The high winds did a pretty good job removing or breaking weak branches from trees. Ice or wind storms often leave jagged stubs that if left can lead to rot in main branches/trunks of trees. Every year around this time and after storms such as the last one it’s a good idea to check your trees and have broken or crossed branches removed. This is also a good time of the year for structural pruning because most leaves have fallen making it easier to see what branches should be removed. If you are considering pruning your trees it’s important that the pruning cuts be made correctly. If you’re unsure please give us a call so we can send you information on pruning. For branches that you can’t safely remove you may want to consider hiring an arborist.
As the growing season draws to a close so do our regular hotline hours. Between November and March we do continue to answer questions left on our voicemail at 331-8415 ext. 107 or e-mail us at mgwayne@cornell.edu Please leave a daytime phone number where we can reach you with any additional questions we may have.
Below we have included information about our upcoming events, garden and landscape tips for November, an article written by one of our Master Gardeners that summarizes our activities in our demonstration garden during 2012 and information about the invasive species – Asian Clam.
Upcoming events:
Gardening Hotline: During the winter months we receive many questions about insect pests inside homes, tree and shrub pruning and questions from people who want advice that will help them avoid problems they’ve had in their gardens and landscapes in the past. If you have a question please leave it on our voicemail at 331-8415 ext. 107 or e-mail us at mgwayne@cornell.edu. Please leave a daytime phone number where we can reach you with any additional questions we may have.
Master Gardeners are a great resource for new gardeners and for troubleshooting home garden and landscape problems including weeds, lawn issues, wildlife, insect pests and plant diseases along with control recommendations. Plant and insect samples can be brought to the office for identification or diagnostic work. During non-hotline hours you can leave your sample with our secretary or in the drop box at the end of the building. Please put insects in a sealed plastic container (so they won’t get crushed) and plant samples in sealed plastic bags. Remember to label them with your name and daytime phone number where we can reach you. We also offer soil pH testing (cost is $3 per sample) and can help you with soil test interpretation.
Monthly garden and home grounds tips:
• Wrap upright growing juniper and arborvitae shrubs loosely with twine to help prevent ice and snow from splitting branches.
• Protect young trees from rabbit damage by placing a wire “cage” around them.
• Use caution when applying deicing salt to areas near plantings where the run-off could injure plant roots. There are some products available that don’t contain salt that may be a better alternative in those areas.
• Clean up plant debris from vegetable and perennial beds and add them to your compost pile. Avoid composting diseased plants.
• To keep your compost pile in good condition it’s important to add the right balance of browns and greens. Adding three parts brown material to one part green, measured by volume, is your goal. Greens include fresh cut plant material, vegetable and fruit peelings and grass clippings. Browns include straw, non-glossy finely shredded newsprint, wood shavings and fall leaves. Contact us for a free composting fact sheet set that includes more info on browns and greens.
• Clean plant containers that you plan to reuse with a 10 percent bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) and make sure to rinse them well.
• Cooler temperatures and diminishing daylight will put houseplants into a resting period. Regular fertilization can be greatly reduced or stopped altogether at this time. Be careful not to overwater. If any of your houseplants were kept outside this summer monitor them carefully for pests.
• Houseplants should be located in spots where they receive enough light to remain healthy and away from heat sources.
• Avoid storing large quantities of firewood in the house, warm garage or basement because the heat can activate insect activity and bring about hatching of any insect eggs that may be in or on the firewood.
Invasive species: The Asian Clam, Coming to a Stream Near You
The Asian Clam Corbicula fluminea, an invasive bivalve mollusk, is quickly spreading across New York. Live Asian clams have been found in Seneca Lake, Otisco Lake, Owasco Lake, the Hudson River from Troy to Newburgh, the Champlain Canal near Fort Edwards, Lake George, and in Massapequa Lake and a number of other ponds and streams and the Massapequa Reservoir on Long Island. Shell-only sightings where the colonization status is unknown have been found in the Erie Canal from Lockport east to Clyde, Canandaigua Lake Outlet, and the Wallkill River.
Good gardening!
