1304 homegardenguide

2013

home+garden + guide all season outdoor living space

plan your plantings how to use Maine’s plant hardiness zone map

kitchen renovations suggestions on where to start

decorating trends for 2013

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All Season Outdoor Living Space

By Justin DiFrederico

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2013 home & Garden Guide by Bangor Metro

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NOW’S THE TIME TO MAKE VERYTHING EAUTIFUL

PHoto courtesy of granville stone & hearth

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utdoor living is not a new phrase to most people. Everyone has their own definition of outdoor living. It may include spending time at camp, on the water, in the backyard, or cooking on the grill.

Recent trends have redefined the term outdoor living. We have been drawing influence from the indoors, and creating a space that is not just functional but enjoyable for the whole family. Adding features like a waterfall, kitchen, fire pit, or patio help to create a destination just outside the home.

� OME IN AND GET INSPIRED. You’ll find helpful, knowledgeable staff along with an incredible selection of plants, all for your convenience. Find us 1¼ miles from the Airport Mall on Union Street.

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Preparation In the Northeast, with our cold temperatures and snow-covered landscape, we have an ideal time to plan what our outdoor space will consist of. Inspiration for your project can come from anywhere—magazines, TV shows, local retailers, or the Internet. Popular social media sites such as, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter, allow you to draw 6

2013 home & Garden Guide by Bangor Metro

inspiration from millions of ideas.

Landscape design programs are also available to help show you what the end result would look like.

When planning your outdoor room, you need to consider the features you are going to include. If you are truly looking for a four-season area, a fireplace or fire pit is a must!

Wouldn’t it be great to be outside roasting marshmallows watching the sunset? When a fire element is part of your design, take into consideration its location to help determine the layout of your space.

In many cities and towns there are local codes that control how close to your home you can build a fireplace or fire pit. Something you want to consider during the planning stage is your solar orientation. Is your space going to have southern exposure? Do you need shading? Spend some time in your space during the

PHotos courtesy of granville stone & hearth

The benefits of creating an outdoor space are endless, and allow you to walk into your yard and have an area to relax and take pleasure in.

It gives you a space to entertain, and will keep friends and family visiting you year-round. With many resources available to help you plan, build, and maintain your outdoor space, there is no better time than the present to get to work on your outdoor room.

planning period to understand what role the sun will play.

Construction After a plan has been compiled, constructing your outdoor space is the next step. Much like a home, the success of a landscape project relies heavily on the foundation.

Taking time to properly prepare the base will allow your outdoor space to be durable for a long time. When constructing any outdoor project, there are more than a few tools that can make your job easier. Many of these tools (plate compactor, skid steer, tractor, and laser level, to name a few) are available from your local tool rental store. These tools will help your project be smooth and efficient.

After proper excavation, you will need to bring in processed gravel for flattening, compacting, and sloping.

Proper compaction and a smooth pitched base are vital for your project. Once your base is complete, you can begin installing your main features, such as a fire pit, pizza oven, outdoor kitchen, pergola, or bar.

Now that your main features are set, you can begin to install stone, pavers, brick, or other horizontal surface that will make up the floor of your outdoor room. Finishing touches and cleanup are the final pieces to the construction portion of your project.

Maintenance Maintenance for your outdoor room is the easy part, but should not be overlooked. Winter can bring harsh conditions like ice, snow, wind, and rain. It is important to properly care for your space to help it withstand changing weather conditions in the Northeast.

Adding lighting to your project will not only allow extended use of your space, but also help to identify trouble areas in the middle of winter. Stone surfaces can be sealed and treated to help preserve a new appearance. It will also aid in resisting the breakdown of deicing salts and Mother Nature.

A new outdoor space will not only give you a new destination, but will increase the value of your home.

Take the time to plan out something you will enjoy. Whether you choose to install it yourself or have a professional install your new landscaped space, make sure you follow proper guidelines for the installation. Then sit back and enjoy your new outdoor living space!

Justin DiFrederico is the general manager of Granville Stone & Hearth in Holden.

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Your Maine gardening resource.

Information you can use, research you can trust.

For information on garden-related topics — from planting and pest management to harvesting and food preservation — contact Kate Garland, your local UMaine Extension Educator, 207.942.7396, 800.287.1485 or visit extension.umaine.edu.

The University of Maine is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

2013 home & garden Guide by Bangor Metro

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2013 home & Garden Guide by Bangor Metro

Using Maine’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map Knowing what will thrive in your backyard is the first step in building a gorgeous garden.

By Melissa Higgins & Tim Davis

map: courtesy of the USDA; photo: hemera/thinkstock.com

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aine’s valued Hardiness Zone Map dates back to the early 1900s and has been adjusted by several organizations, ranging from geographers, to the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, to the latest rendition from the United States Department of Agriculture.

The commonly accepted version that we use here at the nursery, is the USDA’s Hardiness Zone Map, which was updated in 2012.

Looking at the Maine Hardiness Map, you will see that it is split into four zones labeled 3 through 6. The farther north you go, the lower the zone number. For example, Portland is zone 5b, and Fort Kent is zone 3b. The zones reflect the average winter temperatures. Each zone is separated by 10 degrees Fahrenheit, and contains sub-zones, such as 5a and 5b, that reflect a five degree difference. The latest rendition takes into account the general warming trend we have been expe-

riencing lately, which explains why we in Bangor have moved from a zone 4 to a zone 5a.

Using the Plant Hardiness Map is easy once you understand it and why we use it. The first thing to know as a gardener is that it is a guide and several factors will affect how plant materials survive in your own individual yard. Keep in mind that each yard is different, and things such as sunlight and wind may affect how your garden grows. Someone with a house in a sunny and warm location with little winter wind may be able to grow a larger variety of zone 5 plants (and sometimes zone 6) while someone who lives in a very shady and windy area, resulting in cooler temperatures and less protection, may only be able to grow zone 4 plants (and sometimes zone 5).

When purchasing plants, it is important to know what zone you are in and what zone the plants you’re buying are rated for. Any reliable

garden center should have all of their perennials, trees, and shrubs labeled for zone hardiness. For example, a Japanese maple is rated for zone 5b; we know will survive in temperatures that will drop to -10 to -15. If you live in Fort Kent, checking the map, your temps can get as low as -35 to -40! Therefore, a Japanese maple may not be the best choice, as it is not likely to survive.

One last note, if you live in the Bangor area, don’t discount any plant material rated for zones 3 or 4.

Because it is rated for colder climates, it may be one of your best plant decisions and a very dependable addition to your gardens, especially if we have a traditional Maine winter like Grandpa always talked about.

Melissa Higgins and Tim Davis both work at Sprague’s Nursery and Garden Center in Bangor. Higgins is the retail manager and Davis is the grower responsible for annuals and perennials.

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2013 home & Garden Guide by Bangor Metro

Renovating Your Kitchen?

Where to Start Planning to remodel your kitchen and don’t know where to start? The pros at Hammond Lumber Company share some helpful suggestions. By Bob Mclaughlin

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f you’re like most people, you don’t build or remodel a kitchen every day. So, chances are you’re not completely sure where to start. What should you think about?

How do you pick a designer? How do you pick an installer? How much should you spend?

“It can be overwhelming for someone who’s not used to doing it,” says Lori Milligan, who works in the Kitchen & Bath Center at Hammond Lumber Company’s store on Hammond Street in Bangor. “But once you find a designer you’re comfortable working with, it can all come together pretty easily.”

Milligan herself has been designing kitchens for 11 years, as has Adam Hartman, who works alongside her. All in all, the kitchen and

bath designers in Hammond’s 12 stores throughout Maine have hundreds of years of experience and have designed thousands of kitchens.

As a first step, Milligan urges prospective customers to think about how they will be using their kitchen.

“They should think about how they move around the kitchen,” she says. “What’s their normal orientation? Do they like to store things in a particular spot? Do they have items they don’t have a location for but use all the time? Do they do more baking versus just regular cooking? How often will they really use the kitchen?”

Milligan also suggests looking through pictures in magazines. In fact, many customers will sketch out their ideas, and some even take

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pictures of their existing kitchen or space to help explain what they have and what they want.

Another recommended step before making an appointment with a designer is to measure doors, windows, and walls, as well as the distance from floor to ceiling. It’s also very helpful if customers have given some thought to their budget.

“Some people know exactly how much they have to spend while others have no idea of what a kitchen costs,” she says. Sometimes we’ll go through that as we’re talking in the showroom, and we can show them the most cost-efficient ways to get the features they really need.”

Hammond’s Kitchen & Bath Centers encourage prospective customers to set up appointments before visiting to ensure a designer will be available to guide them through the process and deter-

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itchell’s Landscaping is offering a Landscaping Assisting Service that is an affordable program to help do-it-yourselfers accomplish projects such as walkways, patios or retaining walls . . . We can do the heavy digging and prep work and show you how to finish the project . . . Or we can oversee the whole project and the homeowner can pitch in and save on the labor costs.

Call Mitchell’s Landscaping today for a customized plan and estimate or visit us at www.MitchellsLandscaping.com.

Mitchell’s Landscaping of Brewer, Maine, serving the greater Bangor area along with Downeast and Coastal Maine for 28 years.

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2013 home & Garden Guide by Bangor Metro

mine what decisions still have to be made before actually making 3D drawings.

Milligan says the initial appointment usually takes about an hour, and a designer will ask about the size and layout of the customer’s space, and how they would use their new kitchen, then show them cabinet displays and features that seem to be the best match.

“If they like our ideas and like working with us, we’ll set up a second appointment to actually work on specific designs,” Milligan says.

“Once we’ve agreed on a plan, we’ll go to the home and measure the space ourselves before ordering the cabinets.”

If the customer does not already have an installer lined up, Hammond can provide the names of multiple contractors the company has worked with. Once the customer chooses an installer and is ready, Hammond will deliver the cabinets and fixtures, and then the designer will follow the project through to completion, including setting up countertop templates and installation.

Milligan encourages prospective customers to pick a designer they’re comfortable with and who will listen carefully to their needs: “Our job is not to design a kitchen according to our own likes and desires, but to design one that fits the likes and desires of the person we’re working for. Our job is to fit the kitchen to the customer.”

The Bangor store is located on Hammond Street just off I-95 at Exit 182B. The toll-free phone number is 1-866-439-2264 or 945-9416.

Directions for driving to the store are available by phone and email and at www.hammondlumber.com.

Customers may also call 1-866HAMMOND to be connected to the Hammond store closest to where they’re calling from.

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www.dunnettinc.com 2013 home & garden Guide by Bangor Metro

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2013 home & Garden Guide by Bangor Metro

Interior Decorating Trends for 2013 Looking to breathe new life into your home? Start with your walls!

By Janis Stone

PHotos: (Opposite) Thibaut design, www.thibautdesign.com; (above) Eastern Accents, www.easternaccents.com

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hat’s new on the interior decorating scene?

Jewel tone Emerald green (1) is the official hue for 2013, as proclaimed by the color experts of the Color Marketing Council at Pantone. It is a saturated, grounding green that sparkles.

Green is the most abundant hue in nature and connects us to the outdoors. It also has the ability to bring comfort and tranquility into our home, making it an easy color to live with. Use it as an accent with neutrals of taupe or gray, or as the main color contrasted against white woodwork for a “WOW!” response.

Adding color to your environment can lift your spirits and put a smile on your face. Saturated hues are hitting their stride as clients become less afraid of color. As a result, you’ll be seeing more African Violet (2), Poppy Red (3), Peacock Blue (4),

and Lemon Zest (5). Another omnipresent color will be Monaco Blue (6), an anchoring color that is brighter and more cheerful than navy. The winners for softer tones are Tender Shoots (7), Dusk Blue (8), and Grayed Jade (9). The nude tone Linen (10) will take center stage as a favorite.

Wallpaper is coming back in a recent rise to popularity, because it goes way beyond what can be done with paint. Painted finishes, although great in some cases, do not equal the luxury and opulence of wallpaper, which adds another layer of depth and interest to a room.

Metallic papers are still very popular. The reflective quality fills a room with light during the day and at night gives a soft, warm glow. Copper and brass are the shining stars for 2013. Global-chic patterns like Navajo, tribal, or Ikat (shapes with blurred tie-dyed effect) are in force

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available in many lightly washed, soft colors. Use this wallpaper between ceiling beams, below a chair rail, or on the walls for a casual, laidback feel. It will add the charm of weathered barn boards.

Neutral designs are striking a chord as new and fresh, and shapes instead of color and contrast. This gives people the option of bringing in color with fabrics, painted furniture, accessories or making a great piece of artwork the focal point.

Other designs you will see are lattice prints in some of the season’s hottest hues, as well as in black and white.

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2013 home & Garden Guide by Bangor Metro

PHotos: (left) Thibaut design, www.thibautdesign.com; (opposite) Eastern Accents, www.easternaccents.com

for graphic designs. These large and colorful geometrics create visual energy for the brave, or subtle designs in soft pastels for the faint of heart.

The new floral designs are inspired by historical botanicals and plant-based motifs from nature, such as leaves and ferns. These are not your grandmother’s floral patterns! Today’s floral papers are large in scale, with bold colored blooms.

Many use a white background for a fresh, updated look.

“Faux Bois” (French for the imitation of wood) wallpapers are unbelievably authentic looking with organic lines of wood grain, and are

The Greek Key design has come back into favor; use it in a subtle version for big spaces like walls or a bolder one for pillows and accessories. Houndstooth and the zigzag, chevron patterns, in bright hues paired with white, are also trending.

The quatrefoil, the Celtic symbol for good luck, with a repeating pattern of a representation of a flower with four petals, is also popular.

Some new advances in wallpaper make it much easier and less messy to install, because the paste can be applied directly to the wall, rather than the back of the paper. The latest “green� wallpapers are breathable and can trap contaminants from the air.

So, while waiting for warmer temperatures, now is a good time to update your interior. Try some whimsical, colorful wallpaper in a powder room or some emerald green in your dining room. Have fun and enjoy a new and updated look.

Janis Stone, owner of Belfast-based Interiors by Janis Stone, has been decorating homes and businesses for over 25 years.

Visit www.jstoneinteriors.com for more information.

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2013 home & garden Guide by Bangor Metro

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Asiatic bittersweet poses a serious threat to other species and whole habitats due to its aggressive habit of twining around and growing over other vegetation. Vines can strangle small trees and shrub stems, and all types of plants can be shaded out by this vine’s rapid growth.

Autumn olive/Russian olive has nitrogen-fixing capabilities that can interfere with the nitrogen cycle of native communities that may depend on infertile soils. These plants produce large amounts of fruit that is consumed by birds, and highway planting of these species lures birds close to fast traffic, contributing to high mortality rates.

Black swallowwort grows over other vegetation, blocking light and creating tangled thickets. It crowds out native plants and is a threat to rare species in some areas.

Glossy/Common buckthorn has a long growing season and rapid growth rate. Large leaves and continuous canopy create dense shade.

Japanese barberry, if in an established colony, can grow thick enough to crowd out native understory plants on the forest floor.

It grows easily in the shade, which helps it take over native plants in heavily forested areas.

Japanese honeysuckle is most damaging when there is other vegetation it can climb over. Thick growth of Japanese honeysuckle blocks sunlight and gradually smothers other plants. It can also wrap tightly around the stems of shrubs and small trees, preventing water from moving through the plants.

Lesser celandine starts growing extremely early in the season and has a dense network of roots that literally carpets natural areas, crowding out native species—especially short-lived wildflowers.

Multiflora/Rambler rose is an aggressive colonizer of open unplowed land, especially around the edge of forests. It creates extremely dense thickets that crowd out other vegetation, inhibit growth of native plants, and slow down forest regeneration.

Porcelainberry has no natural enemies to help keep it in check. It quickly overwhelms and outcompetes native vegetation.

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Photos: Asiatic bittersweet: J. R. Allison, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, bugwood.org; Autumn olive: N. Loewenstein, Auburn University, bugwood.org; Black Swallowwort, Lesser Celandine, & Multiflora: L. J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, bugwood.org; Common Reed: Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, Ohio State University, bugwood .org; Garlic mustard: D. Cappaert, Michigan State University, bugwood.org; Glossy Buckthorn: J. M. Randall; The Nature Conservancy, bugwood.org; Japanese Barberry and Purple Loosestrife: Stephen Ziglar, New England Wildflower Society;

Nonnative Invasive land plants found in Maine:

Japanese Honeysuckle: C. T. Bryson, USDA Agricultural Research Service, bugwood.org; Japanese Knotweed: B. Slattery, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, bugwood.org; Japanese Stilt Grass: T. Bodner, Southern Weed Science Society, bugwood.org; Porcelainberry: J. M. Swearingen, USDI National Park Service, bugwood.org; Shrubby Honeysuckle: R. Old, XID Services Inc.., bugwood.org

Common reed is a very aggressive, robust member of the grass family.

Its height and density outcompete and overrun most nonwoody native wetland plants. Plus, the buildup of litter from previous years of growth prevents other species from germinating in the area. In coastal areas, debris trapped within strands of common reed can increase the elevation of marsh surfaces.

Garlic mustard is tolerant of a wide variety of growing conditions. It’s especially aggressive in forested areas with moist soil, which typically support a wide variety of native wildflowers, including some of our rarest plants. Garlic mustard changes the vegetation composition by reducing species diversity.

Japanese knotweed/Mexican bamboo is a perennial herb that emerges early in the spring and forms dense thickets up to nine feet tall. Thickets can get so dense that virtually all other plant species are shaded out. Once established, it is very difficult to remove.

Japanese stilt grass is capable of colonizing a wide variety of habitats due to the fact that it grows in both high and low light conditions and in moist to dry soil. Infestations of this plant change the habitat of the forest floor, making it less hospitable for some ground-nesting birds.

Purple loosestrife flourishes in wetland habitats. It produces a vast number of seeds that are spread by wind and animals. The seeds germinate easily and can quickly prevent native seeds from germinating and taking root in the same space.

Shrubby honeysuckles include Morrow honeysuckle and Tartarian honeysuckle. They form a dense layer that shades the ground, interfering with the growth of many native woody and herbaceous species, including rare plants. The ground under a honeysuckle thicket is often void of other vegetation.

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An Organic Garden

on the Coast of Maine

The Coastal Maine Botanical Garden uses organic fertilizers to care for their plants, which helps protect the environment as well as create gorgeous blooms. By Rodney Eason 20

2013 home & Garden Guide by Bangor Metro

H

ere at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, Maine, we are almost 100% organic in how we care for our plants and the land.

When we fertilize our plants, the nutrients we use are totally organic.

There are a few reasons that we do it this way. First of all, it is better for the environment. Our location adjacent to the Back River (a saltwater spur off of the Sheepscot

River) is a prime spot for a fantastic garden. In and around the Back River is a diverse habitat of plants, marine life, and animals. Whatever we add to the land and water can disrupt the balance. If we decided to use synthetic fertilizers, which are more apt to leach into the water, we run the risk of adding excess nitrogen to the water. The excess nitrogen can really throw off the balance and possibly lead to sick-

ening the ecology.

Secondly, it is better, in the long term for the plants. Organic nutrients become part of the soil structure after they are added. When you look at the formulation (N-P-K) on a bag of organic fertilizer, it is most often at lower numbers than you would find on a bag of synthetically manufactured fertilizer. Conventional wisdom would make you think that since the numbers are

2013 home & garden Guide by Bangor Metro

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2013 home & Garden Guide by Bangor Metro

higher on synthetic fertilizer, then they must be better for the plants.

That is not necessarily so. Plants use what they need. Since organic fertilizers tend not to leach out of the soil, they are there for the plants when they need the nutrients. Also, most synthetic fertilizers have a high amount of nitrogen. Nitrogen can provide a vegetative turboboost for plants, but too much of it leads to plant stress, which can open a plant up to pests and diseases. And often with synthetic fertilizers, you end up having to follow up with a cocktail of synthetic pesticides. It is like you as a person eating nothing but junk food and then being on prescriptions to take care of all of the maladies caused by the high fat and preservatives in the food. By using organic fertilizers, the growth and flowering of plants is more controlled and steady, making them less susceptible to pests and diseases.

Over the past three years, we have used Nutrimulch from Casella Organics. This product combines the organic material (mulch) with compost (nutrients). This allows us to make the garden beds look great, while adding the nutrition that the plants need.

We test our soil repeatedly for pH and nutrient availability. By knowing the pH, we have an understanding of whether a plant can take up the available nutrients in the soil. Most of our plants here in coastal Maine like acidic soil. This means that the pH is lower than 7 on the pH scale. We have had some areas of the garden recently rise above 7, which made it basic or alkaline. With the plants we have in our garden, especially blueberries and rhododendron, they will immediately show signs of alkaline soil with poor growth and yellow leaves.

By conducting these soil tests, we not only can see the pH, but

we can also see the levels of our macro- and micronutrients. The macronutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. When we look at our soil tests, we can see the level of our macronutrients in the soil. Then we can add the right amount of nutrition to the soil that the plants need.

As you can see, taking care of plants organically here at CMBG is a

big commitment. As Coastal Maine Botanical Garden continues to grow, we feel that managing our garden organically will lead to healthy plants and a beautiful garden that our guests will want to come back and enjoy time and time again.

Rodney Eason is the director of horticulture at the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden.

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