Question: Is it safe to plant vegetables in the blue 55 gallon barrels if they previously contained white vinegar? Or will the vinegar kill the plants? The barrels have been thoroughly washed. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I don’t think the previous presence of vinegar presents any immediate threat to the plants themselves. […]
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Question: What are some mitigation/elimination recommendations for Lesser Celandine that has become well established in lawn and near fresh water wells? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Please take a look at this response from Ask Extension, which references a nice article on the plant from the Ohio State Univ Extension. You’ll see options for chemical control […]
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In This Issue: May is the month to . . . How to Build a Zig Zag Garden (4-Post Trellised Garden) Plant Identification Apps Beet Growing 101 Backyard bird of the month: Red-Eyed Vireo Mainely Dish: Rhubarb Muffins Ask the Expert Maine Weather and Climate Overview (May 2024) May Is the Month to . . […]
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Question: How safe is it to use horticultural vinegar on graveled drives? Is it safe to use it close to a well? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional “Safe” is always a relative term when using chemical interventions in the garden–horticultural vinegar is a 20% solution of acetic acid (4x stronger than household vinegar), […]
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Question: The warm weather can be deceiving. Is this a good time to plant vegetable seedlings in Maine or should I continue to wait? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I feel and share your sense of urgency with the sudden influx of nice days. For planting out, I recommend MOFGA’s planting calendar–as you can […]
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Question: Last spring we planted an ornamental crabapple and there are a few crossing branches that we would like to prune out. We’ve waited because we were still getting snow but in looking things up online, we are now wondering if we left it too late. is it okay to prune it now or should […]
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Question: I am looking for suggestions on shade-friendly flowering plants or shrubs that slugs do not like. I’m open to all colors and annuals or perennials. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I have two resources to recommend: UMaine Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet #5036 “Slugs” (for identifying and managing the slug population in your garden) […]
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Question: I am wondering if I should try to gently rake out my fern patch before the ferns start to grow. Some cites suggest only cutting back the spent seed pods – never rake. It is a rather large patch. Perhaps I should just leave things alone and let the spent material fertilize the area […]
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Question: I am the chair of the grounds committee at a condo. We are discussing mulch, including using pine in place of other sources. I would appreciate it if you would direct me to information on: 1. Why use mulch? 2. Pro/con of different mulch 3. Is mulch good for windy conditions? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home […]
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Question: Wild violets are taking over area of front lawn and garden. What is the best way to rid them without harmful chemicals? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I’m sorry to hear about the violet problems. Unfortunately, as you can read in this fantastic resource on wild violets from Penn State Univ’s Extension, “[w]ild […]
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