Question: I have several nine bark shrubs planted beneath large pine trees. I usually rake up the pine needles around them in the fall, leaving compacted dirt. The dirt produces weeds throughout the summer. I was wondering if it would be okay to leave the pine needles as mulch around them, thus inhibiting weed growth. […]
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Question: I have tried to reseed the bare spots in my lawn with little success. I looked online at winter seeding a lawn (Dec.-Feb.) and it shows a germination rate of up to 75% in the spring. Is this something that would work in our zone? If so, what seed mix/manufacturer would you recommend? Answer: […]
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In This Issue: November Is the Month to . . . Backyard Bird of the Month–White-throated Sparrow Put Culture Back into Agriculture Roasted Garlic Brussels Sprouts Finding Joy in a Hard Gardening Year Ask the Expert Q&A Maine Weather and Climate Overview (November) Gifts for the Gardener November Is the Month to . . . […]
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Question: I grow Juliet tomatoes each year primarily for fresh eating and freezing for sauce. This year I planted late due to weather. Of interest, I use no chemicals/sprays etc, only addition is bone meal. My question is…what is causing black spots and are they safe to freeze/ process? Should I treat the soil in […]
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Question: I am wondering if there is any information on greenhouse gardening in Maine specifically a planting schedule for later harvest. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Special Projects Assistant Greenhouse gardening in Maine is a broad topic, ranging from backyard cold frames to huge commercial operations. Because this is our home horticulture site, I’m assuming you are looking for information on […]
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Question: I was wondering if you can tell me when and how to trim my hedge row of arborvitae? I need to cut off about six to eight feet off the height of this hedge row. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Special Projects Assistant Arborvitae can be topped, but you do run the risk of leaving some […]
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Question: The former owners of our home had planted many Rosa rugosa plants, which faces southeast and gets plenty of sun. I’d like to replace these with more interesting plants and would love your suggestions. Maybe SHORT height hydrangea, some evergreens, peonies? I’d like it to be attractive through all seasons, and low maintenance. Answer: […]
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Question: I have five blueberries that I planted last year and this year. The leaves are red/yellow and falling off. They have been like this since early summer. Any thoughts? Do I need to make the soil more acidic? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Special Projects Assistant As you know, blueberries are deciduous plants (meaning they shed […]
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Question: We just acquired property with three old apple trees that have not been taken care of in years. We are looking for someone to come help us prune the trees and teach us how to care for them. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Special Projects Assistant While the Cooperative Extension does not have the resources to […]
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Question: I have a large area of rosa rugosa in the yard of the house I moved to last year. We would really like to remove/kill it so that it does not continue to take over the rest of the yard and plantings. The area is around 100 feet by 20 ft currently, so digging […]
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