The Eastern Gazette * Your HomeTown AdVantage Home, Yard & Garden - May 6 - 12, 2016 Page 1 HHome,ome, YYardard & GGardenarden A supplement to The Eastern Gazette SEASONAL BEAUTY – A Redi-Scapes wall surrounds this seasonal home in Greenville. (Contributed photo) Aluminum Boat Lifts Merrill Propane & Dock Systems Merrill’s Marina Full service LP gas New & Used Boats For Sale and appliance dealer to residential and commercial accounts. • Sales • Installation • Service Floe Aluminum Roll-in, Floating Dock Systems, Drive-on Boat Lifts and PWC Lifts. • Pontoon & Fishing Boat Rentals • Gas • Dock Rental • Ships Store EZ Dock Drive-on Boat and • Worms & Crawlers, PWC Lifts, Floating, Modular, • Tackle • Snacks • Ice and Composite Docks. • Propane Tank Exchange Store: Marina: 45 State Park Rd. 6 Cotton Brook Rd. Dover-Foxcroft Dover-Foxcroft 564-2165 564-2617 [email protected] Page 2 Home, Yard & Garden - May 6 - 12, 2016 The Eastern Gazette * Your HomeTown AdVantage v Do it Right the First Time 5HVLGHQWLDOq&RPPHUFLDOq3DWFKLQJ )XOO\,QVXUHGq)UHH(VWLPDWHV 3DYLQJq([FDYDWLRQq+DUGVFDSLQJ 5RDGZD\Vq5HF\FOHG$VSKDOW Accepting Early Spring Scheduling Schedule your appointment now and be the first in line PLUS special discounts available if booked before May 30th. Hardscaping Services Rockwalls, Retaining Walls, Walkways, Gravel, Loam, Mulch, Plus More Call 368-2050 or 416-3534 roundyspaving.com We accept all major credit cards. Call today for a free estimate The Eastern Gazette * Your HomeTown AdVantage Home, Yard & Garden - May 6 - 12, 2016 Page 3 Growing fruit trees in Maine requires the right soil, preparation and a little luck by Mike Lange early. We don’t even stock fruit Asian pears, which are smaller DOVER-FOXCROFT trees until the end of April and than the standard fruit, can be – While apple trees are we recommend that they don’t grown in Zone 5, according to commonplace in Maine, get planted until mid-May. We the Extension Service. more and more backyard still get frost on May 25.” Asian plums such as gardeners and farmers are Pultz said that insects are Alderman, La Crescent and experimenting with pear, also a problem with fruit trees, Pipestone can be grown in plum and even peach trees. especially the apple borer. Zone 4, but the standard Some are more successful According to the UMaine purple European plum is best than others, mainly because Extension Service, apple suited for Zone 5 or warmer the climate in southern Maine borers lay their eggs on the climates. is drastically different than lower part of the trunk. After Sweet cherry trees can the weather in Piscataquis or they hatch, the larvae burrow thrive in Zone 5, according PREVENTING DISEASE – Growing fruit trees in Maine can be a Aroostook counties. into the tree. “The tunneling to “Growing Fruit Trees in challenge, but using the right insecticide prevents pests like apple The U.S. Department of can kill the tree by structural Maine,” but they’re also very tree borers from destroying your crop. Foxcroft Agway owner Pam Agriculture’s Plant Hardiness damage to water-conducting fragile. “The buds become very Pultz is holding a branch from an infected tree and a spray that Zone Map divides the country tissues, and in severe cases tender in early spring as they prevents the disease. (Eastern Gazette photo – Mike Lange) into zones according to the by causing the trunk to break resume growth, and are killed anticipated coldest winter off completely,” according to by early spring freezes nearly temperature. For example, the “Growing Fruit Trees in every year,” according to the southern coastal Maine is in Maine” publication. UM publication. Zone 6 where temps may fall “You should spray your fruit Apricots will do well in the as low as minus 10 degrees. trees early in the season – southern part of Zone 4 and Heat Pumps/Air Conditioners On the other hand, late March or early April – to peaches and nectarines are Piscataquis County generally prevent infestation, fungus best suited for Zone 6 because falls into Zone 4 where and disease,” Pultz said. “We their tender buds aren’t likely WE nighttime lows can drop to want people to enjoy their to survive temperatures lower 12 YEAR INSTALL AT minus 30 in the winter. So homegrown fruits for years. than minus 15. PARTS AND UNBEATABLE the peach and plum trees that Your great-grandchildren So with a combination of LABOR PRICES! might thrive in Saco won’t do should be able to enjoy apple patience, preparation and WARRANTY! as well in Sangerville. pies with fruit picked from cooperation from Mother Still, that doesn’t mean that your front yard.” Nature, you could be enjoying it’s impossible to grow fruit Soil preparation using lime fresh fruit in your backyard Upgrade and $ave with an outside of southern Maine. and composted cow manure someday. economical heat pump. “Some plants that are rated also helps new fruit trees More information is posted for Zone 5 do very well locally,” get off to a good start, Pultz at www.extension.umaine.edu FREE ESTIMATES • FLAT RATES• 24 HOUR SERVICE according to Pam Pultz, owner said. “Just be patient until and brochures are available at of Foxcroft Agway in Dover- the ground warms up,” she the UM Extension offi ce next Plumbing • Oil • Natural Gas • Propane Foxcroft. “But one mistake advised. to the county courthouse in 207-949-9379 people make is planting too So what about other fruits? Dover-Foxcroft. Pittsfield, ME • www.midmaineminisplits.com % ':2#0&'& ) * :DWHULQJ 0XOFK 6RLOV *DUGHQ7RROV 2XWGRRU3RZHU(TXLSPHQW +DQJLQJ3ODQWV 9HJHWDEOH6HHGOLQJV *URZLQJ6XSSOLHV 3OXV0RUH TILLSON TRUE VALUE 0DLQ6W'H[WHUZZZ7LOOVRQ7UXH9DOXHFRP Page 4 Home, Yard & Garden - May 6 - 12, 2016 The Eastern Gazette * Your HomeTown AdVantage Patience pays off when reseeding or caring for your lawn by Mike Lange CHARLESTON/DEXTER - With winter now in the rear-view mirror, homeowners are anxious to see more green than brown on their front lawns. But local landscaper contractors say that being too anxious with your spring lawn care will probably be counterproductive. “Be patient when planting grass seed this time of year,” said Robert Goodwin, owner of Blue Water Tree and Lawn Inc. in Charleston “If the ground is too cold, the seed is either going to rot or just sit there and not germinate.” Although Blue Water specializes in tree service, they also build and mow lawns. “The most important thing is to keep the soil moist and watered correctly,” Goodwin said. “If you plant seed in the early spring, you may not need as much mulch as :HKDYHWKH3URGXFWV 6HUYLFHV\RXQHHG you would later in the year. But the birds might also get to it easier.” 5HVLGHQWLDO &RPPHUFLDO Before you do any lawn care, a thorough cleanup may be 5HGL6FDSHV6PDOO%ORFN6\VWHPV 5HGL5RFN/DUJH%ORFN6\VWHP time-consuming but necessary. “Remove the leaves and debris,” 5HWDLQLQJ:DOO%ORFN 5HWDLQLQJ:DOO%ORFN advises Goodwin. “Anything left on the lawn can suffocate the )UHH6WDQGLQJ%ORFN )UHH6WDQGLQJ:DOO%ORFN grass blades and block sunlight.” )LUHSLW The healthier a lawn is, the better chance it will remain &ROXPQ%ORFN weed-free. But it’s also wise to pull weeds early, so they don’t 3DYHUV $FFHVVRULHV “take root” in large numbers later in the season. $FFHVVRULHV 5HDG\0L[HG&RQFUHWH Goodwin said that the April windstorms kept his company &RPSRVWHG0XOFK &UXVKHG6WRQH busy with tree removal and maintenance – tasks that he 6FUHHQHG/RDP 6DQG recommends be left up to the professionals. “It’s really a good &UXVKHU'XVW idea to have a licensed arborist evaluate any damage,” he said. “Every damaged tree doesn’t have to be cut down. Sometimes they just need to be trimmed and pruned.” Steve Lawson of Lawson’s Landscaping and Construction in Dexter said the soil temperature has to be “pretty warm for grass seed to germinate. We use composted loam right over the existing lawn. It works really well.” Lawson said that Cottage Mix and Conservation Mix seed works best in this part of the state. “We don’t hydro-seed,” he said. “We use hay mulch – the old-fashioned way. It’s worked well for us and our customers are happy.” Lawson also said that cleaning the lawn thoroughly at the GET A TABLET start of the season is one of the keys to keeping it green all summer. “You also need to water your lawn properly to keep the grass green,” he explained. “People don’t realize how much water the average lawn needs.” Finally, the UM Extension Service recommends having your FOR A PENNY soil tested if you’re starting a lawn from scratch or doing a ® major rebuilding job. Test kits are available at local extension Activate a new Smartphone and get a Samsung Galaxy Tab E offi ces or the Maine Soil Testing Service. for just a penny with a new data line of service. Depending on the results, homeowners may want to add “compost or other organic matter to improve soil drainage and help the soil hold nutrients and water; lime, to raise the pH to an optimum level of 6.0 – 6.2, and fertilizer – potassium and phosphorus. “If nitrogen is recommended, apply it at seeding or after seed germination; incorporating it leads to leaching. After evenly spreading all the soil amendments, rototill them into the top 6-inches of soil. Avoid rototilling close to trees. Instead, mulch Only widely or plant other groundcovers around the trees, and establish the lawn further away from them.” 1¢ Deck It Out This Check out our great selection of accessories! Summer! Your local wireless solutions providers! Store hours Dover-Foxcroft Mon - Fri 9:00am - 6:00pm Sat - 9:00am - 5:00pm We have everything you need! 16 Summer St.