Archive for the ‘Roses’ Category

Preventing Powdery Mildew Disease On Summer Plants

Powdery mildews are serious fungal leaf diseases infecting many garden plants. Each one is host specific. The powdery mildew that attacks summer phlox does not infect zinnias or pumpkin vines. Powdery mildew disease on crape myrtles does not attack lilacs or roses. In recent years new powdery mildew diseases have popped up on dogwoods and […]

Pest Alert: Inspect All Garden Roses For Rose Rosette

Rose rosette is a serious virus disease of roses (Rosa spp.). Over the past 3 years ago gardeners have experienced losses of popular shrub roses. The disease continues to gain ground across the U.S. Rose nurseries are working feverishly to find a solution. Landscapers and gardeners should inspect all garden roses, including hybrid tea, grandiflora, […]

Japanese Beetle Traps – Useful Monitoring Tool

A decade ago garden centers sold thousands of Japanese beetle traps until somebody questioned why anyone would want to lure this summer pest into their garden. Yes, the traps do work and may catch hundreds per week. You also attract hundreds more to feed on your plants’ flowers and leaves and, later in the year, the larvae will feed in […]

Don’t Let’em Sucker

Some grafted and budded shrubs and trees develop a bad habit to sending up shoots (suckering) from its rootsystem. This creates an untidy appearance around the base of shrubs and trees. Far worse, the root suckers may compete for domination over the cultivar graft. They may rob photosynthate, water and nutrients from the grafted plant. Eventually, the grafted portion may die. Gardeners select grafted plants for a number […]

Soil Testing Is Fool-Proof Garden Insurance

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 […]

Biltmore Estate and Gardens

  I have visited the Biltmore Estate on several occasions, but my May visit this year was special. I had the opportunity to interview Parker Andes, Biltmore’s Director of Horticulture, and Bill Alexander, Landscape and Forest Historian. Few properties match the overall grandeur of Biltmore Estate and Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina. Biltmore is a historical perspective of America over […]

When To Prune Spring Flowering Shrubs

Seven reasons why you prune: eliminate dead, diseased, insect riddled branches control plant height and spread shaping such as topiary, espaliered or pollardized trees increase or decrease the numbers of flowers and fruits rejuvenate an old shrub or tree remove low branches over walkways remove water sprouts and root suckers Flowering shrubs bloom from late February thru […]

The Other Lenten Roses

In addition to the popular Oriental hellebore (H. x orientalis), four other species are hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7).  Christmas rose (H. niger) is the first lenten rose to bloom, often 4-6 weeks earlier if mild December weather permits. The 3 ½- inch flowers are large and showy, […]

Lenten Roses Perk Up the February Garden

Lenten roses or hellebores (Helleborus spp.) are long-lived perennials, often surviving in the same garden spot for many years. Four species of Lenten roses grow in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7).  All thrive in shady garden recesses, exposed to as little as 3 – 4 hours of dappled sunlight. Numerous […]

Disease-free Shrub Rose Trial–The Winners Are…

Blushing Knockout™ Over the past 10 years, the world of roses has witnessed a revolution with the popularity of the Knockout™ series of roses in gardens across the U.S. Over the past 5 years the University of Tennessee has been testing shrub roses in Poplarville, MS and two Tennessee locations. Dr. Mark Windham and his research team have […]