Question: I believe that my tree has Apple Cedar Rust. Is there anything I can do to treat it? Answer: Katherine Garland, Horticulturist You are correct in that it’s a type of Gymnosporangium rust, but it could be one of three distinctly different species of rust. Without a sample to look at more closely, I can’t […]
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Question: What are the best blight resistant tomatoes for our Maine climate? Answer: Pamela Hargest, Horticulture Professional I wouldn’t say there is one tomato that has the best blight resistance since there are several factors to consider, such as what’s available to you locally. If you plan on purchasing tomato seedlings locally, I’d recommend connecting […]
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Question: I have decided to grow potatoes in half whiskey barrels because my garden soil has wire worms in it and is not good for growing potatoes. If I plant them in the barrels, what kind of soil should I use? What should I fertilize them with? Compost? If there is a way to get […]
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Question: How can I get an insect identified? Answer: Pamela Hargest, Horticulture Professional You can mail in a sample to our lab. Here are instructions for how to do so: https://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/submitting-insect-specimens/
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Question: Last season, leaves on some of my rhododendrons show notching that may be due to root weevils. What stage of growth are weevils at now and what is effective treatment for this stage? Answer: Katherine Garland, Horticulturist Our entomologist shared that it’s either the Black Vine Weevil or the Raspberry Weevil doing the damage. […]
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Question: I need help keeping cats out of my gardens. My neighbor’s cat uses my front door gardens as his litter-box. I want to plant herbs in these beds as the sun is right. Help! Answer: Katherine Garland, Horticulturist I’m sorry to hear of your feline troubles. Keeping cats out of the garden is not […]
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Question: How can I control voles in my garden and in my yard? I live in a develop where they are rampant. I am blaming them for eating my tulip and daffodil bulbs as well as vegetable roots. Answer: Abi Griffith, Horticulture Community Education Assistant Sorry to hear about your vole issues! You could check […]
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Question: I have some small creature eating my lettuce. It gets into my greenhouse, which only a small rodent could do. It eats a fair amount of lettuce down to almost ground level. The larger creatures that also devour what I grow — porcupines and skunks — I am able to trap and relocate. I […]
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Question: Our River Birch has leaf spot that I noticed at the end of Sept, 2021. It was followed by an early drop of leaves. Would fertilizing the tree help or do we need to spray with a fungicide? And if spraying is recommended, what is the safest product to use? Answer: Abi Griffith, Horticulture […]
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Question: Japanese Beetles invade my blackberry bushes. How do I kill the insect so they stop destroying my berry bushes? Answer: Abi Griffith, Horticulture Community Education Assistant Japanese beetles can be very frustrating to deal with! For detailed information about the insect’s life cycle and control, see UMaine Extension’s Pest Management Fact Sheet on Japanese […]
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