Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) grows into a 50 foot tall evergreen behemoth. What happens when the plants (in photo) get too close to the small deck(s)? Access to the deck from the stairs will become impossible as the evergreens swallow up the entire back yard. Looking out from the deck and windows from the home won’t be likely […]
Archive for January, 2012
Leyland Cypress Too Big For Many Sites
Posted by Hugh on January 30th, 2012
Posted in Aggressive grower, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Disease prone, Evergreen, Green Privacy Screen, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region 
Comments Off on Leyland Cypress Too Big For Many SitesDawn Redwood Lives On From Its Prehistoric Past
Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2012
Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) was thought to be extinct for the past 20 million years. Since 1948 gardeners have witnessed its re-introduction back into the North American landscape from Sichuan-Hubei Provinces in China where the tree was re-discovered. Dawn redwood prefers a well-drained, compost-rich, acidic soil. This deciduous conifer tolerates standing water for a brief 2-3 day span, not as long as bald cypress […]
Posted in acidic soil, Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Southern Appalachian Region, Winter bark Comments Off on Dawn Redwood Lives On From Its Prehistoric PastSoil Testing Is Fool-Proof Garden Insurance
Posted by Hugh on January 18th, 2012
Soil testing is a gardener’s best low cost insurance for enjoying a gorgeous garden or lawn. A soil analysis may be a problem solver, informing you of the soil nutrient content and pH. It accurately calculates how much chemical fertilizer, limestone, manure and other components to add. You save money is your soil is already rich enough or […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Blueberries, Fertilizing plants, lenten rose, organic gardening, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized Comments Off on Soil Testing Is Fool-Proof Garden InsuranceDon’t Crawl /Let’em Weep White Pine
Posted by Hugh on January 15th, 2012
In the beginning was a small weeping pine which wanted to crawl along the ground because it had no “legs”. The gardener came along and straightened up the leader and attached it to a tall pole. Straightening and staking continued for several years. Many years […]
Posted in acidic soil, Evergreens, Native Plant, Pine (Pinus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Weeping habit Comments Off on Don’t Crawl /Let’em Weep White Pine‘Little King’ Birch For Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on January 12th, 2012
Little King, aka Fox Valley™, (Betula nigra ‘Little King’) is a 10-12 foot tall shrubby river birch, which fits into small landscapes. Simple minimal pruning can shape it into a lovely small tree. Little King possesses the desirable traits of large river birches, including an oft-white exfoliating bark. River birch exhibits good heat tolerance in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA zones 4-8) and has […]
Posted in acidic soil, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Purchasing Plants, river birch, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Little King’ Birch For Small GardensWhat Can Be Done About Phytophthora
Posted by Hugh on January 10th, 2012
Phytophthora disease (Phytophthora spp.) is the fatal cause of root rots, stem cankers and crown rots. Several hundred species of plants are susceptible, including redbuds, dogwoods, rhododendrons, camellias, white pines, firs, yews (Taxus spp.), and fruit trees. It thrives in warm moist saturated soils. Phytophthora may lie dormant in the soil for several years, waiting for a […]
Posted in Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Camellia, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, mulching, mulching trees, Pines (Pinus spp.), plant nutrition, Planting tips, Redbud, Rhododendrons, root injury, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on What Can Be Done About PhytophthoraPhalaenopsis Orchids Easy To Grow
Posted by Hugh on January 8th, 2012
At one time, growing orchids was a hobby that only rich doctors, lawyers and fictional detectives could afford. Today, the very affordable “moth orchids” (Phalaenopsis spp.) are commonly available at supermarkets and big hardware chain stores at reasonable prices. They’re easy to grow and produce large showy flowers which bloom for two or more months. Moth […]
Posted in Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, Interior (house) Plants, Orchids, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips Comments Off on Phalaenopsis Orchids Easy To GrowGet Past The Winter Blahs With Paperwhite Narcissus
Posted by Hugh on January 4th, 2012
A wonderful, easy indoor gardening project this winter is to start a dish (pot) of paperwhite narcissus (Narcissus tazetta). Paperwhites make a lovely white centerpiece on your dining table. Paperwhite bulbs are outdoor hardy in USDA hardiness zones 8 – 10. Store the bulbs in a warm dry location such as on top of a refrigerator until you’re […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Failure to Bloom, Interior (house) Plants, Paperwhite narcissus, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Staking, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter flowering Comments Off on Get Past The Winter Blahs With Paperwhite NarcissusVolcano Mulching Harmful
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2012
Piling up mulch around trees or shrubs, called “volcano mulching”, is a bad practice and is killing them. Perhaps you’ve seen a neighbor or a professional landscaper doing it, and assumed that it must be alright. It’s not! The deep mulch pile smothers the natural buttress flair of the trunk which breathes and absorbs air for […]
Posted in Disease prone, Disease resistant, Garden Maintenance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Millipedes & centipedes, Mulch Quality, mulching, mulching trees, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Volcano Mulching Harmful
