Question: I’m looking to see if I can plant some berry bushes in my back yard. It stays pretty wet and has good soil. Any suggestions? Answer: Abi Griffith, Horticulture Community Education Assistant So, sight selection and prep can be a little involved when considering small fruits like highbush blueberries or brambles like raspberries/blackberries and […]
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Question: Is it okay to prune my pear tree now at the end of April? I would like to take some large branches off to change the shape for ease of mowing around it. Answer: Abi Griffith, Horticulture Community Education Assistant It is always recommended to prune in early spring or late winter because pruning when […]
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Question: I have a low level of arsenic in my well water (between .01-.015 mg/L). I understand that I can use water with up to .1 mg/L arsenic to irrigate outdoor crops, but so far have been using rainwater to irrigate my outdoor garden. I am thinking of planting fruit trees in my yard. I […]
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Question: Japanese Beetles invade my blackberry bushes. How do I kill the insect so they stop destroying my berry bushes? Answer: Abi Griffith, Horticulture Community Education Assistant Japanese beetles can be very frustrating to deal with! For detailed information about the insect’s life cycle and control, see UMaine Extension’s Pest Management Fact Sheet on Japanese […]
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Question: I noticed last summer that both my apricot tree and plum tree displayed some sort of growth that I wasn’t able to nip in the bud. Now that it’s spring, I’m wondering if you could help identify what may have caused the diseased looking growth and what I might be able to do for […]
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Question: This is a question regarding fruit tree pruning. Is there a treatment I can use on freshly pruned cuts to prevent apple scab from taking advantage of the fresh wound? I’m a beginner, hobbyist fruit tree grower, mainly apples. I have some 2 to 3 year old trees myself, but am also trying to […]
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Question: I am interested in planting ornamental cherries on my property, but I worry that even for Zone 4 rated varieties our late frosts will kill the blooms. Are there any varieties you can suggest or should I give up on my dream of billowy pink blossoms? Answer: Frank S. Wertheim, Extension Educator – Agriculture/Horticulture […]
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Question: What tomato varieties would you suggest for in-ground planting? I’d like to plant 2-3 varieties for eating off the vine, and for canning BBQ sauce and salsa. Are there any other considerations for tomato growing in Maine? Answer: Abi Griffith, Horticulture Community Education Assistant I would suggest you do a soil test in the […]
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Question: I am interested in planting a shrub or two in my yard that will attract multiple kinds of birds. I would prefer the shrub to grow no taller than 8 feet in height. My yard has sunny and shady areas. Do you have any suggestions? Answer: Vina Lindley, Food Systems and Home Horticulture Professional […]
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Question: I would like to know the proper way to overwinter plants I’m propagating. I have one pot with five Cardinal Flowers (to divide for a Spring plant sale), two pots with ornamental shrubs (from cuttings made last Spring), and three pots with apple rootstock (less than a pencil width that were pulled and potted […]
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