Quick takes on home and garden

Now is the time to winterize your lawn. While it may be tempting to stop mowing with the arrival of cold weather, Darin Brooks, lawn care manager at Birchcrest Tree & Landscape in Victor, suggests that homeowners continue to mow until the lawn stops producing top growth. This cooler weather actually promotes top growth, so it may be a while, he says. The last cut should be 2 inches, Brooks says. The shorter cut discourages a disease called snow mold from attacking the lawn, he says.

Cleaning up leaves and other debris before the first accumulations of snow will also reduce the chance of diseases over the winter.

Brooks also suggests servicing the lawn mower before storing it for the winter. Drain the oil and refill the crankcase. Do not leave the crankcase empty until spring because you may forget and start the engine without oil. Finally, clean all grass from the underside of your mower.

Examining for problems

Larger trees are at more risk than younger specimens for damage due to the summer drought this year, says Walter Nelson, horticulture program leader at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County.

Fall and winter is a good time of the year to examine for a structural damage because there are no leaves to obstruct the exam. Look for dead limbs or damaged branches, he says. Also look for any unusual signs within the trunk such as loose or decaying bark.

Trees should receive periodic checkups with certified arborists, the Extension suggests. An arborist will be able to identify early problems with roots, limbs or other nutritional issues.

Annual show

More than 165 artists with creations of pottery, jewelry, woodcraft, folk art, photography and paintings will be at the Rochester Museum and Science Center's Holiday Bazaar Arts & Holiday Crafts Show & Sale. Sponsored by the RMSC Women's Council, the annual sale will be held Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; next Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is $4 for one day and $7 for two days. Children 12 and younger are admitted free.

Get the Inside Dirt

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County is offering a newsletter for home gardeners. The newsletter will focus on timely horticulture tips, cultural practices, pest management and the latest research information on topics such as vegetable gardening, perennial flower gardening, and ornamental trees and shrubs.

The newsletter subscription is $13 for nine monthly issues from February through October. Call the Extension at (585) 394-3977, ext. 427, for more information.

Make a topiary

The Cornell Cooperative Extension Center in Canandaigua will host a Boxwood Topiary Workshop on Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to noon.

The class is limited to 15 and participants should bring their own hand pruners.

The fee is $15 per person. To register, call (585) 394-3977, ext. 427.

Mary Chao compiled listings for this column. Send her your home and garden tips, news, events and story ideas to 55 Exchange St., Rochester, NY 14614 or e-mail her at mchao@DemocratandChronicle.com. The fax number is (585) 258-2583.