Question: When do you prune crabapple trees? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community Education Assistant Crabapple trees should ideally be pruned in very late winter or early spring–during their dormant period to minimize risk of the pruning stimulating new growth in the wrong time of year. Plus, it’s a lot easier to see what you’re doing before […]
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Question: How can I remove Bitter Sweet from my yard that is killing trees? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community Education Assistant I’m sorry to hear about your bittersweet woes. Left to its own devices, the plant can really cause some damage in the home landscape and is quite a nuisance, as I’m sure you’re aware. I’m linking […]
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Question: In front of my home on a city street, there is a smallish patch of lawn facing south and east that I would like to get rid of. Can you recommend a few low-maintenance, easily spreading groundcovers and flowering perennials? What is the easiest way (and the best time) to remove the grass? I […]
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Question: Does soil matter to native plants? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community Education Assistant As explained in our UMaine resource, Soil and Plant Nutrition: A Gardener’s Perspective, soil is a critical resource for all plant life, providing plants with anchorage, water, and critical minerals and nutrients, among other things. So, in that sense, soil is just as […]
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Question: We are looking to plant two to three evergreens for privacy. They would be planted next to our small “orchard,” mostly crabapples but we want to try grafting them. Our question is whether evergreens can be planted next to an orchard or whether they would make the soil inhospitable for the fruit trees? The […]
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In This Issue: November Is the Month to . . . Procrastination Is a Good Thing Keeping Pets Safe Around Indoor Plants Brzozowski Retires After More Than 35 Years of Dedication Storm Cleanup Reminders White Breasted Nuthatch Game Review, Kodama: The Tree Spirits November Is the Month to . . . By Kate Garland, Horticulture […]
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Question: I bought two Anne raspberry plants. Should they be cut down now? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community Education Assistant I recommend first familiarizing yourself with the plant’s life cycle in our our Extension video (Growing Raspberries), by Extension Specialist David Hanley; the last part of the video specifically deals with “ever-bearing” varieties like your ‘Anne.’ Then move […]
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Question: I have an old apple tree that is a family landmark. It is very overgrown and produces tiny apples. I would like to rejuvenate it. Are there any resources about pruning and care? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community Education Assistant You’ll find all the answer you need for pruning your apple trees in our UMaine […]
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Question: I grow King of the North bell peppers each year and for the last several years, some of them have spots. The spots start from the inside of the peppers and eventually are on the outside skin and form dark rotted spots. There is no insect damage that I can see, no holes or […]
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Question: I want to best prepare my beds for next spring. I think I’ve missed the boat on cover crop. Should I mulch my raised beds? I have ample access to leaves and pine needles. I also have garlic overwintering in one bed. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Community Education Assistant It is a bit too late […]
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