Maine Home Garden News

Where I can buy ladybugs?

Question: I was wondering if you sell or know where I can buy ladybugs? It was recommended to us last year to prevent certain microscopic bugs (that I can’t remember) on some of our bushes. Answer: Sustainable Agriculture Professional/Professional I We do not sell ladybugs through extension in Maine. However, here are two great resources […]

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Which hedge plants do well in wet areas?

Question: I have a very wet area/spring in full sun on my property close to an access. I’m thinking of planting some sort of hedge to keep vehicles from getting mired in the mud every spring and tearing up the ground. Do you have recommendations for a hedge plant that would do well where it’s […]

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What should I do to prepare my raised bed garden for planting?

Question: I have a raised garden bed that I have used for two years so far. I was wondering what I should do to prepare it for this year’s planting? Do I need to change the soil or fortify it? Answer: Pamela Hargest, Horticulture Professional I encourage you to submit a sample to our lab […]

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What’s the best way to deter miner bees without killing them?

Question: We recently discovered quite the community of miner bees near our home we recently purchased. They are living within a patch of ground that is about eight feet long and two feet wide between our walkway and our driveway. The entire patch is filled with different miner bee colonies. I know that they are […]

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How can I turn my lawn into a native wild flower pasture?

Question: I’m a new gardener living in York, Maine. I have a very large yard, but was hoping to “rewild” an area of lawn. My goal would be to create a native wild flower pasture, perhaps with native shrubs and trees. However, I have no idea where to start. Is there anyone or any resources […]

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Is it too early to pull the mulch off my garlic plants?

Question: The garlic I planted last fall — Russian Red and Italian varieties from FedCo — are coming up with green shoots now well above the straw mulch I put down. It still gets cold at night, low 30s, and we had wet snow yesterday. Should I go ahead and pull the mulch off? Leave […]

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My lilac trees aren’t looking good. What can I do?

Question: I have three lilac trees. All three of them are very thinned out, not many buds. What can I do? Are they dead? They are all in a sunny spot. Answer: Kate Garland, Horticultural Professional Lilacs typically do well in windy and salty sites. If your plants haven’t had any signs of disease and […]

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How should I move my irises and day lilies without wrecking them?

Question: I have irises and day lilies in my garden. Now they have moved themselves to the Eastern side of the garden. (surprise, surprise) I need to move them, but don’t want to wreck them. The irises are all hooked together. If I break them, do I lose that part? Also, some of the lilies […]

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