership to GWA. Scholarships will be awarded directly to the institutions on behalf of students. The application deadline is Friday, Dec. 15. Apply online. Students must be enrolled in either of…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Our summer was so wet, you may have fallen out of the habit of watering your plants. But the last few days have been hot and dry, and we may have a little more summer-like weather on the way. And even when our weather becomes more autumn-like, you need to keep watering! Don’t give up on your garden now! Here’s why: You probably have wonderful plants in your garden that you’ve been enjoying this summer– and…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Yellowjackets and hornets have been very active lately, and if they sting, it can hurt. “But if you can avoid them for another month, nature will take care of them,” said John Farfaglia, extension educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County. Both yellowjackets and hornets will die off in the cold weather, he said. The yellowjackets make their home in the ground and hornets make their nest high in a tree. Neither will use the…...
Take the family and build your own scarecrow for free from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22 and 23 at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses, 118 South Forest Rd., Williamsville. The event is held in conjunction with the Village of Williamsville’s Oktoberfest. Take an old shirt and pair of pants. Mischler’s will provide the burlap head, stuffing and twine. Their associates will be on hand to assist you if needed. While you’re there, check out the mums,…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko A while back, I got this question from a reader. I apologize to whomever sent this in– I lost your email, but I did keep your question on my list and I am finally getting around to addressing it! The question is: How do you overwinter coleus? I asked David Clark, nationally known garden educator, who teaches the series of horticulture classes at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. The basic idea for overwintering coleus…...
Because you are a reader of Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com, you can take advantage of a fall coupon from Badding Bros Farm Market, 10820 Transit Rd., between Millersport Highway and North French, East Amherst. Perk up your autumn landscape when you use the coupon for mums in pots ranging from 4 to 12 inches, flowering kale & cabbage, ornamental peppers, winter pansies and annual grasses. Perennials aren’t included with the coupon, but you still get a great deal with buy one, get one free…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Doesn’t it break your heart to throw a wonderful plant on the compost pile just because you don’t have room for it in your garden? MAP (Massachusetts Avenue Project) wants your extra plants, and I bet there are other organizations across Western New York that would love healthy plants, too. MAP wants to create a beautiful fence line at their new farmhouse. They’re looking for perennial flowers, herbs and fruit plants. All donated plants must be…...
See the winning entries in two Western New York photo contests. Pfeiffer Nature Center will hold a photography show in conjunction with its photo contest next weekend. You can see the winners here of this year’s Nature Photography Contest, sponsored by the Audubon Community Nature Center. Pfeiffer Nature Center Pfeiffer Nature Center will hold its photography show from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 in the historic chestnut cabin at the center, 14 South Main St., Portville. The new deadline…...
by Connie Oswald Stofko Yes, you can plant perennials now, and there are advantages to planting in autumn rather than waiting for spring. While some people say you can plant perennials into October, the folks at Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses recommend getting them in the ground by mid-September to make sure they get established before the first frost. The first frost can vary from year to year, and when you should expect your first frost depends on where in Western…...