In the spring and summer seasons, a water garden is a tranquil and refreshing respite in the home landscape. However, in the fall, lots of leaves and debris fall into the pond. Here are a few tips to prepare your water garden for the winter season. Some water gardens are designed so that the waterfalls and streams run continuously through the fall-winter […]
Archive for the ‘Cold tolerance’ Category
Fall/Winter Water Garden Maintenance
Posted by Hugh on October 6th, 2018
Posted in Alocasia, Canna lily, Canna lily, Cold tolerance, Colocasia, Disease resistant, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Papyrus, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rain barrel, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Tropical Waterlilies (Nymphaea), Water Gardens, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Fall/Winter Water Garden MaintenanceNative Serviceberry
Posted by Hugh on March 17th, 2018
Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) is a medium-sized native tree. Its native range stretches from Ontario to the Gulf Coast (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). However, it performs well across the Western and Central U.S. Serviceberry is regionally known by many names, including shadbush, shadblow, sarvisberry, sarvis tree, and Juneberry. The latter refers to the small greenish-blue, ripening […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Cold tolerance, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Serviceberry (Amelanchier), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Native ServiceberryProtect New Trees From Winter Sunscald
Posted by Hugh on December 13th, 2017
Across the northern U.S. and Canada, cold temperatures can damage many plants. Wide fluctuations in temperature can be particularly detrimental to newly planted landscape and fruit trees from late fall to early spring. Street trees are particularly susceptible. Sun scald is described by elongated, sunken, dried, or cracked areas of dead bark, usually on the […]
Posted in apple orchard, Apple tree, Asian Pears, Cherries, Cold tolerance, Crabapple, Environmental issues, Garden Problems, Honeylocust (Gleditsia), Landscape ideas, Linden (Tilia), Maples (Acer), Mountain ash (Sorbus), Peach, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Plum, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Sun scald, Trees & Shrubs, Wind protection, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Protect New Trees From Winter SunscaldNew: The Bushel and Berry Collection Of Patio Fruits
Posted by Hugh on December 4th, 2017
Back in late 2016 Star® Roses and Plants* purchased the company formerly known as BrazelBerries®. In 2017 they have rebranded the plant offerings into the new Bushel and Berry™ Collection. Beside the old favorites, a new collection of edible berry plants are available at participating garden centers nationwide. I have successfully grown two varieties on the sunny portion of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Blueberries, Cold tolerance, Container garden, Disease resistant, Downy mildew, Fertilizing plants, Fruits & Vegetables, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Mites, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Raspberries, Repotting plants, Sanitation, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on New: The Bushel and Berry Collection Of Patio FruitsComparing Encore™ and Bloom-A-Thon™ Azaleas
Posted by Hugh on August 4th, 2017
Hey gardeners, how about azaleas that bloom nearly 5 months a year. Flowering lasts for 4-6 weeks in spring and another 12-16 weeks in summer and fall. Check out Encore™ and Bloom-A-Thon™ series of azaleas (USDA hardiness zones 6-10). The main differences between these two azaleas is the Bloom-A-Thon series tend to bloom more abundantly in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Azaleas (evergreen), Bees and other pollinators, Cold tolerance, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Encore azaleas, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Comparing Encore™ and Bloom-A-Thon™ AzaleasSaving Heirloom Seeds
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2016
At the end of each growing season, you may choose to collect seeds from favorite flowering annuals and vegetables to holdover and plant in next year’s garden. Some may be heirloom varieties that you have saved for many years because you like their productivity or flavor. Note: these seeds should not be “hybrids”. Hybrids represent a cross between […]
Posted in Cold tolerance, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Edible fruits, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Flowers, Fruits & Vegetables, Goldenrod (Solidago), Green Recycling, Harvest and Storage, Maples (Acer), Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Seed Storage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Saving Heirloom SeedsFlowering Cabbage and Kale For Autumn Gardens
Posted by Hugh on August 18th, 2016
Creating both edible and ornamentally pleasing vegetables has been a goal of plant breeders. Flowering cabbage and kale (Brassica oleracea) are a new landscaping niche in the autumn garden. Plants develop huge leafy rosettes and eventually form heads. Color patterns on leaves include white, cream, red and purple shades. The […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Butterflies, Cabbage, Cold tolerance, Container growing, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Foliage plant, Heat Tolerance, kale, Landscape ideas, organic gardening, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Flowering Cabbage and Kale For Autumn GardensThree Native Landscape Grasses To Try
Posted by Hugh on June 7th, 2016
These three native grasses are easy to establish in average, dry to medium moist, well-drained soils and in full sun. They tolerate a wide range of soils including dry rocky sites, and are exceptionally drought tolerant. Figure on 1 to 2 years for each to become fully established. Blue Lyme Grass (Leymus arenarus ‘Blue Dune’) is a vigorous spreading cool […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Blue Lyme grass (Leymus), Cold tolerance, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella), Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Sand Dune Protection, Soil Conservation, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Native Landscape Grasses To Try
