by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont  NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Every gardener has a fall to-do list to complete: pulling annuals, raking leaves and storing hoses and other garden tools. They aren’t the most exciting tasks, but planning for your spring garden now saves time next[Read More…]

by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – I’ve been planting bulbs around my property for at least 40 years, and some of them are still flowering each spring. I even have daffodils I brought up from my childhood home in Connecticut that might be 70 years old or more. Others[Read More…]

CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – If you lean toward lazy (or have kids, dogs and a job), growing garlic may be just the ticket. It is the easiest of all vegetables to grow. Once planted and mulched, it requires little or no work until harvest. A good harvest is guaranteed if[Read More…]

by Pamm Powers, Extension Master Gardener Intern, University of Vermont  SHAFTSBURY – With cooler temperatures upon us, we have to say goodbye to our beautiful summer annuals. However, with container plantings, you can continue to garden throughout the year.  A four-season container allows you to move easily into the next[Read More…]

by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – To me, this felt like the summer that never was. It was rarely hot and sunny. The rainy gray days felt more like those in Portland, Oregon, than in New England. Even so, the summer we had is largely over and it’s time[Read More…]

by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – Despite my best efforts to support monarch butterflies, this year was discouraging: I only saw two monarchs visit my gardens. I have a small bed just for milkweeds, both the common one and swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata). But no monarchs laid eggs there[Read More…]

by Deborah J. Benoit, Extension Master Gardener NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Of all the wildflowers—or weeds, if you prefer—goldenrod (Solidago) is one of the most recognizable. Its plumes of bright yellow flowers atop tall stems bob in the breeze, making its presence hard to miss. If you have allergies, every[Read More…]

by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – Fall is a good time to prune deciduous trees and shrubs. Once the leaves have dropped you can see the form and the clutter, and decide what to take out. But before you begin, think about sharpening up your pruning tools, replacing blades,[Read More…]

by Ann Hazelrigg, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Vermont  BURLINGTON – A lot of Vermonters are noticing that their crabapples and apples (Malus spp.), in addition to many other deciduous trees, have dropped many of their leaves well before the first autumn frost.   This has been a common occurrence for[Read More…]

by Bonnie Kirn Donahue, Extension Master Gardener, University of Vermont   NORTHFIELD — Trees are critically important to life on earth. They help clean the air, transform carbon dioxide into oxygen, provide shade, cool temperatures, retain stormwater, raise property values, provide food and habitat for wildlife, and improve mental health.  Since[Read More…]

by Henry Homeyer CORNISH FLAT, N.H. – I’m lucky. Unlike many houses built in the 1800s or early 1900s, mine had no invasive plants when I bought it in 1970, probably because it was built as a Creamery, or butter factory. Decorative plants were not needed. Most older houses are[Read More…]