Mulching, in itself, does not attract termites to your home. That’s the conclusion of two university studies. Soil moisture appears to be the key factor that attracts termites to the home. The subterranean termites found in scattered, localized areas are routinely found in wood chip mulch. While landscape mulches are good for woody and herbaceous […]
Archive for May, 2011
Does Mulch Attract Termites?
Posted by Hugh on May 29th, 2011
Posted in Mulch Quality, Pests, Southern Appalachian Region, Termites 
Comments Off on Does Mulch Attract Termites?Wild Epaulette Tree Can Be Tamed
Posted by Hugh on May 26th, 2011
Epaulette tree (Pterostyrax hispida) is a small flowering tree which quickly grows to a mature height of 20—25 feet. Winter hardiness here in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) is no problem. A newly planted tree grows an average of 15-18 inches per year and blooms early. Epaulette prospers in a moist well-drained […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Epaulette tree (Pterostyrax hispida), Flowers, Pruning, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Wild Epaulette Tree Can Be TamedIs Paulownia Invasive?
Posted by Hugh on May 24th, 2011
Paulownia or Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa) is a medium to large 30-50 foot tree. It is extremely fast growing, brittle wooded tree, as much as 4 feet per year. Across the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), the large pale violet flowers of paulownia are easily visible in May, perched on branch tips. Its […]
Posted in Invasive plant, Paulownia (Empress tree), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering Comments Off on Is Paulownia Invasive?Yellowwood Not Every Year Bloomer
Posted by Hugh on May 22nd, 2011
American yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea) is a medium-sized flowering tree. In the month of May, a beautiful yellowwood tree is in bloom somewhere in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zone 6 and 7). The 1- 1 1/2 inch white pea blossoms comprise the 8-14 inch long wisteria-like panicles which drape from branch and twig tips. Yellowwood may bloom 2 to 3 consecutive years […]
Posted in acidic soil, Failure to Bloom, Flowers, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Yellowwood Comments Off on Yellowwood Not Every Year BloomerSummer Wine™: The Taming of The Ninebark
Posted by Hugh on May 19th, 2011
Over the past 25 years our native Eastern ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) has been reborn. Its overly vigorous nature has been tamed. Latest up is Summer Wine™ ninebark with small, deeply cut, wine burgundy leaves, quite different from the medium green foliage of old-fashioned ninebarks. Summer Wine is a more compact (5-6 feet in height and width) grower. Grow ninebark in […]
Posted in compact shrub, container shrub, Ninebark, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Summer Wine™: The Taming of The NinebarkSelect Hollies for Privacy
Posted by Hugh on May 16th, 2011
Ilex opaca ‘Greenleaf’ I continue to witness the overplanting of Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis x leylandii) across the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). This is followed by Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and western arborvitae (Thuja x plicata). These three evergreen species have a rapid growth rate and eventually attain heights of 40-60 feet, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Ilex (hollies), Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Select Hollies for Privacy‘Janet Blair’ Rhododendron
Posted by Hugh on May 13th, 2011
Here in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) rhododendrons can be challenging. Of critical importance is to choose a good garden spot and to plant a hardy cultivar. Over the past 25 years ‘Janet Blair’ has been one of the most reliable varieties in my Northeast Tennessee garden. ‘Janet Blair’ bears medium-sized […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, deadheading, mulching, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, water garden maintenance, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on ‘Janet Blair’ RhododendronGrowing Azaleas in Outdoor Containers Year-Around
Posted by Hugh on May 10th, 2011
In the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), if you desire to grow azaleas in above ground containers year around, you must select winter hardy cultivars. Two of the best for containers are ‘Elsie Lee’ (2½- inch wide semi-double light lavender blooms) and ‘Herbert’ (1 ¾- inch wide bright purple with dark blotch). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Container growing, mulching, plant nutrition, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Azaleas in Outdoor Containers Year-AroundStop Ignoring Enkianthus
Posted by Hugh on May 7th, 2011
From the photo, looks like a pieris? No, it’s redveined enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus) and its brightly colored bell-shaped flowers are attention getters in the early May garden. Lovely cream yellow to orangy red bell shaped flowers are faintly red veined. The bell shaped blooms exude a slight scent, one that you may like or not. From the start, growth rate […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Enkianthus, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Stop Ignoring Enkianthus“Mary, Mary, How You Do Grow in My Garden”
Posted by Hugh on May 4th, 2011
‘My Mary’ is a hybrid deciduous azalea (R. ‘Nacoochee’ x R. austrinum) ending its flowering cycle in my spring garden. ‘My Mary’ has been a steady performer, averaging 4-5 feet in height in 10 years. Its clusters of bright yellow orange tubular flowers measure 2 1/2” across. Its early morning sweet fragrance is a gentle […]
Posted in acidify soil, Azalea (deciduous), compost, Deciduous Azaleas, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on “Mary, Mary, How You Do Grow in My Garden”
