Maine Home Garden News Archives
University of Maine Cooperative Extension’s Maine Home Garden News is a local resource designed to equip home gardeners with practical information. Peruse our past issues for seasonal tips and research-based articles on all aspects of gardening. Articles are written by UMaine Extension specialists, educators, and horticulture professionals, as well as Master Gardener Volunteers from around Maine.
2021
- Titles to Inspire Young Gardeners
- Wreaths and Garlands — Check Before You Buy
- Eastern Bluebird
- Tips for Growing Houseplants in Maine Series
- Send Holiday Cheer, Not Pests: Follow Out-Of-State Plant Health Regulations
- Practical Gifts for the Gardener on Your List
- November Is the Month to . . .
- Why Do Insects Have to Be Either ‘Beneficial’ or ‘Pests’?
- City Rat, Country Rat — Prevent Your Garden from Being a Source of Unwanted Rodent Pests
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Curbside Composting Programs
- The Winter Harvest Handbook, by Eliot Coleman (2009)
- October Is the Month to . . .
- Mushrooms on Lawns
- Obsolete Pesticide Disposal
- Vagrant Hummingbirds
- A Review of Northeastern Garden Book (Sunset Publishing Corp., 2001)
- Common Witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
- Eye-Spotted Lady Beetle (Anatis mali)
- Reader Exchange — Making Lemonade Out of Lemons
- September Is the Month to . . .
- Eager to Expand Your Planting Space? Put Down that Rototiller and Start Layering!
- Fall Frost Tolerance of Common Vegetables
- American Goldfinch
- Pruning Clematis 101
- Fall Soil Amendments for the Vegetable Garden
- Bringing in Herbs for Winter Enjoyment
- Reader Exchange — More Shade!
- August Is the Month to . . .
- Protect Your Yard and Garden from Deer
- Crazy Worms in Maine
- Why Can’t I Grow Gooseberries and Currants in Maine?
- Harvest Hints
- Reader Exchange: Got Sun?
- Stay in the Loop with What’s Happening with Maine’s Trees
- July Is the Month to . . .
- Garden CSI – How to Think Like a Diagnostician
- UMaine Extension Debuts New Food and Nutrition Blog
- Farmer Donations of Seedlings on the Rise
- Cookbooks for Gardeners
- Black Swallow-wort, the Bane of the Garden
- Ornamental Pests
- Why Are My Cucurbits Wilting?
- Year of the Sunflower Article Update
- June Is the Month to . . .
- Extending the Peony Season
- Quick Tip: Grow More Basil from Cuttings
- Supporting Your Tomatoes 101
- Five Basic Guidelines for Planting and Caring for Trees and Shrubs
- Now is the Time to Be Thinking About Saving Seed
- Featured Container Garden
- Year of the Sunflower
- Tiny Swede Midge Causes Big Crop Damage in Maine
- May Is the Month to . . .
- Pollinator Garden at the Langlais Sculpture Preserve
- Using Row Covers in the Garden
- Featured Container Garden
- Planting Chart for the Home Vegetable Garden
- Testing for Lead in Maine’s Soils
- Best Practices for Plant Sale Donors and Buyers in Maine
- April Is the Month for . . .
- Tips for Purchasing Healthy Plants and Seeds, and Preventing the Spread of Invasive Species
- Ask the Expert
- Plant Rotation in the Garden Based on Plant Families
- You Can Grow Sweet Potatoes in Maine
- Plant Monster: Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides)
- A Review of A Year in the Maine Woods by Bernd Heinrich (1994)
- Reader Exchange
- Upcoming Learning Opportunities
- March Is the Month to . . .
- Calendar of Apple Orchard Management Activities
- Protecting Home Gardens from Mammals: Fencing
- Season Extension in Action
- Backyard Bird of the Month
- Proposed State Rules to Slow the Spread of Emerald Ash Borer
- Upcoming Learning Opportunities
- A Note from the Editor
- February Is the Month to . . .
- What to Love About Bare Root Plants
- How to Clean and Sharpen Your Pruners
- Show Your Love for Pollinators
- Maine Pumpkin Growers Organization
- Don’t Miss the “Heads Up” Provided by the Detection of a Browntail Moth Web in Smyrna
- Fireside Learning Opportunities
- A Treasure Trove of Information
2020
- Letter From the Editor
- Contributing Volunteers & Staff
- Thanks for Sharing Your Successes!
- Bonus Article: Keeping a Garden Record
- October Is the Month to . . .
- An Interview with Phil Gaven, Proprietor of The Honey Exchange
- Seaweed in the Home Garden
- Betty Lynn Carr
- Design Lessons from My Mistakes
- Leave the Leaves!
- Monthly features:
- September Is the Month to . . .
- Cocktails in the Garden — Pandemic-style
- Gardener Profile: Lisa Colburn
- Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer
- Wild Seed Project Profile
- UMaine Extension Offers Pollinator-friendly Garden Certification
- Monthly features:
- August Is the Month to . . .
- Gardener Profile: Carol and Vinal Smith
- Lead in Maine’s Soil
- Sphex pensylvanicus: The Great Black Wasp
- The Buzz of Bees
- Covid-19 Information for Farmers’ Market Shoppers
- Bees of Maine: Family Colletidae
- A Review of The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben (2016)
- Gardener Confessions: Mistakes, We’ve Made a Few… (Part 2)
- Maine Bureau of Agriculture Warns of Unsolicited Packages of Seeds from China
- Monthly features:
- July Is the Month to . . .
- Lenore Tipping and Tom Spitz
- Label Interpretation
- Bees of Maine
- Oxford Garden
- A Review of A Field Guide to Your Own Back Yard by John Hanson (1999)
- Gardener Confessions: Mistakes, We’ve Made a Few… (Part 1)
- Monthly Features:
- June Is the Month to . . .
- Gardener Profile: Herb Crosby
- Bees of Maine: Family Halictidae
- Doug Tallamy Invites Gardeners to Create a Homegrown National Park
- Growing Vegetables and Herbs in Part Sun
- Monthly features:
- May Is the Month to . . .
- Conway Homestead Garden in Camden: A Dream Come True
- A Review of The Moth Snowstorm by Michael McCarthy (2015)
- Bees of Maine: Family Megachilidae
- Advice for the Transplanted Gardener
- Growing Potatoes in Grow Bags
- Building an Accessible V-Bed Garden
- Learning Opportunities for Maine Gardeners
- “Tick Tock”: Lyme Disease Awareness Month
- Monthly features:
- April Is the Month to . . .
- Meet Your Farmers: Peter and Julie Beckford of Rebel Hill Farm, Liberty, Maine
- Pruning Raspberries and Blackberries
- The Garden Primer
- Tiny Swede Midge Causes Big Crop Damage in Maine
- Family Apidae, Bees of Maine
- A Note from the Editor
- Monthly features:
- March Is the Month to . . .
- Volunteer Profile: Hospitality House
- Five Favorite Ways to Use a Cold Frame This Spring
- Book Review: Mark Richardson and Dan Jaffe’s book, Native Plants for New England Gardens
- Native Plant Profile: Amelanchier
- Rural Living Day, April 4, 2020
- NEW monthly features:
2019
October 2019
- October Is the Month to . . .
- Is Your Yard a Bare Cupboard for Pollinators?
- Western Conifer Seed Bug
- Gaultheria Procumbens
- Fun and Challenges of Building a Community Garden
- Fall is for Food Safety
September 2019
- September Is the Month to . . .
- Hügelkultur: Make Beautiful Soil with Woody Debris!
- Aphids
- Daffodil Tribute: United We Bloom
- Monarch Butterfly Research App
- Growing to Give
- How to Turn Your Harvest into Value-Added Products to Sell
August 2019
- August Is the Month to . . .
- How to Divide Perennials in Late Summer and Early Fall
- The American Pelecinid Wasp
- False Anemone
- Climate Impacts on Maine Wild Blueberry Farms
- Growing Beauty and History in Somerset County
- Drying Your Garlic
July 2019
- July Is the Month to . . .
- Crop Rotation for Home Gardeners
- Managing Invasive Plants in Maine
- Japanese Stewartia
- Growing with Children at Camp Discovery on Webb Pond
- The Missing Ingredient: Adherence of Food Blog Salsa Recipes to Home Canning Guidelines
June 2019
- June Is the Month to . . .
- What Does Organic Gardening Really Mean?
- Moths: Another Important Backyard Pollinator
- Sundial Lupine
- Climate Impacts on Vegetable Farms: Interview with Lauchlin, Titus, CPAg
- Rose Chafer
- Maine Harvest for Hunger
May 2019
- May Is the Month to . . .
- The Economics of Starting Seeds Indoors
- Lyme Disease
- Cecropia and the Dangers of Introduced Species
- American Hazelnut
- Passport to Summer Fun Project
- Food Safety and Infused Water
April 2019
- April Is the Month to . . .
- Home Grafting Techniques
- Crazy Worms in Maine
- Blue Cohosh
- Adopt a Family: A Unique Approach to Matching Small-scale Growers with Young Maine Families
- Food Safety and Backyard Flock
March 2019
- March Is the Month to . . .
- How to Make a Twiggy Trellis
- Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
- Award-Winning Tomato Varieties
- Auburn Community Garden Initiative
- Food Safety Training for Volunteers
2018
October 2018
- October Is the Month to . . .
- Avoid Ticks While Enjoying Your Garden
- Lindera benzoin
- Blaine House Gardens
- Relish
September 2018
- September Is the Month to . . .
- Establishing a Wildflower Garden from Seed
- Goldenrods and Asters
- Slow Growth Approach and Dedicated Volunteers Produce Big Results at Manchester Elementary School
- Unicorn Root
- Specialty Ingredients Used in Preserving Pickles
August 2018
- August Is the Month to . . .
- Now Is a Great Time to Take Stem Cuttings
- Anenome ‘Honorine Jobert’
- Ecotat Gardens and Arboretum
- Preserving Tomatillos
July 2018
- July Is the Month to . . .
- Weed Control Methods
- Viburnum lentago (nannyberry)
- Gardens at UMaine’s 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Blueberry Cove
- Starting a Value-Added Food Business
June 2018
- June Is the Month to . . .
- Neonicotinoids
- Minimizing Disease Pressure
- Miniature Rose Plants
- Forest Hills Gardens in Jackman
- Ways to Use Less Sugar in Homemade Jams and Jellies
May 2018
- May Is the Month to . . .
- Invasive Blooms that Belie their Nasty Tendencies
- Kids Can Grow: Twenty Years of Youth Gardening and Still Growing
- Planting for Fall — How Late Can You Plant?
- Refrigerator Spring Pickles
- No Ticks 4 ME
April 2018
- April Is the Month to . . .
- Finding Gardening-Life Balance
- Getting Your Garden Tools Ready for the Season
- Using Fresh Herbs in Cooking
March 2018
- March Is the Month to . . .
- Practice Pruning Trees and Shrubs
- Maine Wild Leek Project!
- Sowing the Seeds of Gleaning
- Master Food Preserver: A Decade of Success!
2017
October 2017
- October Is the Month to . . .
- Fir Tip and Wreath Season
- Cephalanthus occidentalis (Common Buttonbush)
- Piscataquis Passport Project
- When It’s Time to Store Canning Supplies…
September 2017
- September Is the Month to . . .
- Leek Moth
- New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
- In-Field and Farmers Market Gleaning
- Preserving Tomatoes
August 2017
- August Is the Month to . . .
- Northern Bayberry
- Not Your Grandmother’s Cutting Garden
- Fair Season in Maine
- The Cost of Preserving in Maine
July 2017
- July Is the Month to . . .
- Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine)
- Growing Peppers Mild and HOT!
- Maine State Beekeepers Are Buzzing Around the State
- Freezing Green Beans
June 2017
- June Is the Month to . . .
- Sunflowers
- Understanding Weeds to Understand Weed Control
- Community Garden at the Dempsey Center for Cancer, Hope and Healing
- Garlic Scapes and Freezing Pesto
May 2017
- May Is the Month to . . .
- Testing Your Garden Soil
- The Tom Settlemire Community Garden, Brunswick
- Be Tick Smart to Prevent Tickborne Diseases
- Fiddleheads and Rhubarb: Maine Foods for May
April 2017
- April Is the Month to . . .
- Gardening is for the Birds!
- Maine Harvest for Hunger’s Collaboration with Southern York County Food Pantries
- Wild Leeks (Allium tricoccum)
- Food Safety for Food Pantry Donations
March 2017
- March Is the Month to . . .
- Gardening for Biodiversity
- Acer species
- “Plant a Pollinator Garden!” Kicks Off at Maine Flower Show
- Sprout Safety
2016
October 2016
- October Is the Month to . . .
- Give Hardworking Garden Tools a Good Conditioning before Putting Them Away
- Merrymeeting Gleaners
- Grow a Little Garlic
- Making Better Baked Goods
September 2016
- September Is the Month to . . .
- Understanding How Drought Impacts Our Landscape
- Redvein Enkianthus
- Westrum House in Topsham
- Preserving Relish Safely
August 2016
- August Is the Month to . . .
- Sowing Native Seeds
- Wildflowers
- Master Gardener Mentors
- New “Choice” Salsa Recipe
July 2016
- July Is the Month to . . .
- Plan Now for Delicious Nutritious Fall Greens
- Plant of the Month: A Spring Perennial Classic
- University of Maine Gardens at Tidewater Farm
- Freezing and Using Leafy Greens
June 2016
- June Is the Month to . . .
- Plant of the Month: Old Gardener Finds a New Plant
- What I Did on My Summer Vacation — the Prequel
- Learning and Laughter: The Hancock/Washington County Master Gardener Book Club
- Storing and Preparing Homegrown Vegetables for Optimal Nutrition
May 2016
- May Is the Month to . . .
- What is a Community Garden?
- Iris
- Fiddleheads and Rhubarb — Maine Foods for May
April 2016
- April Is the Month to . . .
- Maine Wild Leek Project
- “Kid’s Harvest!” in Standish Maine
- Wild Tulips
- Basic “Your Choice” Vinaigrette
March 2016
- March Is the Month to . . .
- Prune Your Blueberries!
- Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)
- Two Years of One TomatoTM
- Make Mine REAL Maple Syrup!
2015
October 2015
- October is the Month to
- Winter Is the Time to
- Help Us Celebrate Farm to School Month!
- Meet Maine’s Master Gardeners: John Beraud
- How to Prepare Winter Squash
September 2015
- September Is the Month to . . .
- Co-existing with Woodchucks in the Garden
- Fiddleheads: Grow Your Own!
- Meet Maine’s Master Gardeners: Elissa Gifford
- Let’s Preserve Tomatoes!
August 2015
- August Is the Month to . . .
- Cultivating a New Generation of Gardeners
- Managing Landscape Plants in Clay Soil
- The Importance of Light in Raising Chickens for Eggs
- Meet Maine’s Master Gardeners: Karen Conlon
July 2015
- July Is the Month to . . .
- In the Orchard
- Let’s Preserve: Dried Herbs
- York County Master Gardener “Diggin’ It” Garden Tour
- July Is the Time to Plan for Cover Crops
- Topsham Public Library Garden Projects
- Savor the Season
- Pickling: Beyond Cucumbers
June 2015
- June Is the Month to . . .
- Growing Vegetables in Clay Soil
- The Seed — What a Remarkable Package!
- Meet Maine’s Master Gardeners: Pat Bears
- Green Beans
May 2015
- May Is the Month to . . .
- Mini-hoophouse for the Home Garden
- Lyme Disease Awareness
- The DEAN Garden: A Master Gardener Volunteer Project for People Living with HIV
- Using Fresh Herbs in the Kitchen
April 2015
- April Is the Month to . . .
- Perennial Food Crops for Your Backyard
- An Edible Landscape
- Enticing Beneficial Insects to Your Garden
- The Penobscot County Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at Rogers Farm
- Edible Wild Spring Greens: Fiddleheads and More!
- Maine Greenhouse and Nursery Day
March 2015
- March Is the Month to . . .
- Maine Gardening Challenges for 2015
- One Tomato Project
- Glass Gem Corn
- Planning a Preserving Garden
2014
October 2014
- October Is the Month to . . .
- Are You Thinking of Raising Poultry?
- School Gardening Programs
- Facts About Leaf Color in Maine
- Winter Squash and Pumpkins
September 2014
- September Is the Month to . . .
- How to Harvest and Store Onions and Winter Squash
- Root Cellaring
- Master Garden Project Profile: The Garden Angel Project
- Ripen and Preserve End of Season Green Tomatoes
August 2014
- August Is the Month to . . .
- Native Perennials for Late Season Bee Gardens
- Cover Crops for the Home Gardener
- Tomatoes: Maine Foods for August
July 2014
- July Is the Month to . . .
- July is a Big Month for Garlic
- Community Garden at the Dempsey Center for Cancer, Hope and Healing
- Four Season Garden Structures for the Maine Home Garden
- Working To Reduce School Food Waste
- Freezing Garden Vegetables
June 2014
- June Is the Month to . . .
- Methods of Pest Control
- Honey Bees
- Environmentally Sound Gardening Tips
- Brae Maple Farm Project Embodies Gardening’s Social Benefits
- Washing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
May 2014
- May Is the Month to . . .
- Pruning Forsythia
- Manage Invasive Plants
- The Seed — What a Remarkable Package!
- Garden Clubs Project at Long Creek in South Portland
- Fiddleheads and Rhubarb: Maine Foods for May
April 2014
- April Is the Month to . . .
- Selecting Your Garden Tools Depending on the Job at Hand
- Donation Gardens
- Planting in Jackman
- Storing and Preparing Homegrown Vegetables for Optimal Nutrition
March 2014
- March Is the Month to . . .
- Peas in the Home Garden
- Plan to Keep It Covered!
- Skowhegan History House Heirloom Gardens
- Sprout Safety
2013
October 2013
- October Is the Month to . . .
- National Farm to School Month
- Using School Gardens and the Master Gardener Curriculum in High School
- Skowhegan Rain Garden
September 2013
- September Is the Month to . . .
- So You’ve Had a Bad Gardening Year
- Winter Storage of Some Vegetables
- Root Cellar Project — York County
August 2013
- August Is the Month to . . .
- August Blooming Native Perennials
- When is Hardneck Garlic Ready to Harvest?
- Tomato Hornworms (and Other Pests)
- Redesign Your Home Landscape: Add a New Room!
- Palermo Community Garden Offers a Hands-on Connection to Food
July 2013
- July Is the Month to . . .
- Six Common Ways that People Unknowingly Damage or Kill Trees
- Birds and Bees Basics
- Food Corps Success in Maine
June 2013
May 2013
- May Is the Month to . . .
- The Buzz About Bee Gardens
- Japanese Knotweed
- What’s In That Compost?
- Master Gardener Volunteer to Bring Gardening to Waterville School
April 2013
March 2013
- March Is the Month to . . .
- Columnar Fruit Trees
- Spotted Wing Drosophila
- Lois Murphy Kindness Garden, Falmouth
2012
October 2012
- October Is the Month to . . .
- Sweet Haven Farm Harvest For Hunger Project
- Fall: A Good Time to Apply Compost
- Garden Curiosities
September 2012
- September Is the Month to . . .
- Kids Can Grow, Bangor
- Winter Squash & Pumpkins
- Low Cost Foods and Winter Meals
August 2012
- August Is the Month to . . .
- Gardening at the Veterans’ Home
- Anonymous Ambersnail
- South Portland Resident Donates Lawn to Hunger Relief
- 4th Annual Backyard Locavore Day
July 2012
- July Is the Month to . . .
- Mosquitoes
- Are You Berry Smart?
- Morris Farm Master Gardener Volunteers Strive for Continuous Harvest
June 2012
May 2012
- May Is the Month to . . .
- Soil Temperature as a Guide to Spring Planting
- Reasons for Not Establishing Vegetable Gardens on Septic System Disposal Fields
- Changing the Culture of Lawn Care
April 2012
- April Is the Month to . . .
- How to Have Your Own Cranberry Garden
- Deer Resistant Ornamental Plants
- Maine AgrAbility
March 2012
2011
October 2011
September 2011
- September Is the Month to . . .
- Planting Trees Successfully in the Fall
- Keeping Cats Out of the Garden
- Lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)
August 2011
- August Is the Month to . . .
- Six Common Ways that People Unknowingly Damage or Kill Trees
- Evaluating Your Garden Mid-Season
July 2011
- July Is the Month to . . .
- Caring for the Woody Plants in Your Home Landscape
- Cover Crops for Season’s End
June 2011
May 2011
- May Is the Month to . . .
- Early Start for Your Garden
- Healthy Gardeners = Healthy Gardens
- Spring Ephemerals
April 2011
March 2011
2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
- July Is the Month to . . .
- Growing Garlic in Maine
- Sweet Autumn Olive
- Protecting Yourself from Ticks
June 2010
May 2010
- May Is the Month to . . .
- Deer in My Garden!
- How to Rejuvenate Your Old, Overgrown Lilac
- Using Plastic Mulches and Row Covers