Four Lanes End Garden Club

01/04/2025

𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲. Seed starting is a delicate dance. The right timing can spell the difference between thriving seedlings and leggy, stressed plants stretching for sunlight 👎. To start your garden off right, call the Penn State Extension Garden Hotline first.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽
The Penn State Extension Garden Hotline is staffed by Bucks County Master Gardener volunteers. We can answer horticultural questions on topics as varied as the right time to start seeds, when to prune hydrangeas, or deer-resistant plants. 🌱🌳🐛🦌

✅ Plant identification
✅ Tree pruning
✅ Insect and plant diseases
✅ Native plants
✅ Backyard conservation, climate change, and much more

☎️Call 267-483-2022. Leave a detailed voicemail and your contact information. We'll get back to you as soon as we can.
✉️ Email [email protected]. Send a detailed email and attach up to 3 photos that may help us understand the problem or question better.

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺
These are the types of questions we're likely to ask about your plant problem. You don't need to know all the answers. Our friendly Master Gardeners are here to guide and help you.
THE PATIENT
❓Species? Symptoms? Age? Previous occurrence?
❓Percent of plant affected? Percent of all plants affected?
❓Pattern of damage?

SITE CONSIDERATIONS
❓Soil type? Compass direction? Sun/shade? Wet/dry? Windy/sheltered?
❓Buildings? Underground obstructions, utilities, sewer pipes?
❓Road spray? Winter salt treatment?

HUMAN INFLUENCE
❓Construction nearby? Have you treated?
❓Watering? Planting? Spacing? Pruning?
❓Mulching? Influences from neighboring properties?

BIOTIC FACTORS
❓Evidence of insects? Evidence of disease?
❓Evidence of rodents, mammals, birds, pets?

This is a free service for Bucks County residents.

Learn more: https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/bucks/hotline
📷: Canva

02/23/2024

This is a not to miss event!

01/12/2023

𝘽𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙋𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝘽𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙤𝙤𝙧𝙨. As noted by Bucks County master gardener, Kathleen Kimble, many of us like to give our houseplants a “summer vacation” from the indoors by letting them enjoy the warmth and humidity brought about by our summer months.

But when the temps fall, you need a checklist when you bring your leafy green friends back inside. Read on for 7 best practices from Kathleen.
✅Plants should have been brought in before the nighttime temperatures consistently dip down to around 50 degrees. Since many houseplants are native to tropical areas, they can suffer damage in temperatures in the 40s and most will perish if temperatures are below freezing.
✅Acclimation to indoor conditions helps prevent the shock of abruptly being brought from outside to inside. Shock may result in yellow leaves, wilt, dieback, or even death. If you didn’t acclimate, keep a close watch for these symptoms as well as leaf drops. If you see the signs try to establish more suitable conditions the plant was used to.
✅Before bringing plants indoors, check for insects that might be tagging along. If discovered you can try to rinse off all the foliage to woosh away any pests, but take care to make sure the leaves don’t stay wet for too long.
✅Plants brought back indoors should be kept away from other plants for about 3-4 weeks. Typically, if there is going to be an issue with an indoor pest it will be evident in about a month. Now is the time to check all plants for signs of pests; be proactive before a bigger issue arises. (Next week, we’ll post about houseplant pests. Check back 😰)
✅Now that the plants are indoors make sure they are in bright indirect lighting or use grow lights if it is feasible to mimic the conditions they received while outdoors. Even the brightest locations indoors are a fraction of the light intensity outdoors (even if in shaded areas); here again, some plants may drop leaves in response to the environmental changes, but often they will grow new foliage once acclimated.
✅It is also recommended to withhold fertilizer during winter months as plants may not be actively growing this time of year. Your watering schedule will probably also change as well; your environment will be the determining factor based on light, temperature, and humidity. Many houses are drier in the winter due to a heat source that can impact plants. If dry conditions exist, a humidifier or the simple act of placing the plant atop small stones in a saucer or tray of water. The evaporation of the water will moderately raise the humidity around the plant (just make sure the plant isn’t sitting in standing water).
✅This is also a good time to evaluate plants that may have outgrown their pots and need something larger. Others may be too large for the indoor space and need to be pruned, separated, or even propagated to start a new plant. If a plant needs pruning, you may be able to use the cuttings to start new plants depending on the plant and environmental conditions.

Are you interested in learning more about houseplant care? Whether you are a novice or advanced collector, Penn State Extension Master Gardeners are offering the 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙎𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 that will answer many of your indoor plant questions. Each session will include a Houseplant House Call video in which a Master Gardener will diagnose and provide solutions for a houseplant problem. Register for the first one, 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝘽𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙨, covers the basics—soils, light, humidity, watering, lighting, repotting, fertilizing, and containers. Register now:
https://extension.psu.edu/houseplant-master-class-houseplant-basics
Photo Credit: Penn State

06/26/2021

𝙇𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙊𝙛 𝙋𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 | They're responsible for one in every three bites of food we take. They do the work of transferring pollen and fertilizing blooms resulting in blueberries, apples, peaches, tomatoes, squash, and watermelon. Even coffee and chocolate. We better take care of them: Bees, flies, beetles, wasps, butterflies, and moths.

But pollinators are in decline from many different stressors.
❧ Fragmentation of habitats due to suburban development
❧ Limited nesting sites in our urban, suburban, and agricultural landscapes
❧ Non-native invasive plants that escape from our yards further degrade natural habitat
❧ Diseases, parasites, climate change
❧ Exposure to pesticides

Our yards and gardens can be a major part of the pollinator solution if we plant a diversity of trees, shrubs, and perennials with different shapes, colors, and bloom times. 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙬 in the “Planting Pollinator-Friendly Gardens " fact sheet: https://extension.psu.edu/planting-pollinator-friendly-gardens

Figure Credit: Harland Patch

Other resources:
https://extension.psu.edu/pollination-and-pollinators
https://www.ree.usda.gov/pollinators
https://www.xerces.org/pollinator-resource-center/mid-atlantic

09/24/2020

Thank you for the Four Lanes End Garden Club for their generous donation of $10,000 toward improving the accessibility of walkway at the Richardson House. Garden Club members Nan Mauro (Past President FLEGC), Ceil Graff (Treasurer FLEGC) and Renee Rumsey (Presdient FLEGC) presented the check to Langhorne Borough Council at the September meeting, We are thankful to the Garden Club for their work at the Richardson House gardens and their commitment to the community. And we look forward to more people being able to enjoy the gardens with the new accessible walkway. Pictured are Nan Mauro, Councilwoman Kathy Horwatt, Ceil Graff, Councilwoman Kari Thomas, Renee Rumsey and Councilwoman Kristin Farry.

09/11/2020

Ask a Penn State Master Gardener about Spotted Lanternfly - Free Live Q&A Session for Bucks County Residents
Ask a Penn State Master Gardener about Spotted Lanternfly - Free Live Q&A Session for Bucks County Residents

Are you seeing Spotted Lanternfly on your Bucks County property, or in your community? Do you have questions about Spotted Lanternfly?

Grab a cup of coffee or tea and join a panel of Penn State Bucks County Master Gardeners for a free Spotted Lanternfly Q&A live session on Saturday morning, September 19th, from 9:00am-10:00am. This session takes place via Zoom technology.

To participate in this session, you'll need an internet connection, as well as a computer, tablet or smartphone, and the latest version of Zoom installed (a free app).

Submit your questions (up to three) along with your registration. All submitted questions will be addressed and answered during the live session. If there is sufficient time, the Master Gardener panel will take live questions, too.

Register here:

Bucks County residents are encouraged to join this Q&A webinar about spotted lanternfly!

06/04/2020

An inspirational and informative 90 minute video on the future of our farming and our food sources!

06/04/2020

Sharing pictures of potted daffodils from my garden! Let’s see what’s in your garden!

05/24/2020

The Master Gardener Program provides interested individuals with extensive training in many phases of gardening. In return, participants volunteer to teaching horticultural information to the public based on university research and recommendations.

05/22/2020

Our extensively trained Bucks County Master Gardeners and Master Watershed Stewards are available Monday-Friday to answer your home gardening and watershed-related questions, now through October 30th.

We can help with questions and concerns about good home gardening practices, outdoor and indoor plants, trees, soil, vegetables, insects, pests, ponds, backyard stormwater management, streamside property stewardship, rain gardens, rain barrels, native plant selection and installation, habitat improvement, water quality, and a lot more.

Our friendly volunteers are here to help you solve problems using unbiased, research-based information from Penn State University.

05/12/2020