Question: Is it safe to use rainwater harvested from an asphalt shingled roof to water my raspberry garden? I am not so much concerned about the bacteria, but wondering about the chemicals from the shingles. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional The short answer is that it’s complicated and different credible sources I found […]
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Question: I have two small flower gardens in my yard. I would like to have native pollinator-friendly flowers, but I am struggling to find greenhouses/plant sales that have specifically native grown plants. Any ideas? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional My first advice is always to call local greenhouses and nurseries to see if […]
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Question: I have a 23-year-old crabapple tree. This past summer and fall the leaves were spotted with black and brown. It only produced small shriveled black fruit. Is there a disease I should be treating for? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Last year was a challenge for all kinds of fruit-bearing trees in […]
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Question: Should I rotate my vegetables in raised beds even if I am taking out about half or more of the soil each year and adding new? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional When possible, crop rotation is always a best practice recommendation to prevent the potential build up of pathogens, though the realities […]
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Question: We live on the coast and after this year’s winter storms, we are considering planting more native sea grasses in the yard. We are hoping they could survive near the tide but out of it and then help hold soil when it is inundated during larger storms. What advice could you provide on this? […]
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Question: One of our garden areas was planted with lavender plants. They have all died off and we want to replant more lavender. Can you tell us what variety of lavender is the hardiest, lasts the longest and is most disease resistant? Also , is there such as thing as using too much peat moss? […]
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Question: We have two ducks and to keep them happy and healthy, this winter I dug out a small pond for them. The pond is approximately 10′ by 18′ with varying depths of 12 to 30+ inches. It’s in a naturally low lying area that tends to be wet for a good part of the […]
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Question: Can unbleached coffee/tea filters and paper bags, such as LunchSkins, be placed in a home compost pile? I attended a lecture that said these items may contain PFAS. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I asked my colleague, Nick Rowley, who is our in-house expert on compost, and I’ll provide his response in […]
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In This Issue: April is the month to… Transplanting Shrubs Spring Hunting for Fiddleheads Featured Volunteer Lydia Mussulman Backyard Bird – Brown-headed Cowbird Responsible Storm Cleanup Advisory Maine Weather and Climate Overview April Is the Month to . . . By Coral Sheldon-Hess, Androscoggin County Master Gardener Volunteer Intern For most of the state, the “expected” last frost date […]
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Question: Alleghany Viburnam dropped leaves which turned brown and curled up. I don’t know if this is an insect or fungus problem or something else. How can I fix? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional I’m not sure from the wording of your question if the leaves browned and curled before or after dropping. […]
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