Environment Archives - Page 9 of 27 - Buffalo-NiagaraGardening.com

photo of food waste turning into compost

‘National Learn About Composting Day’ is May 29, but you can learn today

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Master Gardeners are marking “National Learn About Composting Day,” which falls on May 29, by sharing great composting tips. There are many good reasons to compost. You save money by making rich, organic soil fertilizer. You reduce erosion. You conserve and replenish groundwater. And you keep organic material out of landfills. Organic material sent to a landfill creates methane, a greenhouse gas that contributes to the negative impacts of our environment. In his recent…...

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May 23, 2023

Mosquitoes bugging you? Keep them out of your WNY landscape

One way to keep mosquitoes from biting you is by keeping them out of your yard in the first place. The most common mosquito in New York State is Culex pipiens, which has a very small territory. It usually stays within 300 feet of its breeding site, according to this page on mosquitoes from New York State Integrated Pest Management (NYS IPM). If you and your Western New York neighbors make sure there are no breeding sites, everyone can have a…...

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May 16, 2023

Hear author of ‘Rescuing the Planet’ May 25

Update: You can watch a recording of the talk here. Tony Hiss, one of the most important conservation writers working today, will discuss his seminal book Rescuing the Planet: Protecting Half the Land to Heal the Earth. The talk will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 25 at the Montante Cultural Center at Canisius College, 2001 Main St., Buffalo. The event is being held by the Western New York Land Conservancy. Hiss is a world-renowned author and one of the strongest advocates…...

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May 2, 2023

More on lesser celandine in WNY: questions & discussion for next year

by Connie Oswald Stofko A month ago, I published Lesser celandine is back: What to do if it’s already out of control, but I still keep getting questions from readers. I also have gotten comments on that article and previous lesser celandine articles about how bad the situation has become on their property. Let’s address some of these issues. You can’t apply herbicide once the plant has flowered. Why? Here’s the answer from Andrea Locke, coordinator of WNY PRISM (Partnership for Regional…...

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Apr 25, 2023

No Mow May: what people in WNY are doing & why

by Connie Oswald Stofko We talked about No Mow May in an article last year. The idea is to take a break from mowing your lawn until the end of May. That way, you’re allowing plants in your lawn to flower, providing early food for bees and other pollinators. “But it’s just a starting point,” said Matthew Shepherd, director of Outreach & Education at the Xerces Society. “We want to see landscapes transformed. We want lawns that are less manicured, where…...

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Apr 18, 2023

Hurry to apply to be Climate Steward in Erie, Niagara Counties

Did you ever wish there was a program like Master Gardener Volunteers, but for climate? There is now! The new Cornell Climate Stewards program will train volunteers, who then work on local climate change projects. The statewide program provides intensive education on climate science, communications, and potential local solutions. Volunteers can support ongoing initiatives and local conservation projects as well as create their own project. Cornell Cooperative Extension in Niagara County and Erie County will hold trainings for Cornell Climate…...

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Mar 13, 2023

pink and blue hydrangeas in Western New York

Shrubs, container gardening & climate to be topics at Master Gardener Ed Day

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County Master Gardener Program will host its Education Day from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 11 at Classics V Banquet Center, 2425 Niagara Falls Blvd, Amherst. Speakers and topics are: The event includes a hot buffet lunch, beverages and snacks. The day begins with registration from 8:30 – 9 a.m. The first of two morning sessions start at 9 a.m. The full hot buffet lunch will be followed by an afternoon presentation…...

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Feb 28, 2023

What do the numbers & letters on a fertilizer bag mean?

by Connie Oswald Stofko The numbers and letters on a bag of fertilizer can be confusing. Let’s take a moment to learn what all this means to our Western New York gardens. Letters on fertilizer bag The letters on the fertilizer bag represent primary nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The abbreviations come from the periodic table of elements: N is nitrogen, P is phosphorus and K is potassium. The standard label displays the nutrients in the same order, according to…...

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Feb 14, 2023

Lavandula Munstead courtesy Ball Horticultural

Order now in Great Plant Sale from Botanical Gardens

by Connie Oswald Stofko For gardeners, one of the joys of winter is planning for spring! Start your planning now with the Great Plant Sale from the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Not only can you browse through the selections now, you can order now before anything is sold out. Pick up your plants on May 19 or 20. (The sale will be online only this year.) Joe Mannion, director of horticulture, noted that the Botanical Gardens has contracted…...

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Jan 31, 2023

tree seedlings from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

5 reasons to buy tree & shrub seedlings; sales are open now

by Connie Oswald Stofko Sales of tree and shrub seedlings are again being held in Western New York through counties and through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Here are 5 reasons why you should consider buying tree or shrub seedlings: Tree & shrub seedling sales The sales have different ordering deadlines. The organizers suggest you order early to make sure the items you want are still in stock. The county sales generally have you pick up…...

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Jan 24, 2023