Up for a challenge. Dove tree (Davidia involucrata) is a medium-size tree from China. Mature dove trees are 30-40 feet in height and 20-30 feet in width. A young tree exhibits a pyramidal form and forms a rounded canopy at maturity. The coarsely textured 4 – 5 inch circular leaves are bright green with no significant fall color, dropping either pale […]
Archive for April, 2011
Take Flight With The Unique Dove Tree
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2011
Posted in Dove tree (Davidia), Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized 
Comments Off on Take Flight With The Unique Dove TreeEnjoy a Mite-free Alberta Spruce This Summer
Posted by Hugh on April 23rd, 2011
A popular saying among gardeners is “the right plant in the right location”. They must be thinking of Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’). Within a few years after planting, this popular dwarf conifer becomes devastated by spider mite infestations. The rule is to plant Alberta spruce where it receives good air circulation on all sides. […]
Posted in Mite susceptible, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Enjoy a Mite-free Alberta Spruce This SummerWolfeyes Chinese Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on April 20th, 2011
Chinese dogwood (Cornus kousa) is a popular 20-25 foot tall spring flowering tree which blooms two weeks after our native flowering dogwood (C. florida) has finished. The cultivar ‘Wolf Eyes’ makes a compact 8 to 10 foot tree or large shrub, almost double that in width. Wolf Eyes displays an awesome leaf variegation which makes it a focal […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, mulching, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Wolfeyes Chinese DogwoodGordlinia- Nothing Like it Before!
Posted by Hugh on April 17th, 2011
‘Sweet Tea’ resulted from crossing franklinia (F. alatamaha) and loblolly bay or gordonia (G. lasianthus). Sweet Tea is still abit finicky like franklinia, but is more resistant to Phytophthora disease (soil pathogen). This new intergeneric cross possesses huge (5 inch diameter), showy flowers that look like big fried eggs. Sweet tea exhibits semi-evergreen foliage with large, […]
Posted in Flowers, Gordlinia, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Gordlinia- Nothing Like it Before!Three Mid-sized Ornamental Grasses for Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on April 14th, 2011
For their sheer architecture alone, ornamental grasses provide 4- seasons of landscape excitement. Within a small garden space three mid-sized (4 – 6 feet tall) ornamental grasses with awesome vertical stature excel. All are highly rated for long garden life and low annual maintenance. ‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ) forms silvery […]
A Perfect Small Garden Tree– ‘Ace of Hearts’ Redbud
Posted by Hugh on April 11th, 2011
Ace of Hearts redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Ace of Hearts’) is an arboreal treasure, a compact form of our native redbud. Heavy clusters of light purple pea-like flowers cover twigs and branches from late March into early April, depending on your locality. Ace of Hearts grows 12 by 15 feet in height and spread, roughly one-third […]
Posted in Pruning, Redbud, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on A Perfect Small Garden Tree– ‘Ace of Hearts’ RedbudDouble Take™ Flowering Quinces
Posted by Hugh on April 8th, 2011
Photo credit: Dr. Tom Ranney, NCSU Research Horticulturist Flowering quince (Chaenomeles spp) is an early spring flowering shrub, treasured for its brightly colored blooms (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Old fashioned quince shrubs produced small amounts of fruits which were gathered and prepared into yummy jelly in the autumn kitchen. These often large 10-12 foot tall shrubs produced small sharp […]
Posted in Bee Favorite, compact shrub, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), Propagation (Cuttings), Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Double Take™ Flowering QuincesWild Onion or Wild Garlic?
Posted by Hugh on April 5th, 2011
Often called “wild onion”, many gardens (including mine) from late winter into spring in eastern Tennessee, western NC and southwest VA are instead plagued by wild garlic (Allium vineale). Wild garlic forms a rounded blade (stem) while wild onion (A. canadense) has a flattened blade. When freshly cut, the hollow stem of wild garlic is easily visible. Both lawn weeds […]
Posted in Broadleaf weeds, Lawn Care, Mowing, Southern Appalachian Region, Wild garlic Comments Off on Wild Onion or Wild Garlic?No Excuse for Tree Topping
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2011
Why do people top trees? Often, it is because “their neighbor(s) did it”. When asked whether they believe their neighbor to be a wise person, the typical response is “NO”. The Negatives About Tree Topping: 1. A topped tree reduces property values in a community. Topping adds a blight look to a neighborhood or over […]
