May
April
Turf: April 1 in Nassau, later in Suffolk, to fertilize the lawn. Know what is being put down. If you are reseeding you need Tuppersan in the crabgrass control. Avoid lawn products with urea/ammonia.
Onion Grass: If it really bothers you apply an environmental friendly product like ClearChoice, which will eradicate bulbs and all.
Check Grafted Plants (weeping cherries, hybrid teas) for winter damage on flowering scion (grafted part) or for suckers on the understock.
Preventive sprays: Spray roses and peonies with lime sulfur. Avoid scale and mites on evergreens with systemic oil sprays.
New additions: Tree - "Golden Gift" yellow magnolia (better than the yellow "Elizabeth"), Shrub - "Drift Roses" (Australian) for sunny hillsides-pink and red, 1'-2' high, blooms continuously, Perennial -"Lungwort", an early blue standout.
Vegetables: If you missed planting cold crops by seed, transplants are available at garden centers - lettuce, beets, onions, arugula, cauliflower, celery (all but the last two are flourishing in my garden from last fall). If you plant seedlings you can apply corn gluten and avoid weeding later on.
Know Your Plants: Running a diagnostic on what is wrong? Choosing a new plant or site for a transplant? Know the needs of the plant : light, water, soil (drainage and PH),fertilizer, susceptibility to disease, blooming/fruiting cycle, etc. This quick check can save a lot of garden heartache.
Garden Planters: Beyond the ubiquitous pansies and primrose are dianthus, dusty miller and ranunculus. Place in sunny locals. The gorgeous ranunculus will go dormant in 6-8 weeks.
Outdoor living: If you haven't already, wash and set up some outdoor furniture and barbecue equipment et. al. Might be too early to repaint it, but be ready for those days when it goes over 65. Anyone who still has browning evergreen holiday decorations gets demerits.
Submitted by Horticulture Chairperson, Margaret Stacey
March
--Mariana Polosky
September 2022
Some of
the rarest days of the year come in September, days when it is comfortably cool
but pulsing with life. ~Hal Borland
September
DROUGHT – Is it
over? The drought has eased but it is not over.
Early
Summer and Summer watering – If you were watering in June and July your drought damage will be
worse then those who didn’t. You created a shallow root system which could not
withstand the drought.
Watering – Watering should be done
thoroughly, one inch once a week. Try not to get leaves wet while watering
since that can lead to fungus.
Insects – Insects thrive in drought
conditions. Watch for them especially in the vegetable garden. Treat as necessary.
Turf – Most lawns have gone dormant but
will recover. Watch for certain lawn diseases, strange brown spots Checks with
your landscape people to determines how they should be treated. Time to aerate.
Too early to seed.
Local Crops – A ride to the east end of Long
Island will show how the drought has impacted L.I.’s farms. Though they’re not
dumping truckloads of tomatoes like California, diminished availability of produce
is obvious.
Lantern
Fly – This pretty
insect is extremely destructive to grapes and apples, two major L.I. crops.
These distinctive insects need to be hand picked and destroyed. Watch for them
on your own property.
Dormancy – Many of our grasses and flowers
and shrubs went dormant in the drought. This is fine, just give them a rest.
They will reemerge in the fall.
Large
Trees – Large trees
will need extra watering. Just let a hose run on them, some trees may have
started to lose leaves. Our 50+ foot Katsura has lost most of its leaves. But
new ones are emerging.
Rainwater – Tap water is not as effective for
our plants as rainwater. Tap water contains many chemicals for our health and
safety but not for those of nature. Rainwater is purer more welcomed by plants.
Mums – Too early to buy mums and pumpkins
unless you want to buy them again closer to Halloween. Mums will be done
blooming by then and pumpkins will have begun to rot.
Vegetable
garden – Not too
late to plant fall crops. Any vegetable that will ripen in 60 days or less are
still viable. This includes the onion family, carrots, radishes turnips broccoli
and garlic bulbs
Submitted by Horticulture Chairperson, Margaret Stacey
April 2022
In the spring at the end of the day you
should smell like dirt. --Margaret Atwood
April/Spring - We made it through winter. Nurserymen
will ignore April’s “springsters” cruel days. Enjoy the spring. Bulb utopia.
Pruning – Time to prune non-flowering
evergreens. Avoid flat topping, let the sun in. Check to see how much pruning a
particular evergreen should have, can range from one third to half.
Planting – Most any tree or shrub can be
planted now. Prepare soil, dig a substantial hole not too deep but wide. Add a
bit of mulch and water in.
Roses – Can’t resist, cut knockouts and
hybrid teas in half. Adding a little fertilizer might help. Time to invest in
some new ones?
Vegetables – Time to plant peas, and other cold
weather crops. How many plants will your seed packet make? Plan on distributing
your seedlings, not just your produce.
Harvest – Asparagus, Kale, spring onions,
water cress.
Fruit Trees – Check for disease Spray an oil if
needed. Use liquid fertilizer Protect plum and pear flowers from frost.
Farm vs
Landscape – There is
a movement that we should grow food rather than landscape plants on our land. Why
can’t we do both? Not all property works for both. Our three acres are a Certified
Wildlife Sanctuary. We work to preserve specimen and old trees. We have been
told we should remove trees for an orchard?
Nurseries – Our independent nurseries are
fully stocked. Be prepared for some surly sales help, but the shelves are full.
April
Foods – Local
produce to enjoy including spinach, asparagus.
Gresses -
Cut down brown ornamental
grasses. Clean out any spent perennials.
Tree
Importance – While
we are told trees block sunshine and use up water Britain has the Queen’s green
canopy program where everyone will plant a tree for the Platinum Jubilee.
Water Features – Flush out fountains, remove debris from ponds (makes a great mulch).
Submitted by Horticulture Chairperson, Margaret Stacey
February 2022
When February sun shines cold There
comes a day when in the air
The wings of winter slow unfold And show the golden summer there.
~Philip Henry Savage (1868–1899)
Happy
Anniversary to the
American Horticultural Society – one century of success!
February
warm up? We are now facing
freezing and warming and thawing. Watch for frost heaving. Not yet spring but
snow drops might show.
Primrose – Eschew the overpriced Valentine
Day flowers. Buy a dozen primroses have a spring garden. When the weather warms
plant them outside.
In
February plan - Time
for serious planning for next season. Add to your list from last year. But
cancel the losers. You don’t have to grow tomatoes.
The
Hidden Life of Trees (Peter Wohlleben)– This is an amazing book It goes into fascinating
detail on trees from germination to the many stages of decay and the flora and
fauna that benefit from the decay.
Arbor
Needs - Check trees
for needed arbor work – Dangling branches, lifting, trimming for better
circulation
Hardscape – Examine the lamp post, mailbox, outdoor
lighting, do they need sprucing up? replacement? paint? Refresh your external
hardscape.
Long
awaited substitute –
Bayer will be selling Round Up without glyphosate – safer but will it do the
trick?
Travel
Plans? – Include gardens
Meet other gardeners Visits will add depth to your knowledge. Hear about new unpredictable
directions Learn about gardens in different climates and cultures.
Garden Shows – Connecticut Garden Show February 24 – 27. Ct. Convention Center. Columbia Avenue, Hartford. “Rhythm & Blues” Hick’s flower Show March10 – 22nd. Always convenient and a winner. Philadelphia Flower Show June 11- 19. Returns to FDR Park.
Submitted by Horticulture Chairperson, Margaret Stacey
September & Autumn 2021
"Some of the best days of the year come in September, days when it is comfortably cool but pulsing with life." -- Hal Borland
Fall is Here: The Harvest Moon wove its eerie spell, the last week of summer, first of fall. The week starts off stultifying warm and sullen. Then overnight cool air blows in and we are revived.
Watering: Still no need to water unless it is new plantings. Some people will use this as a sign of climate change but meteorologists, who have been here before. call it “weather”.
Turf: Autumn is the time to plant a lawn. The soil is warm (unlike spring) and the grass will germinate quickly. Mowing can be down to 2-2 1/2 inches.
Pruning: Most trimming should be done. Dead head roses for one last bloom. Perennials can be cut down as blooming ends. Annuals might rebloom, worth a try.
Perennials: Don’t be afraid to plant large perennials. They service design well. They form a solid backdrop for smaller flowers, they create a “come hither” look that can cover up an unsightly garden eyesore.
Bulbs: Orders in? Buy enough, like everything else prices are up. Its too early to plant unless forcing is in your future. Forcing twelve to fourteen weeks in the fridge, then bring them forth.
Second Blooms: Our strange weather created second blooms in azaleas and even magnolias. Time will tell if this will interfere with spring.
Vegetables: Finally, tomatoes. squash, melons, nectarines, apples are all in prime. Cool crops can still be planted. Harvest herbs.
Ornamental Grasses: Lucky us. Long Island has been singled out as the one place miscanthus is invasive.
We love the grass, just keep it in check.
Autumn Décor: Wait, wait. Chrysanthemums bought now will be done blooming before Halloween. Pumpkins purchased now will rot. If you really want them, be ready to purchase twice. Asters will thrive and they come in blue.
Pests: Pesky insects persist. Bag Worms are the flavor of the month.
Flowers: Zinnias (not a favorite of mine) are good this year. Ditto dahlias, cosmos, glads and sunflowers. et. al. Buy some at a farm stand.
Farm Country: As we begin to stretch our legs again consider a drive to the L.I. North Fork. Montana blue sky, acres of farmland (vineyards, sod, as well as vegetables, nursery, and flowers). Avoid weekends!
Submitted by Horticulture Chairperson, Margaret Stacey
May-June 2021
“The earth
throws back her slumber-robe, and kissed awake by showers, reaches her emerald
banners out and laughs a wealth of flowers.”
--Sara L. Vickers Oberholtzer,
"A May Parable," Souvenirs of Occasions, 1892
Spring – We had a glorious spring,
everything bloomed perfectly and lingered due to the cool temperatures. Then as
usual it turned HOT.
The Moon – Horticulturalists have long used
the phases of the moon as weather forecasters. We just had a super moon and our
weather changed abruptly.
Roses – They need to be fed and sprayed.
The American Rose trials suggest several roses for our area including Double
Knockouts, Easy Does it, Easy elegance sunrise sunset, Flower carpet pink
supreme, Icecap, Oso easy petite pink.
Purple – This year’s garden color is purple,
especially in vegetables, e.g., cauliflower, carrots, beans, peas, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes, and asparagus.
Garden
Control – Many of us
face a mature garden that can easily get out of control. Do not be afraid to
thin out gardens. Prune shrubs and trees. Prune after bloom now until August 15th.
Turf – Lawns came into existence in the
seventeenth century. Medieval lawns were mowed a couple of times a year. It was
not until 1830 that a cylinder blade mower pulled by horses came into use. (The
horses’ hooves were covered with leather boots so as not to make marks in the
lawn). As much as we can be discouraged, we love our lawns. “Smart” devices
help regulate our watering and allow us to keep them and assuage our guilt.
Bugs – Just as the weather induced
beautiful flowers, it was perfect conditions for harmful insects. As you walk
through your garden check everything for possible blight and insects.
Catch them early!
Deer – Methods for repelling deer was the
topic of a PBS program “Growing a Greener World” (available on the internet). A
recommended repellent is BOBBEX.
Annuals – Access to annuals is a problem in
many parts of the country. Long Island enjoys a steady flow from our east end
nurseries. Other supplies are less available. Many of our mulches come from
Canada which is closed off. Try your arborist for wood chips.
Great
Plants – The
American Horticultural Society suggests “Appalachian Red” east end redbud,
“American Gold Rush” black-eyed Susan, Dixie wood fern, and Boho hydrangeas are
all award winning plants to add to our gardens.
Submitted by Horticulture Chairperson, Margaret Stacey
March 2021
"Springtime is the land awakening. The March winds are the morning yawn." ~Lewis Grizzard (1946–1994), "
Spring – Is almost here! As perennial expert Allan Armitage says, “Gardening gives us something to look forward to and feel good about.” With the surge of gardening interest since Covid 19 and the success of garden centers, perhaps those in horticulture should be considered essential workers. They have done so much for us.
Signs of the Season – Snow drops have appeared under the snow. Witch Hazel and Forsythia in bloom. Hellebores should be blooming, and Daffodils should be up a few inches. Willows are greening.
Mulch – Spread mulch on your garden using hardwood chips and pine needles and ground leaves. This will allow water to circulate and keep down weeds.
Birds – Lots of birds are active, coming and going. They still have limited food so continue to feed them. Create a brush pile of small twigs, lint and hair from your comb and brush, they are building nests.
Fountains and Ponds – Time to rejuvenate and clean pumps etc.
Pruning – This is the month for serious pruning. Bushes and trees can be reduced by a third. Even spring blooming shrubs can be pruned. Though they will lose their flowers it will work in the long run. Fertilize after pruning.
Vegetables – Time to re-compost “farm” areas. Plant peas and radishes.
Aphids and Hibiscus - As we think outdoors, check your house plants for aphids. They are a scourge but try a few ounces of a dish soap and water to wash them off. They die a clean death.
Pre-season Container Plants – Remove the winter evergreens. Try a container arrangement of pansies, heather, and hellebores. When guests come add a pot or two of forced bulbs from the supermarket.
Submitted by Horticulture Chairperson, Margaret Stacey