Question: Late frost last year meant zip peaches. This year could be a huge crop. After thinning the tiny fruit, how do we physically support the still heavily laden branches? I can easily envision tripod supports for near horizontal branches, but what to do for the not-so-horizontal branches? I’m thinking the trees will look like […]
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Question: I am purchasing pots of grasses for our seaside home. When can we plant them outside? Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional The estimated last frost date for your town is May 2 this year, so you’re very likely to be fine planting then. I will note, for full disclosure, that these dates can’t be […]
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Question: Branches from our lilac tree broke off leaving a large scar. I assume will heal on its own but is there something I should be doing to prevent bird/insect damage and promote healing? I did make a pruning cut where the wood was still attached. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional Generally speaking, […]
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Question: Is it safe to use pressure-treated lumber for raised garden beds? If not, what are the alternatives to help prevent the wood from rotting? For example, a plastic lining does not seem to me to be a good alternative. Answer: Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Outreach Professional It’s a complicated question because the fact of […]
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Question: How long should it take for true leaves to appear on tomato seedlings? Can I rescue these seedlings? I planted tomato and pepper seeds on 3/1 using an organic seed-starting mix & following the instructions of your excellent seed starting video. I placed them on a heat mat. Within 4 days, the tomato seeds […]
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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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