Autumn Archives - Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com

What gardens teach us in winter: ‘Digging In’ newsletter

Here is the latest edition of Digging In, the newsletter published by Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. What our gardens teach us Our gardens keep teaching, even as winter approaches. It’s harder to see the lessons when everything feels cold and dormant, but they’re there. Consider vernalization — the way many plants, from native perennials to fruit trees to spring bulbs, need to experience winter’s chill before they can bloom. It’s what makes the seeds we plant during winter…...

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Dec 2, 2025

Are your roses still blooming? Enjoy!

by Connie Oswald Stofko On a gloomy day in autumn, it’s wonderful to see a colorful rose in your garden. But if you have already pruned your roses, you’re missing something beautiful. On top of that, autumn isn’t the best time for pruning. You’re better off cutting roses in spring. See more in the article “Should you cut back roses in autumn?”…...

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Nov 18, 2025

Snow November 9 2025 on Stevenson Blvd., Eggertsville NY

Drought, rain & snow in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko Drought & rain Good news! We’re almost out of the drought. The announcement came last Wednesday from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Recent rainfall has improved dry conditions, and all of Western New York is now at the lowest level of drought, called “Drought Watch.” The counties moved from the drier “Drought Warning” to “Drought Watch” are Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara and Orleans. Wyoming County already had been downgraded to…...

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Nov 11, 2025

Diggin In: Clean your tools & more

Here is the newest edition of Diggin In, the newsletter published by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. Articles for November Clean Up in the Toolroom by Nancy Walker, Master Gardener Volunteer November Garden Checklist: A Little More Time to Plant, by Lydia Fernandez, Master Gardener Volunteer You can have a mission, too by Lydia Fernandez, Master Gardener Volunteer When Julia Bender decided to join the Master Gardener Program in 2024, she came with the specific…...

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Nov 4, 2025

What to do with worn-out pumpkins

by Connie Oswald Stofko Do you think Halloween monsters are horrible? Here’s something more horrible: throwing a jack-‘o-lantern into the trash! When you’re done with your pumpkin, compost it. You can smash it, too. It’s quite entertaining! Before you place your rotting pumpkin in your compost bin, you need to get it into smaller parts so it will decompose more quickly. You could use a knife, but smashing it on a hard surface is faster, easier and more fun. Remember…...

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Oct 28, 2025

WNY Gardening Matters: garlic & more

It’s time to plant garlic, and you can learn more in WNY Gardening Matters, the publication of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County. October planting generally results in bigger and more flavorful bulbs, said Peggy Koppmann in the article “This Month in the Garden.” Garlic needs a long period of cold temperatures, so fall planting gives cloves time to sprout and develop established roots. Read about winter watering, a bird buffet and more in “This Month in the Garden.” Other articles…...

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Oct 14, 2025

Joe pye weed in autumn by Connie Oswald Stofko

Diggin In newsletter: resilience

The October edition of Diggin In newsletter includes an essay on resilience in gardening, an introduction into galls and a garden checklist. Diggin In is published by the Master Gardeners in Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. by Lydia Fernandez, Master Gardener Volunteer As gardeners, one of the most important things we grow is resilience. Season after season, we learn, we adapt and we try again. Whether we see ourselves as optimists or pessimists in life, we are hopeful in…...

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Oct 7, 2025

It’s time to choose new spring bulbs–and new autumn bulbs!

by Connie Oswald Stofko This is just a sample of the bulbs you can find at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market, 428 Rhode Island St., Buffalo. If you’ve never planted bulbs, keep reading–there’s a list of previous articles that you’ll find helpful. But if you’re still stumped, stop in to Urban Roots to get the gardening advice you need. Tulip wildflower mixture (species) These wild tulips (also called species tulips) are shorter than the hybrid tulips you usually see, but…...

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Sep 30, 2025

red maple leaf among green leaves in Amherst NY

Autumn is here: leaves are changing color in WNY

The first signs of colorful leaves are here in Western New York! The first I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report came out last week. Salamanca, in the Chautauqua-Allegheny group, had the most significant foliage change in Western New York. A new report will come out on Wednesday (Sept. 17). The I LOVE NY Fall Foliage Report relies on more than 90 volunteer field observers to let us know when leaves start to change color and when they will be at…...

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Sep 16, 2025

WNY Gardening Matters: shrubs & more

The gardener’s emphasis is often on annuals and perennials, but shrubs are an essential component of garden design, said Peggy Koppmann, Master Gardener. There are many reasons to use shrubs: You can see more in the article “This Month in the Garden,” which is part of WNY Gardening Matters, published by Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County. Other articles in this edition are:…...

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Sep 10, 2025