BURLINGTON – Rain-soaked lawns and turf that have been damaged by being underwater for long periods of time, or left covered in silt as flood waters retreat, will need extra TLC in order to recover, according to the University of Vermont (UVM) Extension Community Horticulture program. If a lawn is[Read More…]

by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Who doesn’t love the smell of roses (Rosaceae) and the beauty of a rose bush in full bloom? When planning a rose garden, the first thing to consider is location. This includes not only how large[Read More…]

by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – The recent rains have kept many gardeners from getting outdoors to weed, and weeds have loved the rain and are growing like Boy Scouts on “Free Ice Cream Day” at the Ben and Jerry’s factory. But don’t give up. Weeds also pull well[Read More…]

by Ann Hazelrigg, Extension Plant PathologistBURLINGTON – With our recent rainy weather, you may have noticed bright orange orbs with gelatinous tendrils on our native eastern red cedar and ornamental cedars (Juniperus spp.). These are the galls of the cedar apple rust disease pathogen, Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae Schwein. This unique fungus disease[Read More…]

by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – I’ve been keeping track this year of what blooms for me, and when. So far I’ve recorded over 100 species of flowers (plus many more named varieties of the same genus) and 40 species of flowering trees and shrubs. Blooming starts with snowdrops[Read More…]

by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – For me, July has started off wet: rains, heavy at times, three days a week and going on for weeks. Although I like not having to water my new plantings in the vegetable garden and flower beds, some plants are having a tough[Read More…]

by Ann Hazelrigg, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Vermont BURLINGTON – If you spot any trees or shrubs that appear to be covered in fake spider webs, those aren’t early Halloween decorations, but rather the work of the uglynest caterpillar (Archips cerasivorana), which can be found throughout Vermont. This pest[Read More…]

by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – All gardeners have to contend with a variety of insects and other small pests in the garden – those that attack our plants and those that bite us. Mosquitoes? I can live with them. But ticks? That is another story. I’ve tried every[Read More…]

by Bonnie Kirn Donahue, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTHFIELD – Much of landscape maintenance in summer is devoted to mowing lawns. Traditional lawns in the Northeast are typically made up of a mix of turfgrasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial rye and fine fescues. Seed mixes often include[Read More…]

by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – Do you remember your Grammy’s favorite rose? If you do, you probably remember how fragrant it was. For me, one of my grandmother’s favorite plants was the peony named “Festiva Maxima.” It is a double white with a drop of red in the[Read More…]

by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – What do you do when there’s more shade and shadow than sunshine in your garden? While your plant selections will likely differ from those chosen for a sunny spot, there are still plenty of beautiful, flowering[Read More…]

by Nadie VanZandt, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont BURLINGTON – Are the white grubs you dig up in your garden friend or foe? White grubs are the larval stage of certain species of beetles from the Scarabaeidae family including June bugs (Phyllophaga), European chafers (Amphimallon majale) and Japanese beetles[Read More…]