Maine Home Garden News

Maine Master Gardener Volunteer Newsletter -June 2025

In this issue… Upcoming MGV Training Summer of Pollinators Volunteering at Events and Speaking Engagements New MGV Dashboard Features New Resources Spring Program Highlights Support the Master Gardener Volunteer Program Greetings, Master Gardener Volunteers! A little (or a lot) of rain this spring hasn’t stopped you from making a difference in your community! Check out […]

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How do you get rid of aphids covering a Dappled Willow?

Question: We have a beautiful Dappled Willow Tree in our yard that is in full flower mode. It is about eight-feet tall with a width of about the same. It is full of aphids. How do we get rid of such pests on a bush so large?  Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Lovely […]

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Is alfalfa meal recommended for application on flower beds and vegetable gardens?

Question: I’ve recently heard alfalfa meal is recommended for general application on flower beds and vegetable gardens. I need more information about using this amendment. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Alfalfa meal is a common organic soil amendment derived from alfalfa (Medicago sativa) crops, and it offers a low NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium… in the 3-1-2 range) […]

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close up look at tiny bright red wild strawberries growing alongside a dandelion and other low growing plants. 

Maine Home Garden News June

In This Issue: June Is the Month to . . . Hero Hover Flies Pollinator Ponderings: Let’s Talk Pollinator-Friendly Annuals Chelsea Chop for Native Plants Invasive Plant Educational Workshops At-Home courses for Maine Gardeners Bird of the Month: Eastern Phoebe Maine Weather and Climate Overview Ten Things to Know About Emerald Ash Borer in Maine […]

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Is there an effective, natural way to get rid of ants in my lawn?

Question: Is there an effective, natural way to get rid of ants in my lawn? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional The short answer to your question is, unfortunately, “not really.” The typical “natural” approaches are things like boiling water, horticultural vinegar, etc.–none of them will kill enough of the ants to make a […]

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delicate white flowers on a tree in the woods.

Maine Home Garden News May 2025

In This Issue: May Is the Month to . . . Embracing Herbivory Backyard Bird of the Month: Barn Swallow Help Us Grow Communities and Gardens Across Maine Gardening in a Rental Book Review: Peony: The Best Varieties for Your Garden by  David C. Michener and Carol A. Adelman (Timber Press, 2017, 247 pp.) Maine […]

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close up image of a purple flower growing up through fallen leaves. 

Maine Home Garden News April 2025

In This Issue: April Is the Month to . . . A How-To Guide for Creating Sustainable Staking in Your Garden Soil Erosion in the Home Landscape Backyard Bird of the Month: Brown Creeper Keystone Plants: Giants of the Pollinator-Friendly Garden Maine’s Community Garden Map Ask an Expert: Can Meadows and Orchards Mix? Maine Weather […]

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