cold frame in Buffalo NY

Learn about cold frames & more in Optimistic Gardener newsletter

Want to extend your growing season by constructing a cold frame? Check out the article by Laura A. Marsala, apprentice Master Gardener volunteer, in the newest edition of The Optimistic Gardener. That is just one of the many helpful articles you’ll find in the publication produced by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Other topics in this edition include a discussion of whether tulips are perennials and a look at a gardener who turned…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
coleus Hottie

Tips on overwintering plants in WNY

by Connie Oswald Stofko Now is the time to think about overwintering plants so you can enjoy them next year. In “What plants do you overwinter in Western New York?”, you’ll find guidelines on which plants are happy outside in the winter, which plants you should bring inside and which plants might be difficult for you to overwinter. That article includes links to many other helpful articles. Here are more related topics:…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
opening frame for video on How to Divide Perennials in Western New York

Autumn is a good time to divide perennials; see new video

by Connie Oswald Stofko Is your hosta overtaking your heuchera? Or just getting too big for your small garden? You may need to divide your plants, and autumn is a good time to do it. Find out more about dividing plants with Lyn Chimera of Lessons from Nature. And if you need more tips, check out these articles:…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
Aster in flower as well as buds

Autumn isn’t here yet, but we can prepare in Western New York

by Connie Oswald Stofko We’re having 90-degree weather in parts of Western New York–I hope you don’t think it’s already autumn! Just because the kids are going back to school, it doesn’t mean it’s time to pack up our gardening tools. Here are some tips that you can use now or in the coming weeks as we prepare for autumn…....

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
bare trees and leaves on tree in autumn in Amherst New York

Tasks you can do in your late-autumn garden

by Connie Oswald Stofko Yes, Western New York has seen winter weather already, but the calendar says it’s still autumn. With a few days of milder weather in the forecast, get outside and do those late-season tasks while you can. Harvest herbs & cold weather veggies If you have any herbs or cold-weather vegetables, such as parsley, onions and peas, still growing, don’t let them go to waste. Harvest them now while they’re not hidden under a blanket of snow…....

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
evergreens in pots in Williamsville NY garden

Tips for winter garden: keep pots from cracking; evergreens are a must

by Connie Oswald Stofko Now that it’s autumn, have you turned your back on your gardens, or will your landscape give you pleasure even throughout winter? Keep your autumn and winter gardens appealing with these two tips from Jay Jinge Hu, who shared his Williamsville landscape on Open Gardens for the first time this year. Keep ceramic & cement pots from breaking in winter I have always advised gardeners to bring their concrete or ceramic pots inside for the winter…....

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
autumn leaves in Amherst NY by Stofko

Why autumn is the best time to start a garden bed in Western New York

by Connie Oswald Stofko It’s a lot easier to start a garden bed in autumn than in spring. Why? Because time is on your side. In spring, you would have to rush to get a new garden bed ready. When could you start? In April, when the ground is soggy or still frozen? Maybe in May, if the weather is nice on a day when you have off from work. If you prepare your garden bed now, there’s no rush–and…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
species tulip 'Ballerina'

How to plant spring bulbs in Western New York

by Connie Oswald Stofko Want to get bulbs to bloom in spring and summer? Here’s your first tip: Plant in autumn. Every spring, people walk into garden centers expecting to buy tulips and other bulbs to plant immediately in their gardens. It’s understandable, said Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market, 428 Rhode Island St., Buffalo. With most other plants, when you see them flowering outside, that’s the time to plant them. With bulbs, you have to plan…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
frost

Dealing with frost in Western New York

by Connie Oswald Stofko The official first day of autumn arrived last Thursday, and immediately, it seemed, Western New York temperatures took a nose dive. An overnight frost advisory was issued last week for Cattaraugus and Allegany counties. This week overnight temperatures may dip into the 30s in many parts of Western New York. That’s significant because frost can occur even if the air temperature is above freezing, according to our previous article. The article also explains why even 36-degree…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here
squirrel holding tulip bulb copyright Stofko

Protect your flower bulbs from squirrels in Western New York

by Connie Oswald Stofko “I’ve planted bulbs, gone into the house, and the squirrels come back ten minutes later to steal my bulbs,” said Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market. “They’re viscous little things!” Jablonski-Dopkin offers tips for keeping squirrels away from your newly planted bulbs. You still have plenty of time to buy and plant bulbs. In Western New York, plant bulbs in October or November. The soil should be cool, about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. In…...

Membership Required

You must be a member to access this content.

View Membership Levels

Already a member? Log in here