Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard

Question: I have a happy, healthy bed of annual flowers- cosmos, Mexican sunflowers, zinnias, verbena. I moved a wooden plank into the garden to create a border for the bed. I noticed there were small ants in the board. Since then, my annuals have been wilting and dying and the base of the stem of […]

Question: I have transplanted flocks which had powdery mildew in its first garden to the second garden. In their second garden powdery mildew returned the following summer. I want to plan something different there next year. Do I need to do something to the soil to rid it of the powdery mildew fungus? Answer: Caragh […]

Question: I believe I have purple carrot-seed moth caterpillars in my garden primarily on my dill plants. I would greatly appreciate your help in identifying this caterpillar and if it is invasive? If so how do I get rid of them? Answer: Rebecca Long, Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Professional Your identification is correct, we agree […]

Question: What can be used to effectively repel Japanese beetles from plants?  Presently I use a trap & hand pick beetles several times a day. Answer: Katherine Garland, Horticulturist I’m sorry to hear you’re dealing with a heavy “crop” of Japanese beetles this year. Now is when the adults are most actively feeding and mating, […]

Question: The tops of my Blue Spruce tree turned thin and curly, then brown and the needles have now fallen off.  How do I heal this tree? Answer: Rebecca Long, Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Professional Unfortunately, your spruce has been attacked by White Pine Weevil. This Penn State publication also has good photos. The good news is that […]

Question: I have a huge and beautiful, mature magnolia tree.  For the first time, it’s covered with Magnolia scale and is dripping sticky liquid everywhere! I’m not sure how to get rid of it and hope you have a suggestion. Answer: Katherine Garland, Horticulturist I’m sorry to hear about your magnolia tree scale. Here’s a great […]

Question:  Why does my Yew Tree have brown needles? Answer: Katherine Garland, Horticulturist A number of issues can lead to browning needles. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension would be happy to take a look at a few pictures and learn more about what’s going on in order to hopefully diagnose the issue. Here’s a […]

Question: I have a relatively new golden willow in my front yard that is being slowly girdled by sapsucker holes in the bark. How do I deter the bird, protect the tree, and what should I do to prevent disease and encourage continued growth? The tree has started to send out shoots along the trunk […]

Question:  Do we have Carpenter Ants in Maine and how do you get rid of them?  Answer: Katherine Garland, Horticulturist Yes, we primarily have two species, the Eastern black carpenter ant and the red carpenter ant. If you suspect you have some, we always welcome you to send us a few clear pictures so we […]