Ask the Expert Archives - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard

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A bountiful garden filled with dozens of purple, orange and red zinnias. Purple zinnias in clear focus in the foreground with the others blurred in the background.

Maine Home Garden News – September

In This Issue: September in the Maine Garden: The Month That Sets Up Everything Else Ask the Expert: How do I get rid of this pesky weed cloth in my perennial garden? Seasonal Sightings for September Featured Resource: Growing Fruit Trees in Maine Save Money and Beautify Your Garden by Overwintering Container Plants Maine Weather […]

Single sunflower in focus in the foreground in a field setting with dozens of sunflowers out of focus in the background.

Maine Home Garden News – August

In This Issue: August in the Maine Garden: Holding On and Looking Ahead Certified Pollinator-Friendly Garden Profile: New England Garden at Wells Reserve at Laudholm Preserve Today, Enjoy Homegrown Flavor All Year Seasonal Sightings Ask the Expert: Misshapen Fruit Featured Resource: UMaine Cooperative Extension Food and Nutrition Website Maine Weather and Climate Overview August in […]

Close up of a mauve plant stem covered in multiple pale pink tubular shaped flowers with about half of the flowers on the stem not fully open. Dense deep green grape vine blurred in the background.

Maine Home Garden News – July

In This Issue: July in the Garden: Holding Steady at the Height of the Season The Lavender Love-Hate Relationship: A Maine Survival Guide Seeing Seeds Differently (part 4): Corn Norway Memorial Library Pollinator Garden Ask the Expert: New Possibilities for Maine Gardens? Seasonal Sightings: Shrublands Featured Resource: Plant Lists By Bloom Time Maine Weather and […]

Close up of light pink multi-petaled peony flower poking through the slats of a weathered wooden bench with lichen growing on the surrounding wood.

Maine Home Garden News – June

In This Issue: June Gardening Notes: Edges of Early Summer Big Yields on Small Plots: Container Gardening Seeing Seeds Differently: Cilantro and Cumin Seasonal Sightings: Canada Serviceberry Maine’s New Interactive Map for Invasive Forest Pests Cucumber Beetles Libra Sun Flower Farm – A Certified Pollinator Friendly Garden Ask the Expert: Voles and Groundhogs Featured Resource: […]

Is it recommended to put worms, like the ones used for fishing bait, in my raised bed?

Question: Is it recommended to put worms, like the ones used for fishing bait, in my raised bed? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional This is a really great question. We do not typically recommend adding earthworms to raised bed fill. The short reason is that if your soil is good, they will probably […]

How long will fireblight remain in the soil?

Question: I have a crab apple that was diagnosed with Fireblight. The first symptoms appeared several years ago. I’m planning to have it removed. How long will the fireblight remain in the soil? When can I plant something else in the general area and what should that be? I’d like a pretty flowering, small tree. […]

I hear about the benefits of biochar. What’s the difference between charcoal and biochar? Which is the blackened wood left unburnt in my wood stove?

Question: I hear about the benefits of biochar. What’s the difference between charcoal and biochar? Which is the blackened wood left unburnt in my wood stove? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Thank you for reaching out to the UMaine Cooperative Extension with your question. Biochar and charcoal are similar, in that they are […]

What insect is damaging our hardwood floor?

Question: We’ve experienced some damage in our hardwood floor that look like a wood-boring beetle. What could it be? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Without a photo of the actual culprit, it’s tough to diagnose. However, I ran the pictures and information past our fantastic entomologist, Charlie Armstrong, who had the following to […]

When does “days to maturity” start for plants?

Question: When does “days to maturity” start? Some of my flower farmer friends say it’s when you start the plant inside before transplanting them outside. Others have told me it’s when you transplant it outside. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional The answer is… it’s a little complicated. 🙂 The broad, mostly followed rule […]

Why is my fir tree shaped differently and how should it be taken care of?

Question: I’ve a fir tree which is around 20 years old. Some time ago it appeared to ‘morph’ to what it is now – like 2 different trees growing as one. The top part of the tree has multiple small pine cones growing on it. I am interested if you can shed any further light […]

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