Ask the Expert Archives - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard

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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 […]

Why are the Thuja Green Giants that I planted in the fall not doing well?

Question: I need assistance determining why my trees are not surviving in the ground. I planted 20 thuja green giants (5-6 feet) in early October 2024 and four are completely dead. Six are more than 50% dead. The other ten are doing okay but not thriving. I’d love to test the soil and see what […]

How do you get rid of aphids covering a Dappled Willow?

Question: We have a beautiful Dappled Willow Tree in our yard that is in full flower mode. It is about eight-feet tall with a width of about the same. It is full of aphids. How do we get rid of such pests on a bush so large? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Lovely […]

Is alfalfa meal recommended for application on flower beds and vegetable gardens?

Question: I’ve recently heard alfalfa meal is recommended for general application on flower beds and vegetable gardens. I need more information about using this amendment. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Alfalfa meal is a common organic soil amendment derived from alfalfa (Medicago sativa) crops, and it offers a low NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium… in the 3-1-2 range) […]

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