Chinese witchhazel (Hamamelis mollis) are a mid-winter garden delight. Depending on the cultivar, small yellow, orange or red flowers open in early February. Flowers survive many cold nights unharmed over several weeks. Most of the Hamamelis x intermedia hybrid types hold onto their leaves during the winter in the southeast. The popular cultivar ‘Arnold Promise’ […]

Weekly spraying of home apple orchards for the dreaded apple scab is a total downer. Over the past half century have come the first scab-free immune apple varieties: Prima, Priscilla, and Sir Prize. However, Prima and Priscilla will never win any taste awards. All 3 varieties are very susceptible to other apple disease maladies as […]

Nandina (Nandina domestica) is often mis-pruned. By shearing or topping nandina foliage, blooms and resulting berries are lost (see photo). The plant eventually becomes leggy and thin. Sharply prune back about a third of the taller stems at the base of the shrub in March before spring growth begins. Stagger the cuts 3 to 6 […]

Tired of marigolds and petunias? Angelonias (A. angustifolia) are superior summer garden annuals. Angelonias require very little care. They possess superior heat and drought tolerance. I prefer the Serena series (seed produced type) because local greenhouse growers produce and sell them more cheaply. Vegetative (cutting) type angelonias grow taller, are heavy bloomers, and are more […]