Modern day delphiniums (Delphinium spp.), also called larkspurs, are the result of 2 centuries of complex breeding efforts in Europe and U.S. Delphiniums are short-lived perennials, at their best for 2-3 years. They’re most attuned to the cool temperate climes of the northern U.S. Delphiniums belong in the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family (USDA hardiness zones […]
Archive for May, 2016
Tips On Growing Delphiniums
Posted by Hugh on May 30th, 2016
Posted in acidic soil, compost, deadheading, Delphinium, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Slugs, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Tips On Growing Delphiniums“Neo-Nicotinoid Free” — What Does This Means”
Posted by Hugh on May 27th, 2016
Earlier this year several big box store and regional independent garden center chains announced that the plants they sell in 2016 will be “neonicotinoid-free”. Large regional nurseries and greenhouse operations are also jumping on-board the anti-neonic bandwagon. This means that pesticides containing the ingredient acetamiprid and imidacloprid are members of the neonicotinoid class, and are forbidden to […]
Posted in Bees and other pollinators, Garden Maintenance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Pesticide recommendations, Poisonous or toxic, Pollination needs, Purchasing Plants Comments Off on “Neo-Nicotinoid Free” — What Does This Means”Six Summer Annuals Your Grandma Did Not Know About
Posted by Hugh on May 24th, 2016
Angelonia (“summer snapdragon”)… are outstanding performers in the summer flower garden, yet so many gardeners have never heard of them. Angelonias demonstrate outstanding heat and humidity tolerances. Serenita™ (12-14 inches high), Serena™ (15-18 inches high), and Archangel™ (12-14 inches tall high) series, are available in purple, lavender, pink, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Angelonias, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Begonia, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Euphorbias, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Pentas (Egyptian star flower), Planting tips, Scaevola, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Torenia (wishbone flw.), winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Summer Annuals Your Grandma Did Not Know AboutJapanese Crape Myrtle Flaunts Stunning Bark
Posted by Hugh on May 21st, 2016
Most crape myrtle cultivars marketed through garden centers are hybrids that combine the large colorful flowers of Common Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) with the mildew-resistant foliage and cold hardiness of Japanese Crapemyrtle (L. faurei). Japanese Crape myrtle are cold hardy (USDA hardiness zones 6-b to 9) and are heat tolerant. They are rated hardy to winter minus 10 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Japanese Crape Myrtle Flaunts Stunning BarkHold In Confinement
Posted by Hugh on May 18th, 2016
Some plants are incredibly aggressive. Herbicides like Roundup™ won’t phase them. They often escape and take over other areas of your garden or neighborhood. Four notorious examples are ditch lilies (Hemerocallus fulva), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Mexican petunia (Ruellia brittoniana), and pink evening primrose (Oenothera speciosa). You can grow these four weedy offenders in confinement. All will survive […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container garden, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Evening primrose (Oenothera), Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Milkweeds (Asclepias), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Ruellia (Mexican petunia), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Weeds, winter hardiness Comments Off on Hold In ConfinementTulip Poplar And Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on May 15th, 2016
Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), aka yellow poplar and tulip tree, is a large stately deciduous tree of eastern North America (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). This fast growing native typically grows 60-90 feet tall. It is also an important timber tree. A member of the magnolia family, flowers attract large numbers of bees. Ornate 2-inch-wide goblet-shaped flowers are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Aphids, Autumn foliage color, Bee Favorite, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Tulip tree (Liriodendron), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tulip Poplar And Cultivars‘Sun King’ Golden Aralia Glows In Summer Garden
Posted by Hugh on May 12th, 2016
Plants with golden foliage brighten up a dark area in the garden. Sun King golden aralia (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’) is no exception, hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. Bright golden compound leaves emerge in mid-spring and Sun King aralia retains its bright color through the summer months. This long-lived perennial […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aralia 'Sun King', compost, Container growing, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Sun King’ Golden Aralia Glows In Summer GardenDeadheading Rhododendron Flowers
Posted by Hugh on May 9th, 2016
Large-flowered rhododendrons (Rhododendron catawbiense) benefit from “deadheading”, the practice of removing the old spent flower heads. Deadheading encourages increased branching, which frequently results in more blooms the following spring. It also cleans up their scruffy appearance. Small-flowered types (including ‘PJM’, lepidote rhododendrons, and azaleas) do not benefit from deadheading and are mostly […]
Posted in compact shrub, Native Plant, Pruning, Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Deadheading Rhododendron FlowersAvoid Spotted Spurge in Lawn And Garden Beds
Posted by Hugh on May 4th, 2016
Spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata) is a dreadful perennial weed that can quickly take over a lawn or garden bed. It often grows in poor compacted soils or in-between cracks in pavement. Once established, it is difficult to eliminate it from your garden. Ideal temperature range for seed germination is 75 to 85 °F, and spurge will germinate […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Garden Problems, Herbicide management, Lawn Care, mulching, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Spotted spurge, Weed management, Weeds, Weeds Comments Off on Avoid Spotted Spurge in Lawn And Garden BedsReviving A Severely Damaged Crape Myrtle In The Spring
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2016
Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica and hybrid cultivars) are rated as hardy perennials and semi-hardy shrubs or trees in USDA zone 6 and parts of zone 7. Since the year 2000, an average of 1 out of 3 winters has killed some crape myrtles to the ground. By […]
Posted in acidic soil, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Reviving A Severely Damaged Crape Myrtle In The Spring
