Question: We planted asparagus four years ago, harvesting for the first time last year. We had a long and abundant harvest last year. This year we have experienced next to no shoots. Should we be concerned? Is there something we should do to encourage growth again next year? Are the good years and bad years […]
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Question: Can I use cedar shavings as mulch in my vegetable garden around squash or tomatoes specifically? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Cedar has at times been a controversial choice for mulch, due to concerns over 1) its naturally occurring biochemical properties having what’s known as allelopathic effects (that is, inhibiting the normal […]
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Question: I find the Virginia Creeper to be a very invasive plant. It climbs up my lilacs 20 ft high, basically anything that isn’t evergreen. I went to trim my forsythia and half of what I cut off were Creeper vines. I also battled Norway Maples and the small leafed rose that are defined as […]
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Question: I’ve been working with NRCS in establishing a native wildflower meadow on my property. The field is around 0.15 acres. I am in year two and Northeastern Sedge has taken over the field. Any suggestions? I thought about burning the field this fall and reseeding during frost heaving conditions. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture […]
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Question: What would be a good ground cover companion for lilac? Our lilacs are on the west side of the house so there is only partial sun. Right now the area is beset by Dame’s rocket, goutweed, and sunchokes. I’m trying to weed them out and will need to replace them. What might be best? […]
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Question: I have a newly constructed house that’s surrounded by bulldozed land with a 15% – 20% grade that is mostly gravel and clay. I want to plant a cover crop to enrich the soil and prevent erosion while I plan what to do with the property. I’m thinking of buckwheat which will die back […]
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Question: Is it safe to grow milkweed over a septic drain field? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional As much as we love milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) for its attractiveness to pollinators (not to mention monarch butterflies), I believe I would hold off on growing it over your leach field. As you probably know from your question, […]
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Question: I have a lawn question. My front yard, approx. a 1/4 acre, creates a “bowl”, we have a drainage pipe that drains the bulk of rain runoff into the woods but half of the “bowl” is still always saturated to the point we can’t mow it and it gets sun almost all day. Is […]
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Question: I’m considering planting some trees or shrubs as a privacy screen at the edge of my property. I’m concerned about root systems and encroachment upon our septic system which is on that side of the house. Do you have any general recommendations about how far apart any trees that we plant need to be […]
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Question: Should a new Shadbush be pruned to a single trunk or how many branches should be encouraged? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Pruning needs depend on what type you have–some species can be trained into a tree shape by pruning to a single trunk, if that’s the look you are shooting for, […]
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