daylily, daisies going to seed, black-eyed Susans in Amherst NY

Your garden now: It’s not a failure, it’s just August

These articles come from the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County. by Lydia Fernandez and Julia Bender August gardens can feel overwhelming. Everything’s either thriving or dying, weeds are winning battles you thought you’d won, and half your plans have gone sideways. The tomatoes are finally coming in, but the lettuce bolted weeks ago, and don’t even mention the aphids. This late-summer fatigue is real, and it hits most of us. But it’s not failure—it’s just August…....

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Lisianthus: great cut flowers that last

by Connie Oswald Stofko At first glance, you may think you’re looking at roses, but the bouquet in the photo above is made up entirely of lisianthus. (See a pronunciation here.) Not only is this flower beautiful, but lisianthus is one of the longest-lasting flowers that you can have in a vase, said Barb Henry, who founded Henry’s Gardens with her husband Martin. They grow and sell lisianthus and other flowers as well as vegetables. Here are tips from Barb…...

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Fill the blank spaces in your garden

July is the time to take inventory of the blank spaces in your garden, according to Peggy Koppmann in “This Month in the Garden.” That’s one of the articles in the most recent edition of WNY Gardening Matters, produced by the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Erie County. “Perhaps a plant has died, or (gasp!), you killed it,” Koppmann said. “Maybe it got eaten by rabbits or it was overwatered or was in the wrong place. Maybe it was…...

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delphinium flowers at Mischler's Florist and Greenhouse

Color your garden with perennials from Mischler’s

by Connie Oswald Stofko Four reasons why you should buy perennials now: Mischler’s Florist and Greenhouses in Williamsville has a great selection of perennials now. Below are just a few. Delphinium: tall The delphinium is a grand perennial that can grow three or four feet high. It makes a good cut flower, said Jessica Limardi, a staff member at Mischler’s. The plant has a huge flower spike, and it also has side shoots coming out of the stem. The side…...

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Summer tips from Orleans County Master Gardeners

Here are just three of the many tips in the garden checklist for July from the Master Gardeners of Orleans County. Find lots of details within those tips–and more!–here. Do you have gardening questions? Contact the Master Gardeners in Orleans County here. If you live in a different county and have questions, find your Cornell Cooperative Extension office here…....

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How to keep your plants quenched

It’s important to keep your plants irrigated properly, especially when the weather is hot. Water the right way with the article “Quenching June’s Thirst” by Carol Ann Harlos. Here’s one tip from the article: soil should be wet at least four inches down into the soil, according to Harlos. Remember that the roots grow where the water goes. If you water to a shallow depth, your plants will grow roots that are shallow, that is, near the soil surface. The…...

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Scent of flowers brings us joy, brings pollinators to food

This information is from Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners in Orleans County. In June, the rush is on to get our gardens in top shape. But with roses, peonies and other plants soon to bloom, it’s also a great time to stop and actually smell the flowers. Scent is an important feature of flowering plants. Because they cannot get up and relocate themselves, plants use scent to attract pollinators and to deter hungry creatures. Researchers at Purdue University say that plants emit…...

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Don’t rush Mother Nature

by Connie Oswald Stofko You have to watch the weather and can’t rely on dates. If you wanted to plant tender vegetables on Mother’s Day or Memorial Day this year, you’re probably feeling disappointed right now. Many parts of Western New York had frost warnings last night. Even if you didn’t get frost, it was too cool overnight for tender plants, such as tomatoes. “Not just tomatoes, said Patti Jablonski-Dopkin, general manager at Urban Roots Cooperative Garden Market. “I’d be careful of…...

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Potted flowers & more gardening tips from Orleans County Master Gardeners

Here’s a bonanza of tips that you can use now from the Master Gardeners of Orleans County. Plus, for folks in Orleans County, the Master Gardeners are launching a program to encourage gardeners to support pollinators Save your spring holiday flowers If you received potted flowers this spring, you may be able to keep them going outside in your garden. See this article by Nancy Walker, Master Gardener. What to do in your garden now See the great list of…...

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Sick tree? Get help for free

The Forest Health Research Lab is available year-round to help your tree health problems at no cost. This isn’t just for forests; you can ask questions about pests or diseases for a few trees or a single tree. The folks at the research lab can identify the problem and provide recommendations. Start by submitting a report form. The more information you provide, the easier it will be for them to identify the problem and help you find a solution. They will…...

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