Master Gardener Volunteers News
October, 2009

Blaine House Gardens in Augusta
By Kennebec Master Gardener Volunteers Maryanne Ward, Karen Simpson and Patrick Gabrion

Last summer, Karen Baldacci, Maine’s first lady, invited Master Gardener Volunteers to help with the gardens at Blaine House.

Based on an original design by the firm founded by Fredrick Law Olmstead, the New England Flower garden was added to the grounds at Blaine House in June 2007. Master Gardeners are now in charge of the week-to-week care of this garden, which will be featured on the Governor’s holiday card this year. We use the lovely greenhouse to winter over geraniums and various house plants, and later on use it to start vegetable and flowers from seed. A visit to the greenhouse on a winter day is a real treat.

The large vegetable garden belongs to the Baldacci family. Our involvement this season was to plan the garden and give planting advice. In the future, if not used by the first family, the vegetable garden could become a source of produce for food pantries and a model in-town garden maintained by Master Gardeners.

We welcome help keeping Blaine House beautiful and productive. An herb garden and several borders are also in need of loving care, and Mrs. Baldacci and the staff are always very appreciative. Maine is leading the country in sustainable agriculture; we want the Blaine House gardens to be a source of pride, but not a great expense to the state. (Budget cuts mean less staff time devoted to the gardens.) You’re welcome to join us for a few hours or to work on a regular basis.  We’re usually there one or two mornings a week depending on the season and our fall schedule is very flexible.  For more information contact Maryanne Ward, mcw39@hotmail.com, 207-582-7692.

Gate and New England Flower Garden at the Blaine House
Photo by Karen Simpson

What the Garden Needs Now
By Hannah Todd, Horticulture Aide for Piscataquis and Somerset Counties

“Is love, sweet love”? No that’s what the world needs! During the months of September and October some critical steps need to be taken in the garden to ensure a good harvest for next year; the garden still needs, among other amendments and maintenances: manure, a winter cover crop, and a good cleaning out. 

For soil health, the goal in the fall is to protect, replenish and accumulate organic matter and nutrients for the next growing season.  Manure builds wonderful organic matter and will add some nutrients to the soil. Experts recommend 120 days between application and harvest because of the potential diseases, such as, Salmonella and especially, E. coli 0157:H7, which can persist in fresh manure so adding it now would be suggested.

Another method used in the fall for soil health is cover cropping. Unfortunately, it is too late to plant a cover crop. Any later then September 15 is a gamble because if there is a cool fall, plants will not have time to become established or may not germinate. Cover cropping will add organic matter to the soil, decrease erosion, capture nutrients that would otherwise be lost over the winter months, and in some cases, when growing legumes, can add nitrogen to the soil. An alternative to use now would be to mulch with an organic material, such as, straw or leaves, which will reduce erosion due to winter precipitation and wind and add some organic matter to the soil as it breaks down.

Remember though, a soil test is the first procedure that should happen now (or back in early September) so it’s not a guess about know how much manure to add to the garden. A soil test will also report the pH of the soil. Maine tends to have acidic soils so in most cases some lime should be added now (if the pH is alkaline than suffer would be added).

Oh, and if that’s not enough, now is the time to do lots of other maintenances as well. Here are just a few:

• build raised beds (so they will be ready to plant in early spring)

• clean out plant debris left in the garden (this will reduce insect and disease populations)

• plant spring flowering bulbs and garlic

• after the first hard frost ,mulch tender perennials, newly planted trees and shrubs, and perennials that were transplanted in the fall

• take notes on this gardening season and start planning for next year. 

Success in the garden depends on year-round diligence and perhaps a little love.

Additional resources

• Soil testing: www.extension.umaine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2286.htm
• Soil organic matter: www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2288.htm
• Safe manure practices: www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2510.htm
• Cover crops: www.extension.org/article/18545

© 2009

Published and distributed in furtherance of Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, 1914, by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, the Land Grant University of the state of Maine and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Cooperative Extension and other agencies of the U.S.D.A. provide equal opportunities in programs and employment.

Call 800-287-0274 or TDD 800-287-8957 (in Maine), or 207-581-3188, for information on publications and program offerings from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, or visit www.extension.umaine.edu.

Last Modified: 10/06/09 | Accessibility | Non-discrimination & Disability Resources | Disclaimer | Copyright |

A Member of the University of Maine System