Question: The UVM Extension services appeared to indicate that I might be able to get plant materials tested (for a fee of course) through the Maine Extension services. I have plants growing where there is known to be lead. I would like to test parts of the plants to see if lead is showing up […]
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Question: I’ve planted flowers and left my yard unmown for several years for a pollinator garden. Some of my neighbors think I should mow it this year. Should I? If yes, how short? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I’m assuming the issue is whether mowing is beneficial to the pollinator garden, and not […]
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Question: Can you give me recommendations on how to control purple loosestrife? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional This is purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), the pretty, but wildly aggressive colonizer of fields, wetlands and roadsides all across Maine. The bad news is that it’s extremely difficult to control–it seeds prolifically, forms dense and resilient […]
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Question: I have two 20-year-old lilac trees that have a gray-white fungus all over it’s bark, both old and new growth. It is silky to touch. I have taken out some dead branches and it seems as though some of the foliage is dying in places. Is this something I should be concerned about? Is […]
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Question: I have wildflower gardens that wraps around my house. In one section, I am battling what I believe to be Canada thistle. Initially, I was cutting off the stems at the base and spraying the remains with 30% vinegar. However, because I have such a large patch of it I found that to be […]
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Question: How do you deal with June bugs/asiatic beetles? They’re targeting our basil, and any fresh transplants in our garden. We have made light and soapy water traps, but curious if there are any organic methods for getting them at the larval stage so they don’t emerge and cause damage? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture […]
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Question: Some branches of leaves are turning brown on my Sunburst Locust tree. There are no webs so I’ve kind of ruled out the webworm. What could be causing the problem? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional There are a number of reasons why tree leaves can brown, both biotic (e.g., pests and pathogens) […]
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Question: I had a tomato plant that I pulled with strongly suspected fusarium wilt (yellowing leaves on one side and when I cut open the stem it showed the brown striping along the outer ring). I have a couple of questions: – is fruit from fusarium infected plants safe to eat? Most of what I […]
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Question: I planted asparagus about six weeks ago, in trenches 8-10″ deep, following directions. The directions also said to cover up new growth when it came, but it came almost overnight, with stalks several inches high, which seemed uncoverable. I haven’t done anything, and now they are feathery and plentiful…should I cut them off and […]
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Question: I have a grape pruning question. I planted three new grape plants in late May. I have since learned that I should have pruned them down to 1-2 primary stalks after planting, but I didn’t do that. I am wondering if I should do this now or wait until their dormant period, Jan-Mar next […]
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