The lure of fragrant white flowers have mid-South gardeners (zones 6 and 7) wanting to grow gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides). New cultivars, supposedly hardier than previous ones, hit garden centers every spring. Unfortunately, zones 6 and 7 winters usually prove them wrong. Recent purchases of new cultivars ‘Frostproof’ and Pinwheel® and older selection ‘Kleim’s Hardy’ have […]
Archive for the ‘Spring flowering’ Category
Gardenias Continue To Disappoint In The Mid-South
Posted by Hugh on April 24th, 2017
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, applying sulfur, Bacterial diseases, Botrytis disease, compact shrub, compost, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Flowers, Fragrant, Gardenia, Insect (Pest) Problems, Insect suseptible, Interior (house) Plants, Leaf diseases, Mites, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Thrips, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, White flies, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
1 Comment »Virginia Sweetspire — A Standout Native Shrub
Posted by Hugh on April 12th, 2017
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) is a native shrub that touts showy white raceme flowers in late spring and brilliant reddish purple foliage in fall (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Flowers are very fragrant and attracts hundreds of bees and other pollinators. VA sweetspire excels in moist, humus-rich, mildly acidic soils (pH 5.2-6.5). In its native habitat, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Virginia sweetspire, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Virginia Sweetspire — A Standout Native ShrubLate Rising Perennials
Posted by Hugh on April 3rd, 2017
As air temperatures rise in the spring, most garden perennials and wildflowers are emerging from the ground. With the sudden appearance of 80°F temperatures, many seem to blast through the still cold soil in 1-2 days, and in full bloom a few weeks later. Yet, through the month […]
Posted in Baptisia (wild indigo), Bulb Crops, Crocosmia (Montbretia), Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Ferns, Gaura, Hardy begonia (B. grandis), Hibiscus coccineus, Hibiscus moscheutos, Indian pink (Spigelia), Landscape ideas, Milkweeds (Asclepias), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Red hot Poker (Kniphofia), Russian sage (Perovskia), Soil drainage, Solomon's seal, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer flowering, Wildflower, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Late Rising PerennialsTips On Growing Azaleas
Posted by Hugh on March 31st, 2017
Evergreen azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) are actually small-flowered rhododendrons. Depending on where you garden, azaleas enjoy a long bloom period from late March (zone 8) to June (zone 4) in the U.S. Many cultivars bloom for two weeks or more. Fall blooming types like Encore® and Bloom-a thon® series are also available. Azaleas have shallow root systems […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, mulching, Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Tips On Growing AzaleasPartridgeberry – Evergreen Groundcover For Deep Shady Areas
Posted by Hugh on March 28th, 2017
Partridgeberry (Mitchella repens) is grown for its evergreen foliage, spring flowers and winter berries. This native low-growing groundcover can be found in moist woodlands and along stream banks in the Eastern and Midwest U.S. It is a good choice for planting in deep shaded garden areas (USDA hardiness zones 4–8). In the spring woodlands, small […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Partridgeberry (Mitchella), Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Partridgeberry – Evergreen Groundcover For Deep Shady AreasKeep Your Eye on Red Buckeye
Posted by Hugh on March 25th, 2017
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is shrubby or low branching tree maturing to a 15 – 20 feet in height and spread. This southeastern U. S. native is becoming more recognizable as a good choice as a landscape tree for a small urban garden. Plant the tree in either full to partial sunlight and in average well-drained soil. A tree may […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease prone, Flowering, mulching, Native Plant, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Red buckeye (Aesculus), Small landscape tree, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Keep Your Eye on Red BuckeyeBasic Care Tips In The Spring Perennial Garden
Posted by Hugh on March 22nd, 2017
In late winter – early spring, after the snow has melted and daytime temperatures are steadily above freezing, let’s get busy with the cleanup in the perennial garden. First, if you garden in a severe winter region such as zones 4 or colder, remove all winter protection such […]
Posted in Baptisia (wild indigo), Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Bloodgood (Sanguinaria), Bulb Crops, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), deadheading, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Flowering Bulb, Garden Maintenance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Overcrowding, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Snowdrops (Galanthus), Southern Appalachian Region, Spanish bluebells, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Weeds, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Basic Care Tips In The Spring Perennial GardenWinter Daphnes Can Be A Rewarding Challenge
Posted by Hugh on March 20th, 2017
Native to China and Japan, winter or fragrant daphnes (Daphne odora) open to light pink or white flowers in winter and early spring in the southeastern U.S. and Pacific Northwest (USDA hardiness zones 7-9). Their welcome floral fragrance will pervade through your garden for nearly two weeks starting in late winter. Winter daphnes grow 3 to 4 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, container shrub, Daphne odora, Disease prone, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, root injury, Root rotting, Scale, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Winter Daphnes Can Be A Rewarding ChallengeGalax- Popular Mountain Plant For Your Woodland Garden
Posted by Hugh on March 13th, 2017
Galax (Galax urceolata) is an under planted perennial wildflower native to the southern Appalachian mountains and eastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zone 5). Galax foliage is frequently collected from the wild for use in the winter floral decorations. Unfortunately, over-harvesting on public lands has jeopardized wild populations. Galax grows 6 to 12 inches tall and is […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Galax, Ground cover, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Rabbit/deer Protection, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Galax- Popular Mountain Plant For Your Woodland GardenEnjoy The Double Soft Pink Flowers of Kwanzan Cherry
Posted by Hugh on March 4th, 2017
Kwanzan cherry (Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’) is a commonly planted Oriental cherry in the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5 – 8). It’s most often utilized as a small 25 to 35 foot tall flowering deciduous tree in an open lawn, patio. and deck setting for its cool summer shade. It is a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bacterial diseases, Caterpillars, Flowering, Insect (Pest) Problems, Japanese beetle, Japanese beetles, Kwanzan cherry, Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Pruning, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Virus diseases, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Enjoy The Double Soft Pink Flowers of Kwanzan Cherry
