{"id":26032,"date":"2025-04-30T10:30:18","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T14:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/?p=26032"},"modified":"2025-05-05T10:17:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T14:17:06","slug":"maine-home-garden-news-may-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/2025\/04\/30\/maine-home-garden-news-may-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Maine Home Garden News May 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>In This Issue:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#month\">May Is the Month to . . .<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-1\">Embracing Herbivory<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-2\">Backyard Bird of the Month: Barn Swallow<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-3\">Help Us Grow Communities and Gardens Across Maine<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-4\">Gardening in a Rental<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-5\">Book Review: <em>Peony: The Best Varieties for Your Garden <\/em>by\u00a0 David C. Michener and Carol A. Adelman (Timber Press, 2017, 247 pp.)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#article-6\">Maine Weather and Climate Overview<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"month\"><\/a>May Is the Month to . . .<\/h3>\n<p><em>By Kate Garland, Horticulture Professional, UMaine Cooperative Extension<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Divide your dahlias<\/strong>. <span style=\"color: #333333;font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif\">If you skipped <\/span><a style=\"font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dN35z3RWxK8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dividing dahlias<\/a><span style=\"color: #333333;font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif\">* last fall, now\u2019s your chance. Separate the tubers and let cut surfaces dry for about a week before planting directly in the garden after the last frost.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Renovate perennial beds<\/strong>. Lift and pot up your favorite plants, checking roots for aggressive neighboring plants. Once the desired plants are out, cover the area to suppress weeds and those persistent spreaders. Plan to replant in late August or early September, or later if needed to fully clear the space.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"26128\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26128\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/asparagus-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"close up of a freshly harvested pile of asparagus stems.\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/asparagus-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/asparagus-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/asparagus-105x105.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/asparagus-317x317.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/asparagus-423x423.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/asparagus-634x634.jpg 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/asparagus-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/asparagus-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/asparagus-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/asparagus.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Christina Lannan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Prune spring-flowering shrubs. <\/strong>Once lilacs, forsythia, and other spring bloomers finish flowering, <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2169e\/#table-calendar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">prune<\/a> them to shape and encourage better blooms next year. Be sure to look out for nests and avoid disturbing any shrubs that have bird activity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Enjoy spring harvests. <\/strong>Harvest early crops like chives, lovage, and asparagus. Freeze herbs for later and watch for <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/common-name-listing\/asparagus-beetles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">asparagus beetles<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Improve soil with<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/manual\/cover-crops-green-manures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">co<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/soiltestinglab\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2016\/07\/Covercrops-Lois.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ver <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/manual\/cover-crops-green-manures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">c<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/manual\/cover-crops-green-manures\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rops<\/a>. Plant peas, oats, and vetch in early May, or buckwheat in late May, to boost soil health and suppress weeds.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Test before fertilizing. <\/strong>Get a <a href=\"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/soiltestinglab\/home\/kit-request\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">soil test<\/a> before applying fertilizer. Use slow-release nitrogen if needed, and mulch grass clippings to reduce future applications.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mulch perennial beds. <\/strong>Weed, edge, and <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/manual\/mulch-soil-compost\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mulch<\/a> your perennial beds now. Mulch conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and improves appearance. Consider using compost as a mulch. It can be just as attractive as bark and can serve as a high-quality source of organic matter as it slowly incorporates around the root zone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Harden off seedlings. <\/strong>Gradually expose indoor-grown seedlings to outdoor conditions over 7\u201314 days. Start by leaving them in partially shaded areas more protected from the wind. Bring them in if frost threatens.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Guard against cutworms. <\/strong>Use simple collars made of cardboard or plastic around young vegetable transplants to protect from <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/ipm\/ipddl\/publications\/5015e\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cutworm<\/a> damage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Delay warm-season transplants. <\/strong>Wait to plant tomatoes, peppers, and cucurbits until after the last frost\u2014usually late May or early June in Maine.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"26130\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26130\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/cabbage-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"cabbage seedlings lined up in a garden row ready for planting.\u00a0\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/cabbage-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/cabbage-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/cabbage-105x105.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/cabbage-317x317.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/cabbage-423x423.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/cabbage-634x634.jpg 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/cabbage-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/cabbage-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/cabbage-32x32.jpg 32w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/cabbage.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cabbage seedlings lined up and ready for planting \u2014 grown in soil blocks with vibrant white roots showing strong, healthy growth from the start.<br \/>Photo by Christina Lannan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Start with cool-season crops. <\/strong>Now\u2019s the time to plant hardy vegetables like kale, carrots, beets, cabbage, radish and turnip. They handle cool temps and light frost well.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Protect yourself from sun exposure. <\/strong>Wear a hat and use sunscreen\u2014spring sun can be stronger than expected.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Protect berry plants. <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/highmoor\/2024\/11\/14\/helping-your-strawberries-through-the-winter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Uncover strawberries<\/a> and other small fruits early this month. Cover blossoms on frosty nights to avoid damage.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Plant fruit crops. <\/strong>Once the soil is workable, plant <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2067e\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">strawberries,<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2066e\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">brambles<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/fruit\/growing-fruit-trees-in-maine\/planting-and-early-care\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fruit trees<\/a> like apples and pears. Choose varieties suited to your site, tastes, and consumption goals.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Plant trees and shrubs correctly<\/strong>. Backfill <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2366e\/#planting-trees\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">planting<\/a> holes with native soil to encourage strong root growth. Avoid piling mulch against trunks. Use a donut-shaped ring instead.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Try something new.<\/strong> Experiment with a new veggie or flower, try container gardening, or build a raised bed. Visit local garden centers for ideas and inspiration or plan on watching how the newest <a href=\"https:\/\/all-americaselections.org\/winners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">All America Selections<\/a> perform at our two demonstration gardens, <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/cumberland\/tidewater\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tidewater Farm<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/penobscot\/home-gardening\/rogers-farm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rogers Farm,<\/a> later this season.<\/p>\n<p>*No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-1\"><\/a>Embracing Herbivory<\/h3>\n<p><em>By Hannah Mullally, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Maine Field Office<\/em><\/p>\n<p>It happens every year. I plant out my kale seedlings, which I\u2019ve nurtured from seed, and watch them continue to grow in the cool spring weather. Then one morning, I see someone has munched away on several leaves. Soon, I find the culprit &#8211; a small green caterpillar hiding on the underside of a leaf. These are <a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/home-and-garden-ipm\/fact-sheets\/common-name-listing\/imported-cabbageworm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cabbageworms<\/a>, one of the many insect visitors to my garden.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"26133\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26133\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/wasps-300x289.png\" alt=\" two black and yellow striped flies on yellow flowers.\u00a0\" width=\"300\" height=\"289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/wasps-300x289.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/wasps-105x101.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/wasps-317x305.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/wasps-423x407.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/wasps-32x32.png 32w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/wasps.png 425w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hoverflies. Photo by Patrick Dockens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Luckily, pests in the home garden aren\u2019t usually an economic disaster. Home gardeners have wiggle room to experiment with pest prevention techniques and treatments. Home gardeners also get to set their own herbivory tolerance. Whether or not we like it, gardens are a part of the ecosystem. They are impacted by the world around it, including pests. There will always be insect pests in the garden, but beneficial visitors can also be invited into your garden. By understanding what the ecosystem has to offer, and embracing a low level of herbivory, your garden can benefit from these additional visitors.<\/p>\n<p>While insect pests make a meal of plants, pest predators make a meal of the pests. To feed their growing chicks, one chickadee will forage thousands of caterpillars. Bats, too, are insectivorous, eating thousands of nocturnal insects \u2013 including the adult form of many garden pests, moths. A familiar predatory insect are lady beetles, which, as both adults and larvae, are voracious predators of aphids, mites, and scale. Predatory wasps, like yellowjackets, provision their young with insects. Parasitoid wasps, such as braconid wasps, are even more fascinating. Female braconids pierce a host caterpillar and deposit their eggs within. The braconid wasp eggs develop into larvae inside the dying caterpillar and eventually break out of the host to form cocoons. Each cocoon will develop into an adult braconid wasp. Not to be outdone, hoverflies may be the unsung heroes of the garden. In their larval form, hoverflies eat a variety of garden pests such as aphids, caterpillars, and thrips. As adults, hoverflies feed on nectar and pollen, making them excellent pollinators.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"26161\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26161\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Tachinid-fly-300x300.png\" alt=\"Black, round-bodied fly on pale purple flowers.\u00a0\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Tachinid-fly-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Tachinid-fly-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Tachinid-fly-105x105.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Tachinid-fly-317x318.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Tachinid-fly-423x424.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Tachinid-fly-400x400.png 400w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Tachinid-fly-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Tachinid-fly-32x32.png 32w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Tachinid-fly.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tachinid fly. Photo by Patrick Dockens.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pest predators are our allies. To keep them near the garden, we must give them a reason to visit and stay close by. Would you shop at a grocery store if there was no food on the shelves? What if a grocery store was well stocked, but was a two-hour drive from your house? Pest predators are similar. If the garden is completely void of food (i.e. living caterpillars, mites, aphids) there\u2019s not a good reason for predators to visit. If your garden is not surrounded by or does not include their habitat, pest predators do not have homes nearby.<\/p>\n<p>There are many ways to attract and maintain a healthy population of pest predators in and around your garden. The most straightforward way is to reduce or stop using insecticides in and around your garden, particularly insecticides not targeted to a specific insect pest. Indiscriminate insecticide use can directly harm beneficial insects as well as take away the food source predatory insects require. Another simple way to support pest predators is to incorporate mulch, leaf litter, standing dead plant stems, and tree stumps into your landscape. Many beneficial insects overwinter or create nests underground, in leaf litter, or within rotting wood cavities. Finally, keeping flowers blooming in and around the garden all year long will not only attract bees, but hoverflies and other predacious flies as well.<\/p>\n<p>Like every year, I will continue to pick off the cabbageworms I find on my kale plants, knowing there will be many that escape my eye. But I can look forward to finding tachinid flies hovering nearby to take out the cabbageworms I miss. I may even find a munching caterpillar I choose to work around, if only for its \u00a0.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-2\"><\/a>Backyard Bird of the Month: Barn Swallow<\/h3>\n<p><em>By Maine Audubon Field Naturalist Stacia Brezinski<\/em><\/p>\n<figure id=\"26135\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26135\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Barnyard-swallow-300x254.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"254\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Barnyard-swallow-300x254.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Barnyard-swallow-1024x867.png 1024w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Barnyard-swallow-768x650.png 768w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Barnyard-swallow-105x89.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Barnyard-swallow-317x268.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Barnyard-swallow-423x358.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Barnyard-swallow-634x537.png 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Barnyard-swallow-846x716.png 846w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Barnyard-swallow-951x805.png 951w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Barnyard-swallow.png 1125w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Dave Menke, US Fish and Wildlife Service<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Barn Swallows are a graceful, long-tailed swallow, known for building nests on human structures. After migrating more than 4,500 miles from Central and South America, the swallows begin collecting mud and grass to build their cup nests. They\u2019ll transport between 750\u20131450 individual mud pellets to form the base, and line the nest with grass and feathers. Understandably, reusing nests from previous breeding seasons is common, and involves replacing last year\u2019s inner nest material (and any parasites it might be harboring), then adding new mud around the rim. Barn Swallows have likely been building nests on human structures as long as humans have been building structures. Until recently, the Anthropocene has been kind to Barn Swallow populations; these birds now nest on five continents, including traditional wintering grounds in Argentina. These South American nesters have an opposite life cycle, nesting in the Southern Hemisphere\u2019s summer, November to February, and heading north for their winter, April to October. As insectivores, their populations are now suffering from enormous declines in insect populations (a 2019 study found that 40% percent of the world\u2019s insect species are in danger of extinction). This reality makes their return to Maine each spring even more special. Listen for their high-pitched, bouncy chatter over fields starting in late April.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-3\"><\/a>Help Us Grow Communities and Gardens Across Maine<\/h3>\n<p><em>By Rebecca Long, Coordinator of Horticulture Training Programs, UMaine Cooperative Extension<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Public and private gardens play a vital role in supporting both our health and the environment\u2014and they thrive when backed by strong community support. Today, we invite you to invest in their future. Your donation to the Maine Master Gardener Volunteer program provides the research-based knowledge needed to grow resilient gardens and communities. It also helps train dedicated volunteers who deliver sustainable gardening education across the state.<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, <strong>655 Master Gardener Volunteers contributed 26,801 hours<\/strong> to educational and food security projects, reaching over <strong>46,000 Mainers, including 5,000 youth<\/strong>. The Harvest for Hunger program also reached a milestone: <strong>4 million pounds of fresh food <\/strong>have been donated since the program started in 2000. In 2024 alone, <strong>258,000 pounds<\/strong> were distributed to food security agencies across the state.<\/p>\n<p>Here are just a few of the ways Master Gardener Volunteers impacted their communities last year:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Set up food sharing tables with culturally relevant produce<\/li>\n<li>Built wheelchair-accessible garden paths<\/li>\n<li>Stocked a free farm stand at Old Town Elementary for children and families<\/li>\n<li>Led native seed-saving workshops<\/li>\n<li>Designed and planned school gardens with students<\/li>\n<li>Gleaned excess produce for seniors and families in need<\/li>\n<li>Introduced youth to hands-on gardening at summer camp<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Your donation will directly support this impactful work, helping more gardeners connect, learn, and make a difference.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Give today for Maine Day of Giving:<br \/>\n<\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/our.umaine.edu\/mastergardener\">\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/our.umaine.edu\/mastergardener\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">http:\/\/our.umaine.edu\/mastergardener<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Thank you for your support!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-4\"><\/a>Gardening in a Rental<\/h3>\n<p><em>By Clarisa Diaz, Master Gardener Volunteer for Penobscot and Hancock Counties<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As someone who rented apartments in New York City for over a decade, then lived in a rental home during the first years of my time in Maine, do not be discouraged by having limited space to garden. There are many ways to garden even if you can\u2019t plant into the ground. The creativity of gardening in various alternative ways can provide a more climate-controlled environment while brightening up your home or apartment with plenty of greenery.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"26172\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26172 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Garden-in-a-rental-300x190.png\" alt=\"Movable pots, container, and trellis at author\u2019s Hampden rental home growing squash, tomatoes, and blueberries. (Photos: Clarisa Diaz)\" width=\"300\" height=\"190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Garden-in-a-rental-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Garden-in-a-rental-105x67.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Garden-in-a-rental-317x201.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Garden-in-a-rental-423x268.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Garden-in-a-rental.png 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Movable pots, container, and trellis at author\u2019s Hampden rental home growing squash, tomatoes, and blueberries. Photos by Clarisa Diaz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Window boxes, custom shelving, pots, planters, trellises, and moveable raised beds are all ways I\u2019ve done container gardening over the years. The fun part is thinking about the spaces available to you and how you can utilize them as green spots with <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">temporary or movable structures and containers<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Window <\/span>boxes are a great and simple way to grow flowers or herbs while making your living environment green. Hanging plants can be outdoors and indoors to grow beloved plants like pothos that also help improve air quality.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you have a balcony, patio or deck, potted plants are another simple way to add color to your environment. Change out the pots with flowers as they come <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">into season. I have found fragrant flowers like heliotropium can last all summer long in a pot by my front porch. When the fall season rolls around I switch them out for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">chrysanthemums<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Patio spaces can also have edible plants such as potted blueberry bushes, container herbs, and vegetables. There are various types and shapes of containers available; it is a matter of selecting those which fit your space and are suitable for the types of plants you wish to grow.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"26169\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26169\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Garden-in-a-Rental-2-300x232.jpg\" alt=\"Constructed temporary elevated bed at author\u2019s Hampden rental home growing Chinese broccoli, eggplants, and shishito peppers. The bed has since been deconstructed and moved to the author\u2019s current home. \" width=\"300\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Garden-in-a-Rental-2-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Garden-in-a-Rental-2-105x81.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Garden-in-a-Rental-2-317x245.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Garden-in-a-Rental-2-423x327.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Garden-in-a-Rental-2.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Constructed temporary elevated bed at author\u2019s Hampden rental home growing Chinese broccoli, eggplants, and shishito peppers. The bed has since been deconstructed and moved to the author\u2019s current home. Photos by Clarisa Diaz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For more vegetable production, I\u2019ve found VegTrugs, an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardeners.com\/buy\/planters-and-raised-beds\/elevated-garden-beds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">elevated raised bed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, to be great temporary raised beds. They can be constructed and deconstructed when you move to a new apartment or home. The elevated height of VegTrugs actually makes it easier to garden without bending down on your knees as you would in a traditional garden.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"26168\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26168\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Gardening-in-a-Rental-3-300x232.jpg\" alt=\"Decorative window garden in author\u2019s NYC apartment with saffron and swiss chard grown from bulb and seed. (Photos: Clarisa Diaz)\" width=\"300\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Gardening-in-a-Rental-3-300x232.jpg 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Gardening-in-a-Rental-3-105x81.jpg 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Gardening-in-a-Rental-3-317x245.jpg 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Gardening-in-a-Rental-3-423x327.jpg 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Gardening-in-a-Rental-3.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Decorative window garden in author\u2019s NYC apartment with saffron and swiss chard grown from bulb and seed. Photos by Clarisa Diaz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are other ways to garden indoors. While not ideal, a nice south-facing window can be a great way to experiment. Add shelves in your window to make a \u201cwindow garden\u201d, a nice addition to a living room, or use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.plantseads.com\/blogs\/all\/a-comprehensive-guide-to-vertical-gardening#:~:text=on%20a%20Wall-,1.,accessibility%20could%20be%20a%20challenge.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">vertical gardening<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> techniques to grow plants <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/publications\/2614e\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">indoors with grow lights<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Enjoy plants and gardening without having to prepare ground beds, weed constantly, and perform the additional work of removing or moving plants established in the ground<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">because we know that a garden evolves and changes with time. It is easier to change what you grow when nothing is set in stone or rocks! Even if you own a home or property, you may opt for gardening like you\u2019re in a rental based on the time you have available and\/or your ability to garden. Maybe some things are in the ground but other things aren\u2019t while you figure out what you actually want to plant. Whether you\u2019re in a rental or not, rental gardening techniques can be applied. With a curiosity to experiment and an imagination to customize your space, you can\u2019t go wrong and will only keep learning.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-5\"><\/a>Bo<span style=\"font-size: 1.25rem\">ok Review: <\/span><i style=\"font-size: 1.25rem\">Peony: The Best Varieties for Your Garden<\/i><\/h3>\n<p><em>By Clara Ross, Member of The Peony Society of Maine and Master Gardener Volunteer<\/em><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The authors, Michener and Adelman, state their purpose in assembling the book is &#8220;to provide the information you need to grow these magnificent&#8230;&#8221; plants. Initially, the authors provide a history of peonies, which I found very interesting. They describe where peonies originated and where we may also find them growing as wild species. Although in China the peony was used for herbal\/medicinal purposes and for growing as ornamentals, in the Western world breeders focused on extending the bloom season, richer colors, and stronger stems. I appreciated the description of peony anatomy or form. Tips on placement in the garden, companion plants, growing healthy plants, and disease solutions were all considered.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"26187\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26187\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Peony-300x225.png\" alt=\"504 Gateway Time-out nginx\/1.20.1\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Peony-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Peony-105x79.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Peony-317x238.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Peony-423x317.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Peony-634x476.png 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Peony-500x375.png 500w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/Peony.png 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Kate Garland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The authors have selected nearly 200 of what they consider to be the best peony plants for gardens and vase. The gallery of plants is organized by peony type: bush, tree, and Itoh\/intersectional. In each section, the authors supply information on color, size, bloom season, support needed, and floral form (i.e. single, double, etc.), as well as any awards that particular peony has won.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In addition, I found a variety of resources, such as where to purchase peony plants or cut blooms, public gardens which have peony displays, U.S. hardiness zones, books for further reading, and an index. There were many photos of peonies in gardens (I imagine most of them were Adelman&#8217;s own), but few noted what garden the photo was taken in! That surprised me. The most helpful part for me were the suggestions for peony complements. I will definitely use those ideas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The co-author of this book, Carol Adelman, founder of the famed Adelman Peony Garden, will be the keynote speaker at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Peony Society of Maine to be held on June 21, 2025. Along with Adelman, we will also be enjoying an elegant afternoon Victorian Tea Party. The event will be held from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at Buchanan Alumni House, 160 College Avenue in Orono.\u00a0 Non-members are welcome to join. Tickets must be purchased ahead by sending $40.00 to: The Peony Society of Maine, P.O. Box 2498, Bangor, ME 04402. If you need more information, please contact Lynn Anderson: <\/span><a href=\"mailto:secretary@peonysocietyofmaine.net\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">secretary@peonysocietyofmaine.net<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3><a id=\"article-6\"><\/a>Maine Climate and Weather Update<\/h3>\n<p><em>By Sean Birkel, Assistant Extension Professor, Maine State Climatologist, Climate Change Institute, Cooperative Extension University of Maine<\/em><\/p>\n<p>NOAA statewide summaries, released since the last newsletter, rank March 2025 as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncei.noaa.gov\/access\/monitoring\/climate-at-a-glance\/statewide\/rankings\/17\/tavg\/202503\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">18th warmest (top 1\/3)<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncei.noaa.gov\/access\/monitoring\/climate-at-a-glance\/statewide\/rankings\/17\/pcp\/202503\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">26th wettest (top 1\/3)<\/a> for data beginning 1895.\u00a0 From late March through the end of April, daily station observations from Bangor, Caribou, and Portland show that diurnal temperatures have been near to slightly above normal (about 60th percentile for April mean), producing lake ice-out and spring phenology this year close to the historical norm.\u00a0 April precipitation through the 28th is above normal at Bangor and Caribou, ranking 9th wettest [88th percentile] and 11th wettest [87th percentile], respectively, and slightly above normal at Portland, ranking 39th wettest [54th percentile].\u00a0 Streamflow and groundwater <a href=\"https:\/\/nedews.nrcc.cornell.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">hydrologic indicators<\/a> are in the normal range for this time of year across most of the state, except across parts of Androscoggin, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, and York counties where abnormal dryness or moderate drought persists from lingering precipitation deficits.<\/p>\n<p>The latest 10-day weather forecast (morning April 29) shows a seasonable start for May with near to above normal temperatures and potential rainfall.\u00a0 A cold wave could developed bringing frost or freeze on the 5th or 6th. \u00a0The probabilistic climate outlook for the month of May (see table below) shows a lean toward warmer than normal temperature and below normal precipitation.\u00a0 The May\u2013July seasonal outlook predicts above normal temperature and equal chances of above or below normal precipitation. \u00a0As always, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">weather.gov<\/a> for the latest weather forecast for your area. For additional information, including historical temperature and precipitation data and weather forecast maps, visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/mco.umaine.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maine Climate Office<\/a> website.<\/p>\n<div>\n<table id=\"table1\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse\" border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"6\" cellpadding=\"6\">\n<caption>\n<h4><strong>NOAA <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Climate Prediction Center <\/a>Outlooks<\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/caption>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Product<\/th>\n<th>Temperature<\/th>\n<th>Precipitation<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mco.umaine.edu\/weather\/outlook_maps\/#day8-14\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Days 8-14,<\/a>\u00a0May 6-12 <\/strong>(issued April 28)<\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Lean Above Normal<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #800000\">Below Normal<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mco.umaine.edu\/weather\/outlook_maps\/#month1_lead05\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Monthly<\/a>, May <\/strong>(issued April 17)<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Equal Chances<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #000000\">Equal Chances<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Seasonal: May\u2013June\u2013July <\/strong>(issued April 17)<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000\">Above Normal<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"color: #000000\">Equal Chances<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-26154 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/fig1-14-300x106.png\" alt=\"8-14 day temp outlook\" width=\"687\" height=\"243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/fig1-14-300x106.png 300w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/fig1-14-768x270.png 768w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/fig1-14-105x37.png 105w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/fig1-14-317x112.png 317w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/fig1-14-423x149.png 423w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/fig1-14-634x223.png 634w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/fig1-14-846x298.png 846w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/fig1-14-951x335.png 951w, https:\/\/extension.umaine.edu\/gardening\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/04\/fig1-14.png 980w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 85vw, (max-width: 768px) 67vw, (max-width: 1024px) 62vw,687px\" \/><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Do you appreciate the work we are doing?<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Consider making a contribution to the Maine Master Gardener Development Fund.<\/strong> Your dollars will support and expand Master Gardener Volunteer community outreach across Maine.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/securelb.imodules.com\/s\/300\/13-ORONO\/foundation\/index-social.aspx?sid=300&amp;gid=13&amp;pgid=748&amp;cid=1912&amp;dids=194.1885&amp;sort=1&amp;bledit=1&amp;appealcode=O5454\" style=\"text-transform:uppercase;\" ><span class=\"button\"> Donate <\/span><\/a>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Your feedback is important to us!<\/h3>\n<p>We appreciate your feedback and ideas for future <em>Maine Home Garden News<\/em> topics. 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