Question: It is now mid-October. Is it too late to transplant perennials or plant shrubs or trees? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional At this point, it’s probably better to wait until spring. Transplants typically need about 4-6 weeks to reestablish their root systems, and if that doesn’t happen before the ground freezes the […]
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Question: When is the best time to prune beach roses? We have a row of one and two-year-old bushes which have put out a lot of suckers and tall new growth. We are hoping for a wild-looking hedge. Also, the hips all turn black a short time after turning red. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture […]
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Question: How do I kill off artillery fungus? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional The solution to artillery fungus (Sphaerobolus spp.) is to remove the source of the ongoing infection–typically, mulch, compost, old wood shingle siding, any kind of decaying organic material. I would prune out heavily affected plant material (removing the deposits usually do more damage […]
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Question: I am looking to start a flower garden and wanting advice on size, seed and what to plant. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional The UNH Extension has a great resource for homeowners on controlling crabgrass, including a nice summation of the corn gluten situation: Now that our growing season is winding down, this […]
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Question: What are the current thoughts on using corn gluten to discourage crab grass? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional The UNH Extension has a great resource for homeowners on controlling crabgrass, including a nice summation of the corn gluten situation: “Some gardeners swear by the use of corn gluten as an organic pre-emergent herbicide, […]
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Question: What is the best way to eradicate cattails from a small pond that meets Maine DEP regulations? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I’m going to recommend that you contact the Board of Pesticide Control directly, as they are the regulatory agency that oversees herbicide use in Maine waters and would be the group you’d […]
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Question: We have five Green Ash trees planted in 2018 that are now completely dead and the trunks are full of exit holes. I have never seen an Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) on the plants. They are scheduled for removal and replacement with apple trees. Considering the concern around EAB, are there removal and disposal […]
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Question: I have discovered jumping worms in my raised vegetable beds. I traced the source back to my compost pile (the finished compost). I assume they are due to potted annual plants I purchased and then composted at the end of last season. I have a couple questions: 1. Various university websites suggests letting the […]
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Question: How do I get bittersweet nightshade out of my pasture and how harmful is it to animals? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Bittersweet/climbing nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) is toxic to wildlife, as you obviously know. The lengthy species page from the USDA and the US Forestry Service says: “Climbing nightshade contains solanine (glycoalkaloid and alkamines collectively), […]
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Question: What is okay to prune at shorelines? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional These two resources should be a helpful place to get started on shoreline pruning questions: State of Maine “General Standards for Vegetation Clearing” Pamphlet State of Maine “Clearing Vegetation in the Shoreland Zone” Happy gardening.
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