Hello Friends, Neighbors, Fellow Gardeners,

Happy New Year!  Hope you enjoyed the holidays! Here are some garden tips, educational opportunities, and events for January. Events include Winter Birding, Master Naturalist Spring 2018 Training (Applications due January 15th), Winter Crystals, Weed Warrior Workday at Lake Frank, Introduction to eBird, Brookside Gardens Winter Tour, January Mill Creek Towne Garden Club Meeting Topic: Gardening for Wildlife, 13th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange, Green Matter Symposium (Early Bird special ends January 12!), and more!

Planning:

• Need help with your New Year’s resolutions?  Check this article with 12 New Year’s Resolutions for Gardeners for some ideas. | Horticulture Magazine
• Evaluate gardening year and make notes of desired changes.
• Start reading those plant catalogs! If you want a street tree, pick one under 20-30 feet if you have overhead power lines.
• Decide where your plants are going in your garden.
• Order/buy those seeds!
• Collect supplies for starting seeds.
• Sharpen and replace tools as needed.
• Paint a few terra cotta pots in spring-like colors.
• When planning your wildlife-friendly backyard don’t forget to include native trees and shrubs that produce fall and winter persistent fruits.
• Start collecting plant seeds for trading.
• Collect large plastic soda bottles to use as cloches. (A cloche is a clear, bell-shaped cover used to protect tender plants from frost.)
• Have a question about gardening? Check the University of Maryland Extension’s New Maryland Grows blog for garden tips.
• Support our local farmers! Visit a local farmers’ market near you. Download Montgomery County’s Office of Agriculture Farmer’s Market Flyer to find a farmer’s market near you.

Flowers and Groundcovers:

• Plant the bulbs you forgot to plant last fall!
• Do not step on frozen soil in flower beds or lawns.
• Start seeds for Petunia and Dwarf Snapdragons in the third/fourth week in January. Check daily for moisture.
• Prune summer bloomers such as Hydrangeas, Rose of Sharon, Crape Myrtles, and Butterfly Bushes.
• Use leftover holiday greens and cut-up tree branches to mulch beds and create windbreaks.
• Pot up any leftover bulbs that did not make it into the ground by now and force them for indoor blooms.
• Hand-pull visible weeds. Look for fast-growing vines such as honeysuckle, autumn clematis, bittersweet, wild grape, Virginia creeper, and poison ivy.
• Check on stored summer bulbs and seeds. Discard any that have rotted.
• Clean out your greenhouse and wash those windows.
• Start hardy pansies and perennials.
• In the dark of winter you may be wondering about grow lights. Here is a concise guide to grow lights — their types and how they differ from normal room lighting.
• Pests to watch for: voles

• Diseases to watch for:  Damping off of seedlings.
• See UMD’s HGIC’s January Flower tips for more details.

Trees and Shrubs:

• Prune damaged branches.
• Remove bagworm bags.
• Gently brush snow from evergreen shrubs.
• Remove dead and dying trees.
• Check that newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials have not been heaved out of the ground due to freezing and thawing cycles.
• Cut a few branches of flowering shrubs to force into bloom inside.
• Take hardwood cuttings from willow and dogwood to propagate them.
• Root prune trees and shrubs to be transplanted next year.
• Set out your live-potted evergreens  from holiday decorating in a protected outdoor space to harden then off in advance of planting them.
• If we do get more snow in the DC area, gently dislodge snow from trees and shrubs with a broom to prevent damage to the branches.
• Plant frost-tolerant trees.
• Water slowly and deeply if weather is very dry.
• Prune out Fireblight damage Malus and Pyrus when very cold.
• Mulch or compost healthy leaves.
• Prune and thin shrubs that have already flowered.
• Water newly planted trees and shrubs weekly or as needed.
• Pests to watch for:  Deer.
• Diseases to watch for: Fireblight, Phomospsis and Kabatina of Juniper, Diplodia tip blight of 2 & 3 needled pines.
• See HGIC’s January Trees and Shrubs Tips for more details.

• Shovel walks and drive before applying ice melt or you will damage your lawn.
• Use de-icer sparingly or a nonchemical substitute such as sand, grit, fireplace ashes, or non-clumping kitty litter.
• Do not step on frozen soil in lawns.
• The annual soil science calendars from the Natural Resources Conservation Service are both educational and beautifully done. The one for 2018 as well as those for previous years are available as free PDFs here: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/edu/?cid=nrcseprd1250008
• Build a compost bin.
• Have soil tested (every 3 years minimum).
• Get your lawn mower serviced.
• Diseases to watch for: brown patch, and red thread
• Pests to watch for: Grubs
• See HGIC’s January Lawn Tips for more details.

Indoors/Houseplants:

• Buy a few new houseplants.
• Fertilize your winter-blooming houseplants, such as violets.
• Change water in cuttings started last fall and add 2–3 pieces of fish tank charcoal.
• Pinch back leggy plants.
• Maintain moisture in pots wintering indoors, but do not over water!
• Cut off the flower stalk on your amaryllis once flowers fade. Leave foliage to grow.
• Keep poinsettias in a well-lit area—but out of direct sun and away from drafts.
• Keep all houseplants out of drafts and away from heat vents.
• Clean the leaves of your indoor houseplants to prevent dust and film to build-up.
• Set up a humidifier for indoor plants or at least place them in pebble trays.
• Reduce fertilizing of indoor plants (except cyclamen).
• Rotate houseplants to promote even growth.
• Remove old leaves, damaged stems.
• Fertilize houseplants now that they are actively growing again.
• Repot root-bound houseplants and start fertilizing them.
• Pests to watch for:  aphids, spider mites, scale, and  whitefly
• See HGIC’s December Houseplants Tips for more tips.
  

Indoor/Outdoor Insect and Wildlife Tips:

• Clean and refill bird feeders.
• Wash and refill the bird bath or set out a shallow bowl of water in icy weather.
• Vacuum up any ladybugs that come in the house.
• Don’t put your birdbath away. Birds need fresh water for drinking and bathing throughout the fall season. Clean frequently and keep filled with fresh water.
• Check for vole problems and set up traps.
• Switch your deer deterrent spray.
• See HGIC’s January Insect Tips for more details.
• Watch for: carpenter ants, flies, stink bugs, termites, rabbits, raccoons, groundhogs, deer, moles, snakes, squirrels, and voles.
• For more information on wildlife management and attracting wildlife see HGIC’s January Wildlife tips.

Source: University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) and the Washington Gardener.

See below for upcoming local events in January.

Sat. January 27th, 2018
9:00am to 10:30am

This winter, to help us create wildlife-friendly habitats, our January program will be on “Gardening for Wildlife”, presented by Susan Bell, Master Gardener. We hope you can join us.  Below are the meeting details.

Date:  Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Time:  7:30 p.m.
Location:  Mill Creek Towne Elementary School Teacher’s Lounge
17700 Park Mill Dr.
Derwood, MD 20855
Speaker:  Susan Bell
Topic: Gardening for Wildlife
Hostess:  Heather Whirley

NOTE: If Montgomery County Schools are closed due to inclement weather, the Garden Club meeting will be cancelled.

Susan Bell

In 2002, Susan Bell followed a life-long passion for gardening to become a licensed landscape contractor. She has helped hundreds of homeowners envision, create and install the gardens they always wanted. Additionally she helps by providing hand pruning and seasonal maintenance services to keep gardens healthy and in tip-top shape. As a Master Gardener speaker, Susan develops design and garden maintenance presentations to pass on knowledge gained through years of hands on experience.

13th Annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange

Saturday, January 27, 2018

12:30pm–4:00pm 

Brookside Gardens
1800 Glenallan Ave.
Wheaton, MD 20902

Washington Gardener magazine, the publication for DC-area gardening enthusiasts, is hosting the 13th annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange at Brookside Gardens and Green Spring Gardens. These seed swaps are in-person and face-to-face. You bring your extra seeds and swap them with other gardeners. Everyone will leave with a bag full of seeds, new garden friends, and expert planting advice.

Join us for:

• Seed Swapping
• Door Prizes
• Planting Tips
• Expert Speakers
• Goody Bags
• Make-it Take-It Seed Crafting Table

The registration fee is $20.00 per person ($15.00 for Friends of Brookside Gardens, Friends of Green Spring Gardens – FROGS, and Washington Gardener Magazine subscribers.)

Registration is now open at:
WGSeedExchange-BrooksideG.brownpapertickets.com

Tip-Tapping Maple Trees

Sat. January 27th, 2018

2:00pm to 3:00pm

1400 Glenallan Ave.
Wheaton, Maryland 20902

February

Green Matter Symposium

Friday, February 23, 2018
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Silver Spring Civic Building
1 Veterans Place
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Early Bird Fee: $85 p/person until January 12, 2018

Standard Fee:   $99 p/person after January 13, 2018

Register at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org (Course #40522) or call 301-962-1451.

*Registration includes light breakfast, coffee/tea, and box lunch

For more information and to register online, please visit here. 

2018 Spring Conference

February 24, 2018
(Snow date is March 3, 2018)

University of Maryland Extension Montgomery County Office
Agricultural History Farm Park
18410 Muncaster Rd,
Derwood, MD 20855

Save the date for the Annual Spring Gardening Conference! The Montgomery County Master Gardener Spring Gardening Conference is scheduled for February 24, 2018. (Snow date is March 3, 2018).  The daylong event offers multiple presentations, morning snacks, a delicious bag lunch, door prizes, networking with other gardeners, answers to your gardening questions, handouts, and reference materials. Participants can attend three of nine concurrent presentations, and a Lunch & Learn session, all taught by Master Gardeners.

Hello Friends, Neighbors, Fellow Gardeners,

It’s September, time to enjoy the fall harvest of apples, pumpkins, and more!  Here are some garden tips, educational opportunities, and events for September. Events include Brookside Garden’s Wings of Fancy,  Friends of Brookside Gardens Plant Sale,  Fall Lawn Care Workshop, A Forest Journey, Hispanic Heritage Month, Nature Matters Lecture Series, PawPaw Festival, Children’s Day Honey Harvest Festival, Monarch Fiesta Day, Apple Festival and Campfire,  Mill Creek Towne Garden Club’s Meeting Topic: Preparing Your Gardens for Winter, and more!

Planning:

• Keep an eye out for the first frost date. In Zone 6, it is predicted to be between September 30 and October 30.
• It is harvest time and also a good time to start taking stock of what worked well for you this season and what didn’t.
• Take garden photos and make notes in your garden journal.
• Begin planning for fall plantings.
• Start collecting plant seeds for next year and for trading.
• Order spring-flowering bulbs to arrive for planting this fall.
• Order garlic, onions, and shallots for fall planting.
• Check your local garden center for end-of-summer bargains.
• Attend a local garden club meeting or plant exchange.
• Support our local farmers! Visit a local farmers’ market near you. Download Montgomery County’s Office of Agriculture Farmer’s Market Flyer to find a farmer’s market near you.
• Go on a local house or garden tour to see what plants are thriving in other’s area home gardens: http://www.visitmaryland.org/list/gardens-Maryland

Flowers and Groundcovers:

• Begin replanting pots with hardy annuals.
• Plant newly purchased plants.
• Continue to deadhead spent flowers.
• Divide and transplant peony and iris perennials.
• Divide ornamental grasses.
• Take cuttings from coleus and begonias to propagate and over-winter indoors.
• Your summer annuals will be reviving, now with cooler temperatures and some rain. Cut back any ragged growth and give them some fertilizer. They should put on a good show until the first hard frost.
• Remove spent annuals, replacing with hardy mums and fall season annuals. Water deeply.
• Dig up bulbs from your Gladiolus, Canna, Caladiums, and other tender bulbs. Cut off foliage; let dry for a week; and store for winter.
• Cut fully yellow lily stalks.
• Start bulb plantings of early spring bloomers at the end of the month.
• Fertilize established bulb beds.
• Start seeds of pansies, calendula, flowering cabbage, kale, and other fall annuals.
• Pests to watch for: aphids, spidermites, whiteflies
• Diseases to watch for:  Blackspot on roses; powdery mildew, rust, bacterial diseases, fungal leaf spot.
• See UMD’s HGIC’s September Flower tips for more details.

Trees and Shrubs:

• Fertilize if necessary for last time.
• Avoid late summer pruning.
• Transplant trees and shrubs.

  

• Plant evergreens for winter interest.
• Look out for any Poison Ivy vines, which will turn crimson in the fall and be easy to distinguish from other vines.
• Remove fallen, diseased leaves.
• Prune foundation shrubs and trees to be no closer than 1 foot from the house.
• If your conifers start shedding their needles or your spring bulb foliage starts peeking out of the ground, don’t worry. This is normal for our autumn cycle.
• Prune evergreens to get in shape for fall/winter.
• Prune and thin shrubs that have already flowered.
• Water newly planted trees and shrubs weekly or as needed.
• Pests to watch for:  adelgids, aphids, bagworms, borers, caterpillars, leafminers, scale, sawfly, spidermites, and webworms.
• Diseases to watch for: powdery mildew
• See HGIC’s September Trees and Shrubs Tips for more details.

• This is the perfect time for seeding the lawn.
• Apply fertilizer and lime to turfgrass based on soil tests and UME recommendations.
• Plug aerate when soil is moist.
• Begin mowing leaves into turf to add organic matter and nutrients.
• Fertilize tall fescue and bluegrass with 1 lb. Nitrogen per 1000 square feet.
• Cool season lawns go dormant in hot, dry weather. Do Not Water.
• Some grasses can still be planted. Over seeding may be done now through October.
• Keep newly seeded lawns well watered!
• Water established lawns deeply but infrequently.
• Apply pre-emergent weed control such as corn gluten.
• Apply grub control to your lawn.
• Turn your compost pile weekly and don’t let it dry out. Work compost into your planting beds.
• Diseases to watch for: brown patch, and red thread
• Pests to watch for: Grubs
• See HGIC’s September Lawn Tips for more details.

Indoors/Houseplants:

• Bring in tender plants before night temperatures dip to 60 degrees.
• Bring in house plants if you took them out for the summer.
• Take cuttings of plants you want to overwinter inside and place in water.
• Prune potted bougainvillea or hanging baskets that will overwinter inside.
• Bring Amaryllis indoors before a hard freeze. Repot every other year at this time.
• Bring Christmas cactus and poinsettias indoors if you took them out for the summer in preparation for holiday blooming. Fertilize them and put them where they’ll get just 10 hours of bright light per day.
• Remove old leaves, damaged stems.
• Monitor houseplants that are outside for insect problems.
• Fertilize houseplants now that they are actively growing again.
• Repot root-bound houseplants and start fertilizing them.
• Pests to watch for:  aphids, mealybug, spider mites,  whitefly and scale.
• See HGIC’s September Houseplants Tips for more tips.
  

Indoor/Outdoor Insect and Wildlife Tips:

• Start feeding birds to get them in the habit for the winter.
• Change the water of your birdbath daily and throw a Mosquito Dunk (or bits) into any standing water.
• Clean your hummingbird feeders and add new sugar-water every three days.
• Check for mosquito breeding grounds. Dump out any water that sits stagnant for more than three days.
• Switch your deer deterrent spray.
• See HGIC’s September Insect Tips for more details.
• Watch for: carpenter ants, flies, stink bugs, termites, rabbits, raccoons, groundhogs, deer, moles, snakes, squirrels, and voles.
• For more information on wildlife management and attracting wildlife see HGIC’s September Wildlife tips.

Source: University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) and the Washington Gardener.

See below for upcoming local events in September.

Friends of Brookside Gardens Plant Sale

Saturday, Sept. 9th
10 am – 3 pm, and (members-only early hours, Saturday, 8 am – 10 am).
Sun., Sept. 10, 9 am – 12 pm. 

10% discount for FOBG members – you can join at the sale. Plant list here: http://www.friendsofbrooksidegardens.org/s/Plants_2017_list.pdf

A Forest Journey

September 8 – January 2018 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tues. through Saturday | 1-5 p.m. Sundays
Brookside Nature Center, Wheaton
FREE

This rich and inviting interactive exhibit, created by the Franklin Institute, is inspired by the Harvard classic A Forest Journey: The Role of Wood in the Development of Civilization by science writer John Perlin. It sheds new light on the history of the use of wood throughout the world, on forest products (from paper to lifesaving pharmaceuticals) and on the relationship between forests and the benefits of trees.

Brookside Nature Center