Question: Our vegetable garden shows too high levels of pH (7.3-7.5) in all the beds and rows according to soil samples processed by UMaine Extension. We began to establish the garden nearly 50 years ago on a glacial moraine. The soil type us predominantly Naumberg Sand and Gravel. The advice from UMaine Extension was to […]
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Question: For three years something has been causing the leaves on my ape trees to turn brown and fall off. This begins about the first of August. By late September some of the trees are leafless. It starts on the lower branches and works its way up. It also affects plum and pear trees. Would […]
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Question: Can you suggest any white annuals that will grow in part shade that slugs don’t touch? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Slugs can be quite a headache in the garden, as you no doubt already know! Good growing practices to mitigate the pest’s impact include removing bricks, flat board, old flower pots, etc., that […]
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Question: I am interested in native shrubs or small trees that would provide berries/fruit for birds in winter. What would you suggest? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Thank you for reaching out to the UMaine Cooperative Extension with your question.Furthermore, thank you for thinking of our native birds during winter and the ways in […]
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Question: I live on an island and would like to plant a dogwood. I have read that they hold up well to wind. Would one suffer from the southwest breeze/wind that we get off the ocean? If it would be okay in that spot, is there a problem in this area with the Pagoda being […]
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Question: I had a quite a lot of moss growing in my raised beds. I’m sure the heavy rain didn’t help. I am going to get the soil tested. What is the best course of action for the moss—remove it or dig it under? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional You’re absolutely right that […]
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Question: I have been using landscape cloth to reduce the weeds in my garden. I have been reading that this material is not good and that there are better alternatives but I haven’t seen what the alternatives are. Are there better alternatives and if so, what do you recommend? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach […]
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Question: I have recently discovered what I believe to be jumping worms in my compost pile. I am very concerned about my plants and soil. How much damage can I expect and is there anything I can’t do to mitigate? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional The Asian jumping worm is rapidly becoming quite a headache for […]
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Question: I’d like to put in a Redbud tree. The tree in question is now in a large pot, but the branches are devoid of leaves. I’ve always understood autumn is a great time to plant perennial shrubs and small trees. So… is it too late to plant this tree – there is a week […]
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Question: What are the best native ornamental grasses to plant on a septic drainage field in zone 5a/4b? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional As you may know, leach fields are specially engineered structures and care must be taken with anything planted on top of them, as deep root systems can clog, damage, or otherwise […]
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