Question: I want to make some bee hotels for my yard in Old Town. However, I don’t know which species are best for gardens and their nesting preferences. I want to ensure that I am attracting/homing the right bees. Answer: Tori Lee Jackson, Extension Professor of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maine Cooperative Extension […]
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Question: I planted a new flower garden last summer (2020). I dug up and removed the old sandy soil and put about 5″ of a soil and compost mixture down. I planted all new plants in this area. The plants thrived last summer and fall season. I am wondering what I need to add to […]
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Question: I live in Saco and am in the process of a multi-year (lifelong?) effort to control the spread of Japanese Knotweed on my property, using a combination of methods. My property abuts a community garden/park, which is infested, so I have no illusions of ever eradicating it but am trying to control its spread […]
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Question: We recently purchased a home in North Lubec and are eager to create two large raised beds for vegetables and herbs for this June-September growing season. We have 8+ hours of south and southwest sun, which is where the beds will be located. We noticed that many vegetable gardens are not anywhere as close […]
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Question: I live on Vinalhaven island and we have been experiencing a lot of raccoon damage to lawns as they forage for something underground. I am told it is probably grubs, but I don’t know. My question is, can we do anything to control the grubs or whatever is the food source? I have tried […]
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Question: Is it acceptable to plant butterfly bushes in Maine if they are sterile? Answer: Lynne Holland, Community Education Assistant (Home Horticulture), Androscoggin and Sagadahoc Counties That is a great question and it also brings up a problem we often face-the use of common names for items that have both invasive and non-invasive members in […]
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Question: I saw advice not to clear old plants from gardens too early because beneficial bugs like bees and butterflies overwinter in them. I shared this and my gardening friend, who said she has to clear earlier because she grows fragile daffodils. Will the good bugs be okay if she sets the raked materials aside […]
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Question: I own six acres on Islesboro, approximately two acres of which I would like to turn into a field of wildflowers with a few assorted apple trees and the existing birch and ash trees. I have included an image of the property with a key showing the main “environments.” This property was historically a […]
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Question: I am working on an Annual Plant Sale and am seeking guidance about best practices to share with our plant donors — some of whom will be digging from their gardens — to reduce the likelihood of transferring crazy worms, invasive moths, or other general hangers-on. We always require that plants be potted in […]
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Question: We live in Lyman with about 14 acres. We are interested in planting screening conifers (spruce, hemlock) in our woods to block a nearby house. Also, interested in native shrubs and ground cover for naturalizing in the woods and along the field, and several fruit trees. I’ve looked at your amazing lists of native […]
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