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May 2024


















To MOW, or not to MOW?


That is the question folks pose about the month of May.


As this is a more nuanced question than it appears, let’s talk about the key issue driving the appeal of a simple, singular solution.


Too many of our residential landscapes have too much lawn area resulting in a monoculture of turfgrass. This dynamic is not good for a friendly, biodiverse ecosystem for pollinators. Lawns also require considerable resources to maintain: gas and electric lawn mowers and blowers as well as water, which is often applied in excess via irrigation systems. Some also spread substances to further “green” their lawn and may apply herbicides to kill unwanted plants.


I think of the “NO MOW MAY” slogan as a prod to rethink our lawn practices. What should we be doing in every month, including May?  We need to reduce or replace the lawn, preferably by incorporating more native trees, shrubs and plants. We need to revisit our landscaping habits. Leave the leaves in the fall. Resist deadheading and garden cleanup until later in the season. Resist applications of any substances on the lawn except a sprinkling of compost in spring or fall. Reseed areas generously to deter weeds. Select grass seed mixtures with high percentages of tall and fine fescue as well as the important legume clover. Always mow high with 4 inches of grass growing to support a better root structure. Change the weekly mowing routine. In the heat of the summertime, twice a month cuts should be fine.


Back to the question of what to do in May. Turfgrass doesn’t thrive well when more than a third of a blade is cut at one time. Evaluate your grass height and your lawnmower and decide on an appropriate course of action. If you don’t mow in May, make sure you can set the lawnmower high enough so it cuts only a third of the blade on its first cut in June. More importantly, address multiple best landscape practices around the lawn for every month of our growing season, not only the lovely month of May.

Master Gardener PLANT SALE



Here's one very happy Plant Sale guest.


CCE Ag Stewardship lead Emily Lindback is ready to transform her new garden with some of the plants from Colorful Gardens, Site One, Kurt Weiss and North Fork Native Plants. This year we again offered a fantastic array of beautiful plant material for the many customers who started coming early Saturday morning.


Even better than the attractive plants were the incredible, dedicated and terrific Master Gardener volunteers! The event worked so well because of the teams of MG volunteers who knew what to do on Friday handling delivery, pricing and setup from 8:30 in the morning until 7:45 at night. The MG Volunteers returned on Saturday for sales and plant collections management and packing out from 7 in the morning until 5:30 at night. WOW!


HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO ALL OF THE MG VOLUNTEERS on the FRONT LINES of the MGV PLANT SALE.


Master Gardeners also staffed an information table talking about native plants, rain and pollinator gardens.'Celebrate Earth Day' wildflower seed provided by Hampton Jitney was a hit. In addition, MGVs made our Plant Sale an Earth Day family-friendly event with face painting, corn hole, fun in the Children's Garden and Master Gardener rain barrel demonstrations.


I especially want to thank MGs Denise Zizzo, Reid Bielecki, Linda Carlson, Bridget Nelson, and Donna Cange. And thanks to CCE's Sarah Osborn and Nora Catlin who made all come together so well.


This was our first MG PLANT SALE independent of Spring Gardening School. It may be fair to say that each of these Master Gardener events has a loyal following.


Again, many thanks to all who contributed to the wonderful 'vibe' of a very busy event.







SUMMER CAMP

Children's Garden

Suffolk Farm, Yaphank

Wednesdays

10-noon, July 10-August 21


Master Gardeners are back with a Summer Camp program. Know any children who might enjoy this experience?

Ages 5-12

$80 for one child, $60 for each sibling

REGISTER HERE



Class of 2024

MASTER GARDENERS in training


The Class of 2024 Master Gardeners made a number of contributions to three of our larger sites this spring. They aided with the major renovation of the Herb Garden at Suffolk Farm. They cleaned and planted in the Children's Garden on the Farm. They also helped the Medford Train Station crew weeding and tackling the seasonal cleanup of the station and 9/11 Memorial Garden. See of the Class of 2024 at work. Many thanks to all.

Please count your volunteer hours. Here's the link to the MG volunteer survey.



FIELD TRIPS

Wednesday, May 8


9:30 am Brentwood

1:00 pm Bayard Cutting



Master Gardeners are welcome to join field trips to either or both destinations. At Brentwood, we have 3 sites to explore. We'll hear about the LAND ETHIC that informs the use of the Sisters of Saint Joseph property. We'll also get a tour of LINPI (Long Island Native Plant Initiative) and visit with Cassidy Kirsch growing vegetables for the food security group Island Harvest.


9:30am Brentwood. Meet in parking lot close to the red dot in map below. We will start our tour in the green area adjacent to the parking lot. Please note. The Brentwood Road/S. 5th Avenue entrance is on the far left of map below. This is a large property with multiple entrances and parking lots. Please plan to arrive EARLY as Master Gardens have gotten lost inside the SJS property.


1pm. Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Great River. Meet at the front entrance to the Manor House.


Consider carpooling.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION



What's Bugging You First Friday: No-Mow May


Friday, May 3, 12 p.m. | Register


(Cornell CALS, Integrated Pest Management First Friday series. )







 

POLLINATOR POETRY PARTY


In honor of June as Pollinator Month, the Horticultural Alliance of the Hamptons is inviting the would-be poets among you to join the group on May 31 at 4pm in the HAH Library in Bridgehampton.


Those who might like to present, please text MG Joan DiMonda at 516 528-8867

Contact Joan for other details. 516 528-8867


Tell a Master Gardener not receiving this newsletter that it's posted on our MG webpage:

Click here:

http://ccesuffolk.org/gardening/master-gardener-volunteers


If you have photos, events and news to share in the newsletter, please email me at rz378@cornell.edu


Happy Gardening!

Roxanne Zimmer


 423 Griffing Avenue, Suite 100, Riverhead, NY 11901-3071
631-727-7850

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.
 
Cornell Cooperative Extension is funded in part by Suffolk County through the office of the County Executive, and the County Legislature. 

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