Question: I received a blackberry plant from Arkansas as a gift. Should I plant it in my garden? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional What a lovely gift to have received. My answer is yes! With a few caveats: 1) It may depend on what variety/cultivar you have, especially given its Arkansas provenance. Blackberry […]
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Question: I am looking to identify the pathogen effecting half of an established lilac in a coastal town. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional None of the typical lilac ailments leap out as an obvious culprit. But the combination of necrotic leaf tips and margins, and the obvious chlorosis (the pronounced yellowing of the leaves […]
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Question: This morning I found the leaves of native violets that I have planted to be eaten up almost completely! I’m trying to establish a native garden. What do you think is eating them? And do you have any suggestions for me to deter this so the violets can take hold? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home […]
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Question: I’m curious to learn what you folks might think may be the cause for something in and adjacent to one of our flower beds. Last fall, we noticed a mound in the bed. It’s about 1.5′ x 2′ x 4″. The mound is at an end of the bed next to a flagstone patio […]
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Question: Some of my curly parsley plants are yellowing and dying. This happened two years ago. I lost them all. Dug some up and the roots seemed fine. No bugs of any kind that I can see. Last year, I changed planting locations and they all did great. This year, some are starting to die […]
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Question: I have what appears to be a fungal infection in my clover lawn. I need help identifying it and advise for the proper fungicide. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I’m sorry to hear about the clover problems. I believe it’s likely you’re looking at powdery mildew, a common clover ailment in red […]
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Question: I have mature highbush blueberry plants. This year there is FAR fewer berries than in the previous 26 years. I’ve also noticed that several berries (but not all) are dying before they ripen. This seems to happen when they are still white, before turning purple. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I’m sorry […]
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Question: My vegetable garden is overwhelmed with voles. They are living in three of my four raised beds. I’ve tried Mole Max repellent to keep them out of the garden but they are still coming in. What can I do to get rid of them? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I’m very sorry […]
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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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