Foliage of many popular evergreen perennials often appear tattered after a long cold winter. Coralbells (Heuchera spp.), foam flowers (Tiarella spp.), monkeygrass (Liriope spp.), fairy wings (Epimedium spp.), creeping phlox (Phlox subulata), periwinkle (Vinca minor), Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis), and Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) are stunning evergreen groundcovers. The solution is simple– just prune them. […]
Archive for the ‘Flowers’ Category
When To Prune Off Old Foliage Of Evergreen Perennials
Posted by Hugh on December 12th, 2013
Posted in Barrenwort (Epimedium), Evergreen, Ferns, Ground cover, Hellebores, Heuchera (coralbells), Liriope, Pachysandra, Perennials, Phlox, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Tiarella (foam flower), Winter flowering 
Comments Off on When To Prune Off Old Foliage Of Evergreen PerennialsMexican Feather Grass
Posted by Hugh on November 21st, 2013
The ultra-fine soft foliage of Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima) will grab your interest. Just a slight breeze will create wave movement in your garden (USDA hardiness zones 7 to 10). It grows 1½ feet high (2 feet tall in flower) and 1½ to 2 feet in width. Mexican Feather Grass is a cool season […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Invasive plant, Mexican Feather Grass (Nassella), Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mexican Feather GrassStaghorn Sumac’s Reliable Fall-Winter Assets
Posted by Hugh on November 12th, 2013
Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) is known by several names, including velvet sumac and hairy sumac. This large shrub or small tree is native to northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). Staghorn sumac often arrives uninvited into a landscape and its aggressive suckering root system makes it difficult to eradicate. For landscape use […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Autumn foliage color, Autumn Fruiting, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Southern Appalachian Region, Sumac (Rhus), Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Staghorn Sumac’s Reliable Fall-Winter AssetsKentucky Coffee A Superior Large Native Tree
Posted by Hugh on November 4th, 2013
Kentucky coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is a large native tree found in 18 states, from New York west to Nebraska and from central Minnesota south to Oklahoma (zones 4 through 7). It reaches a mature height of 70 feet (some greater than 90 feet) with a spread of 50 feet. Established in 2-3 years, annual growth […]
Posted in acidic soil, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Kentucky coffeetree, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Kentucky Coffee A Superior Large Native TreeBurning Bush Turns Fire Engine Red In The Fall
Posted by Hugh on November 1st, 2013
Be cautioned from the start that planting dwarf burning bush (Euonymus alata var. compactus) in some states in the U.S. is prohibited. This deciduous shrub is known for its awesome fire engine red fall foliage color (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8). In shady areas fall leaf color tends to be more pinkish. Fall leaf […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bee Favorite, Burning bush (Euonymus), compact shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Burning Bush Turns Fire Engine Red In The FallInvite These “Bells” To Next Spring’s Garden Ball
Posted by Hugh on October 30th, 2013
Fall planting of many kinds of bulbs is a worthwhile long term investment of your time. Many bulbs (and corms) like daffodils and crocuses will naturalize where you plant them. They also bloom for long periods from late winter into spring. Bulbs bloom nice their first spring; flower heavier the second year; and multiply each […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Spanish bluebells, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer snowflake (Leucojum), winter hardiness Comments Off on Invite These “Bells” To Next Spring’s Garden BallWillow Oak Very Reliable As Street Or Park Tree
Posted by Hugh on October 28th, 2013
Willow oak (Quercus phellos) is medium to large, deciduous tree, part of the red oak group. It is noted for willow-like oak foliage and growth rate after a 2 year establishment period is moderate (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Willow oak grows 50-75 feet tall and 30-35 feet wide with a rounded top or canopy. Young […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Large Shade trees, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Willow oak (Quercus), winter hardiness Comments Off on Willow Oak Very Reliable As Street Or Park TreeBetter Red Fall Leaf Color On American Hornbeam
Posted by Hugh on October 21st, 2013
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), aka ironwood or muscle wood, grows primarily in moist, slightly acidic soils along woodland rivers and streams (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). This native hornbeam adapts to either wet or dry ground as long as soil moisture drains adequately. It copes with tough urban conditions including on non-irrigated parking lots and on […]
Posted in acidic soil, American hornbeam, Attracting birds, compact tree, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Native Plant, Privacy Screen, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Better Red Fall Leaf Color On American HornbeamFall Is Spring Bulb Planting Time
Posted by Hugh on October 18th, 2013
If you love spring flowering tulips, daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs, some planning and planting chores should be set into motion this fall. Spring flower bulbs should be planted when cool soil temperatures (below 55 °F) return. For gardeners living in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7), bulb planting begins in […]
Posted in Camassia, Container growing, Crocus, Daffodil (Narcissus), Flowers, Lily (Lilium spp.), Pansies, Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Tulips, Violas, Winter flowering, Winter Protection Comments Off on Fall Is Spring Bulb Planting TimeShiShi Gashira Camellia So Far Holding Up to Zone 6-b Winters
Posted by Hugh on October 11th, 2013
Camellias bloom at a time when most trees and shrubs are not flowering. Growing them is no longer a dream for gardeners who do not live in the deep South. A number of “designated zone 6 hardy” cultivars prosper in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). ‘ShiShi Gashira’ camellia (Camellia hiemalis) […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Camellia, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on ShiShi Gashira Camellia So Far Holding Up to Zone 6-b Winters
