Question: I see from your list that Dames Rocket is an invasive plant. I do have some in my garden and want to replace it with something similar. Do you have any suggestions? Also, where can I get a good list of natives that I can use in my flower garden. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home […]
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Question: Is it safe to use corrugated metal on the inside of the garden with wood treated with linseed oil on the outside of the metal? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional So, two separate building materials to consider, and it may depend on whether this garden bed is for edible plants or ornamentals. […]
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Question: Is it safe to plant vegetables in the blue 55 gallon barrels if they previously contained white vinegar? Or will the vinegar kill the plants? The barrels have been thoroughly washed. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I don’t think the previous presence of vinegar presents any immediate threat to the plants themselves. […]
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Question: How safe is it to use horticultural vinegar on graveled drives? Is it safe to use it close to a well? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional “Safe” is always a relative term when using chemical interventions in the garden–horticultural vinegar is a 20% solution of acetic acid (4x stronger than household vinegar), […]
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Question: Last spring we planted an ornamental crabapple and there are a few crossing branches that we would like to prune out. We’ve waited because we were still getting snow but in looking things up online, we are now wondering if we left it too late. is it okay to prune it now or should […]
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Question: I am looking for suggestions on shade-friendly flowering plants or shrubs that slugs do not like. I’m open to all colors and annuals or perennials. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I have two resources to recommend: UMaine Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet #5036 “Slugs” (for identifying and managing the slug population in your garden) […]
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Question: I am wondering if I should try to gently rake out my fern patch before the ferns start to grow. Some cites suggest only cutting back the spent seed pods – never rake. It is a rather large patch. Perhaps I should just leave things alone and let the spent material fertilize the area […]
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Question: Wild violets are taking over area of front lawn and garden. What is the best way to rid them without harmful chemicals? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I’m sorry to hear about the violet problems. Unfortunately, as you can read in this fantastic resource on wild violets from Penn State Univ’s Extension, “[w]ild […]
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Question: I purchased a cottage and the garden has a lot of forget me nots in the garden beds. I’ve been removing invasives aggressively and successfully but I kept the forget-me-nots thinking that they were native. They did not bloom in 2023. This year I will want to pull them out if they don’t bloom […]
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Question: We’ve experienced serious erosion in recent storms with topsoil washing away leaving exposed clay. What can I plant to prevent further erosion and to make the bank look less like a war zone? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I will offer a couple of fantastic resources on choosing plants for erosion control, […]
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