Dry balsam works better in potpourri> Now’s the best time to form raised flower beds for spring

Dear Readers: In this column I’ve answered some of the questions I have received in the past few weeks. Your questions are always welcome. Send your gardening questions to the address below, and I will try to answer them in a future column.

Q. I read your column about making potpourri with balsam fir. I use the fragrant balsam to stuff cloth pouches. I have been cutting the tips off fir trees and cutting them into small bits. The heavier needles I remove by hand. I package them green and they have a wonderful aroma.

My question is is it necessary to dry them before putting them into their pouches? A.L., Spruce Head

A. Yes, it is. If balsam is stored wet, molds can grow and result in a yeasty aroma rather than the fir scent we want in our crafts. It’s typical for mold (fungi) to grow in moist places, and fir is no exception.

To preserve your fir samples properly, shred them and dry them or simply dry the needles whole. Dry them in a warm, dark place, in the oven at a very low setting or beside the wood stove. Keep a close eye on them while they are near fire or direct heat to be sure they don’t ignite.

Q. I recently read an article in a national magazine about pest control. The author mentioned a garden duster. What on earth is a garden duster? R.T., Bar Harbor

A. A garden duster is a tool used to apply dust-formulated insecticides and fungicides. Several types of garden dusters are available for gardens of all sizes. Hand rotary dusters or dust guns are appropriate for the smaller garden. These are generally a quart or 2 in size. Larger gardens may require a knapsack-type or rotary duster which are speedier to operate. Whenever applying dust-formulations of pesticides, as always, wear protective clothing. In this case, be especially sure to wear a protective dust mask which will minimize the amount of dust you inhale.

Q. Is it OK to form raised beds this fall for use next spring? M.S., Lincoln

A. Now is a great time. To make raised beds, mark the area with stakes. String off straight lines where your planting rows and paths will be. Rake the soil from the path areas into the row areas. Raised beds can be anywhere from 4 to 12 inches high. Generally, higher beds help drain soils and make harvesting easier, although all raised beds drain sooner and warm faster in the spring and, therefore, may be planted earlier than level ground. Raised beds should be about 40 inches wide or whatever width is comfortable for you to work with from both sides. Some people use wood frames to edge their raised beds to keep them from losing their form, but this is not necessary. In fact, some claim that using wood to edge beds lures in slugs and other pests.

Q. I see everyone around my neighborhood has sacked all their leaves into plastic bags for the town to take away. Why is everyone so hung up on throwing leaves away when they look just fine on the lawn? T.M., Bangor

A. One hopes they’re not being thrown away. Raking leaves not only gives a neater appearance to a home, the leaves gleaned are exceptionally useful — many end up in either a home or municipal compost pile and eventually become a great soil amendment. Cleaning up the lawn in the fall also is a way to promote healthy turf grass. Those who let their lawn go after Labor Day may be greeted in the spring with snow mold, a fungal disease which often invades grass which has been left too long over the winter. Sanitizing the lawn (by removing leaf and grass debris) can help minimize or eliminate this ugly problem.

Diana George Chapin is the NEWS garden columnist. Send horticulture questions to Gardening Questions, c/o MaineWeekend, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329. Selected questions will be answered in future columns. Include your name, address and telephone number.