Hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana) is a medium sized tree native to the eastern half of North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). The tree is practically ignored by landscape designers and installers. Few nurserymen grow it. Hophornbeam is often confused with the true hornbeams (Carpinus spp.). Both are called “ironwood”, referring to the hard muscular wood of […]
Archive for June, 2013
Stop Ignoring And Start Planting Hophornbeam
Posted by Hugh on June 28th, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hophornbeam (Ostrya), Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Stop Ignoring And Start Planting Hophornbeam2013 Garden Participation Up, Total Spending Still Down
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2013
The National Gardening Association recently released their 2013 National Gardening Survey. Household participation in gardening rose 2% since 2011— now totaling approximately 85 million households. Popularity in food/edible gardening continued to rise for the sixth straight year in a row, soaring past flower gardening in terms of dollars spent. The increase in male gardeners from […]
Posted in Gardening Surveys, Uncategorized Comments Off on 2013 Garden Participation Up, Total Spending Still Down‘Tom Thumb’ Cotoneaster Perfect For Small Spaces
Posted by Hugh on June 22nd, 2013
The world of cotoneasters (Cotoneaster spp.) is primarily an assortment of medium to tall growing shrubs. Cotoneaster ‘Tom Thumb’ (syn. C. ‘Little Gem’) is very different. Its diminutive size fits into those small spots such as a rock garden or among dwarf conifers. Its dark green shiny foliage creates a textural contrast with many annuals […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, Cotoneaster, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on ‘Tom Thumb’ Cotoneaster Perfect For Small SpacesEnjoy Night-blooming Evening Primrose By Flashlight and I-Phone
Posted by Hugh on June 21st, 2013
There are over 100 species of evening primroses (Oenothera spp.) worldwide, several native to the U.S. The night-blooming evening primrose (O. glazioviana) is a great reason to plan more parties. Invite friends and neighbors, including children of all ages, although you may keep them up past their normal bedtime hour. This night blooming hardy biennial […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evening primrose (Oenothera), Fragrant, Hummingbird, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Enjoy Night-blooming Evening Primrose By Flashlight and I-PhoneNocturnal Daylilies For Gardeners Who Work 9 To 5
Posted by Hugh on June 19th, 2013
A typical daylily flower opens early in the morning and fades in late afternoon. There is a class of night-blooming (nocturnal) daylilies recognized by the American Hemerocallus Society (AHS). Flowers of nocturnal daylilies open anytime from late afternoon to dusk, bloom through the night, and close-up (wither) starting in mid-morning. Introducing the true nocturnals…they open […]
Posted in acidic soil, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering Comments Off on Nocturnal Daylilies For Gardeners Who Work 9 To 5‘Silberlocke’ Korean fir Gets Lots of Favorable Comments
Posted by Hugh on June 16th, 2013
In any season visitors to your garden should immediately take notice of ‘Silberlocke’ korean fir. Korean fir (Abies koreana) is a densely branched pyramidal evergreen tree. Growth is slow in the beginning, eventually reaching 50 feet or more in mature height. The wide 3/4 inch long needles are dark green and glossy above and silvery […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, container shrub, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Korean fir (Abies koreana), mulching, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Protection Comments Off on ‘Silberlocke’ Korean fir Gets Lots of Favorable CommentsSummer Chocolate™ Mimosa Tree Worth A Try
Posted by Hugh on June 12th, 2013
Mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissin) is treasured as a four month landscape tree for its tropical-like foliage and flowering. This small deciduous tree grows 20 to 25 feet tall and its horizontal branching reaches out widely. Mimosa leafs out in late May with lush green, tropical-looking pinnately compound foliage and growth is very rapid. From mid-June […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, plant nutrition, Pruning, Soil Conservation, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Summer Chocolate™ Mimosa Tree Worth A TryGive Lots of Space To Bottlebrush Buckeye
Posted by Hugh on June 4th, 2013
If you have lots of planting space, aggressive bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parvifolia) is what you want. This deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub grows 8 to 12 feet tall and 8 to 15 feet wide.A Southeastern U.S. native, bottlebrush buckeye is a late spring flowering shrub and requires little extra attention other than pruning. Plant in full sun […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bee Favorite, Bottlebrush buckeye, Butterflies, Native Plant, Pruning, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Give Lots of Space To Bottlebrush BuckeyeWhy Some Vines Do Not Bloom
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2013
Why doesn’t my wisteria (Wisteria spp.) or climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris) vine bloom? There are primarily four (4) reasons why these vines have not flowered. In order of importance they include: 1. The flower buds, which usually formed on the previous summer’s wood, may have been pruned off. Do not prune vine after […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Climbing hydrangea (H. anomala), Failure to Bloom, Heat Tolerance, Hydrangeas, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Vine, winter injury, Wisteria Comments Off on Why Some Vines Do Not Bloom
