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 […]
Archive for the ‘Spring flowering’ Category
Comparing Encore™ and Bloom-A-Thon™ Azaleas
Posted by Hugh on August 4th, 2017
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™ AzaleasDon’t Totally Dislike All Box Elder Trees
Posted by Hugh on July 16th, 2017
Box elder (Acer negundo) is a native fast-growing and suckering medium-sized tree (USDA hardiness zones 4b-8). Branches are weak wooded and easily damaged in wind and ice storms. Box elder grows almost anywhere in any average soil, medium to wet, and in full sun. The species fails on a shady site. This weedy maple is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Anthracnose, Aphids, Borers, Box elder (Acer), Disease prone, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Insect suseptible, Invasive plant, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, Maples (Acer), Messy Fruits, Native Plant, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Don’t Totally Dislike All Box Elder TreesThistle-like Bear’s Breeches
Posted by Hugh on July 13th, 2017
Spiny bear’s breeches (Acanthus spinosa) is a clump-forming perennial treasured for its attractive thistle-like foliage and architecturally bold flower spikes (USDA hardiness zones 5b-9). Plant requires little maintenance and is long-lived. Deeply-cut, arching, glossy green, spiny, thistle-like leaves attain 2-3 feet in length on older plants and remain attractive through the growing season. Leaves bear mostly hidden spines on […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting Butterflies, Bear’s breeches (Acanthus), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Thistle-like Bear’s BreechesBest of MT Cuba Center 2017 Monarda Study*
Posted by Hugh on July 10th, 2017
Monarda, commonly known as bee balm or wild bergamot, is a popular summer flowering perennial. Their large, brightly colored flower clusters brighten the season. Flowers attract many types of wildlife, including hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, moths, and seed-eating birds. Unfortunately, many cultivars are susceptible to powdery mildew disease which causes defoliation and plant loss. Over the past three […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Monarda (Beebalm), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Best of MT Cuba Center 2017 Monarda Study*Agaves Like It Hot, Dry and Sunny
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2017
Agaves (Agave spp.) are long-leaved succulent landscape plants. These native perennial succulents grow in desert-like environments (USDA hardiness zones 8 and warmer). Plants grow in a rosette form with long their fleshy leaves frequently tipped with one or more sharp spines and a prominent bloom spike with cup shaped flowers. Most are native to the Southwest U.S. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Agave, Agave, alkaline soil, Container growing, container shrub, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Agaves Like It Hot, Dry and SunnyIce Plants (Delosperma)
Posted by Hugh on June 23rd, 2017
Ice plants (Delosperma spp.) are perennial evergreen succulents from South Africa. Two species are most popular in U.S. gardens starting with hardy ice plant (D. cooperi) (zones 6b – 9) and yellow ice plant (D. nubigenum) (zone 4 – 10). There are also many hybrid cultivars sold at garden centers and on-line. North of zone […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Ice Plant (Delosperma), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 1 Comment »Tidy Up These Perennials After Blooming Is Finished
Posted by Hugh on June 10th, 2017
Deadheading, the practice of removing the old spent flowers from perennials, is a way to improve a garden’s appearance and reduce overcrowding. Secondarily, many (not all) will rebloom after deadheading. Not all perennials respond to deadheading by reblooming. Most daylilies (Hemerocallis x.), coralbells (Heuchera spp.), and hostas (Hosta spp.) are prime examples of perennials that do not […]
Posted in Alliums (onion), Amsonia (blue star), Artemisia, Astilbe (false spirea), Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Baptisia (wild indigo), Bees and other pollinators, Bergenia (pigsqueak), Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Container garden, deadheading, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Failure to Bloom, Fall sunflower (Helianthus spp.), Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, Heuchera (coralbells), Hibiscus moscheutos, Hosta, Hummingbird, Invasive plant, Iris, Iris (Tall bearded), Lamb's ears (Stachys), Lenten rose (Hellebore), Ligularias, Liriope, Messy Fruits, mulching, Native Plant, Nepeta (catmint), Obedient plant (Physotegia), Overcrowding, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Re-Bloomers, Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Sunflower (Helianthus), watering tips Comments Off on Tidy Up These Perennials After Blooming Is FinishedSee Your Perennials Blooming Again
Posted by Hugh on June 4th, 2017
Deadheading is the removal of old spent flowers and stems of many perennials. Many (not all) perennials will respond and bloom a second and even a third time. Deadheading also refreshes the plant’s appearance and reduces or eliminates the threat of seed dispersal. It redirects the plant’s energy away from seed production toward root and vegetative growth. […]
Posted in Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Blanket flower (Gaillardia), Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Columbine (Aquilegia), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container garden, Coreopsis, Culver's Root (veronicastrum), Delphinium, Dianthus (Pinks), Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Gaura, Heat Tolerance, Helenium, Heliopsis (False sunflower), Hummingbird, Indian pink (Spigelia), Lavender (Lavandula), Milkweeds (Asclepias), Monarda (Beebalm), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Phlox, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Platycodon (Balloon flower), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Red hot Poker (Kniphofia), Russian sage (Perovskia), Sage (Salvia), Sanitation, Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Stokesia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summer phlox (P. paniculata), Sunflower (Helianthus), Torch lily (red hot poker), Tradescantia (Spiderwort), Veronica (speedwells), watering tips, Weed control, Yarrow (Achillea) Comments Off on See Your Perennials Blooming AgainFall In Love With Haas’ Halo® Hydrangea
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2017
Anyone walking through your garden will stop to see Haas Halo®) hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens Haas Halo®). This native smooth hydrangea has intense blue-green, leathery foliage and huge pure white wide lace cap blooms (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Flowers stand tall on stout sturdy stems. Shrub branching is upright. This new hydrangea was found by Frederick H. Ray, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering hydrangeas, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall In Love With Haas’ Halo® HydrangeaSpring – Summer Care of Herbaceous Peonies After Flowering
Posted by Hugh on May 26th, 2017
Summer weather can be tough on the foliage of tree and herbaceous peonies tree (P. lactiflora). Here are some tips to ensure your peony plants will prosper for many years to come. Keep foliage disease-free and prune off all badly infected with mildew or black spotted. Some varieties naturally shed their leaves (go dormant) early. Itoh hybrids and most […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Botrytis disease, Container growing, deadheading, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, mulching, Overcrowding, Peony, Perennials, Powdery Mildew, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Spring – Summer Care of Herbaceous Peonies After Flowering
