Question: I would like to use some spearmint growing in a neighbor’s landscape garden. Since the garden is next to the street where dogs are walked, a neighbor in my building (who is hyper cautious, I might add) advised against eating the mint because of concern that dogs may have peed on the plants at […]
Read more
Question: I am wondering if I should add a cover crop to my raised beds this fall/winter? I was growing vegetables in them over the summer and heard a cover crop is a great idea. What type of cover crop to get and how do you get rid of it before next year’s planting? Answer: […]
Read more
Question: I’m getting wild plantain infestation after amending and reseeding my 1,500-square-foot lawn this past spring. I’d like to topdress with compost and new grass seed at the end of this season. Can you recommend the “safest” selective herbicide to control this? Or would you recommend I start new with “safest” broad spectrum herbicide and […]
Read more
Question: I live in Yarmouth, Maine and am looking for land to start a lavender farm. I am starting small, maybe one acre to see how it will go. My limitations would be: zone, 6a, 5b or5a, not very rich, sandy soil, well drained, around one hour drive from Yarmouth. Could you advise where I […]
Read more
In This Issue: September Is the Month to . . . Eager to Expand Your Planting Space? Put Down that Rototiller and Start Layering! Fall Frost Tolerance of Common Vegetables American Goldfinch Pruning Clematis 101 Fall Soil Amendments for the Vegetable Garden Bringing in Herbs for Winter Enjoyment Reader Exchange — More Shade! September Is […]
Read more
Question: As I was inspecting/removing aphids from our young apple trees, I noticed an odd growth on a few of the leaves of one of the trees (a native bred Black Oxford from our local orchard and nursery). My inclination is to cut off any affected leaf to keep this odd growth from spreading, but […]
Read more
Question: With all of the rain in July, I have raspberry plants way over 6′ tall. Few berries this year. Should I cut them back? I don’t want to hurt production next year, but these seem out of control. If cutting is the answer, how much and when? Also, I just planted a new section […]
Read more
Question: I have three varieties of dry beans planted, and the leaves of one of them, Vermont cranberry, look like they have some sort of virus or other disease. Other varieties right next to them (black coco and silver cloud canellini) look fine. Can you give me an idea what it might be and whether […]
Read more
Question: I have been receiving the newsletter for years, this is my first time writing. I have two hydrangea trees that are about 5 ½ feet tall and 7 feet, that were planted about four years ago. They are in bloom and the blossoms captured the rain enough to bend the branches. On the smaller […]
Read more
Question: I have allowed my front yard to become a meadow this year. It is a small front yard in Portland, with two large maple trees along the street. (Plus a third one just on the neighbor’s side of our driveway). Should I mow the meadow this fall, in order to accommodate raking the substantial […]
Read more