Image Credit: University of Maryland Extension
Spring will soon be in full-swing all across Maryland and the experts at the University of Maryland’s Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) are standing by to help you make this your most successful growing season yet!
The following are four common questions coming into the HGIC website and hotline this time of year, with answers provided by HGIC specialists!
1) For the last few years I have been having a problem with ants coming into my kitchen as soon as the weather warms up. What is the best way to handle this problem?
It is very common for ants to forage in the spring searching for food and water. Practice good sanitation, repair water leaks and seal off any entry points into your home. Gel-based bait stations work best indoors. Place them according to label directions. Do not clean-up around the baits and allow the ants free access in and out of them. Ant scouts feed on the bait taking it back to the nest. Initially, you may notice an increase in ant activity around the bait stations but then eventually it will taper off until there is none.
2) I would love to grow some blueberries in my backyard. What do I need to do to get started?
Proper site location and preparation are essential for successfully planting blueberries that will thrive and produce for many years. Select a sunny site with good drainage and close to water access. Test the soil to check the pH. Blueberries require a low soil pH, between 4.3 and 5.3, and soil high in organic matter. Wait to plant next spring after the site is properly prepared. Plant more than one variety of blueberry for higher yield. See HG68 Getting Started with Small Fruits for a list of recommended varieties.
3) We have a very shady woodland backyard. It seems like the grass is really thinning out and has entirely been replaced by moss. What do you suggest for restoring my yard?
Grass does not grow well in the shade and considering your woodland location the moss is the perfect groundcover. You can also plant some shade-loving perennials and shrubs amongst the moss to create a very natural looking and informal garden. Ferns, Tiarella (Foam Flower), bleeding heart, astilbe, Jacob’s ladder and Solomon’s seal are perennials that grow well in the shade. Installing a path and defining some beds will provide a more manicured look.
4) My neighbor told me not to compost my oak leaves because they will make my compost too acidic. Is that true? Should I add some lime to increase the pH?
Oak leaves do tend to be acidic but make an excellent addition to a compost pile especially if they are shredded. Finished compost has a neutral pH so therefore you do not have to be concerned about the acidic leaves. Adding lime is not recommended. It can slow down the composting process.
The Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) is part of the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources’ University of Maryland Extension and provides educational outreach for everyone with offices in all 23 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. Go to the website for information and to ask gardening or pest control questions 24/7. Or phone HGIC at 1-800-342-2507, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also check out the popular Grow It Eat It blog dedicated to home vegetable gardening.
Happy Spring!
