Contorted filbert (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’), aka Harry Lauder’s walking stick, is an 8-10 foot tall shrub. It grows in average well-drained acidic or mildly alkaline soil and thrives either in full or partial (6 hours) sunlight. Contorted filbert is usually sold in a grafted form. It is also called corkscrew hazelnut because most branches, twigs and leaves display […]
Archive for the ‘Spring flowering’ Category
Contorted Filbert Offers Great Fall And Winter Interest
Posted by Hugh on March 23rd, 2012
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Contorted filbert (Corylus), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Weeping habit 
Comments Off on Contorted Filbert Offers Great Fall And Winter InterestEvaluating The Weeping Redbuds
Posted by Hugh on March 21st, 2012
There are so many fine redbuds (Cercis spp.) which are hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) and elsewhere. Through research and breeding efforts at the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, NC, Southeast U.S. gardeners can grow several more cultivars of our native Eastern redbud (C. canadensis and subspecies texensis) and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Redbud, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Weeping habit, winter hardiness Comments Off on Evaluating The Weeping RedbudsProtect Fruit Trees and Bee Population
Posted by Hugh on March 19th, 2012
Cedar rust infection spot Warm weather in early spring means scab, cedar apple rust and powdery mildew diseases are upon the new leaves as they start to emerge. Preventative spraying for leaf diseases will result in management of additional fungi diseases through the growing season. Fungicides are protectants and not cure-alls. A light rain shower (as […]
Posted in apple orchard, Apple tree, apple varieties, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Fruits & Vegetables, Insect (Pest) Problems, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Uncategorized Comments Off on Protect Fruit Trees and Bee PopulationEfforts To Solve Japanese Barberry Invasive Problem
Posted by Hugh on March 11th, 2012
Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is a very popular landscape shrub. Japanese barberry is indigenous to Eastern Europe and Asia and is commonly planted in USDA hardiness zones 4-8. There is justified concern over the invasive nature of Japanese barberry. A number of states have declared most barberry species (Berberis spp.) to be invasive and have […]
Posted in acidic soil, Barberry (Berberis), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Efforts To Solve Japanese Barberry Invasive ProblemThe Right Rhododendron for the Right Location
Posted by Hugh on March 2nd, 2012
Rhododendrons (Rhododendron catawbiense) were born in the cool of the North Carolina and Tennessee mountains. Hundreds of lovely hybrids have been bred by dedicated plantsmen. Winter hardiness is rarely an issue, but rhododendrons are challenged by summer heat and disease problems in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Your most important decision is […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, compost, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, root injury, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury Comments Off on The Right Rhododendron for the Right LocationRedbuds With Very Few Messy Seed Pods
Posted by Hugh on February 27th, 2012
A few years back my church pastor complained about the ugly load of seed pods covering the redbud branches (Cercis canadensis) on the property in the fall. My suggestion to avoid messy seed pods is to plant seedless redbud cultivars. A number of native redbud (C. canadensis) cultivars produce few to no seed pods. Let’s start with the cultivars ‘Ace of Hearts’ and sister seedling ‘Little […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Redbud, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Redbuds With Very Few Messy Seed PodsKey Points Whether To Grow Peaches
Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2012
Peaches grow in other places besides Georgia, USA. A decade long period of mild winters in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) have increased gardener confidence about growing peaches. Peaches (Prunus persica) tend to flower in early spring when the threat of spring frosts is still high. In many years spring frost may kill 80% of […]
Posted in Dwarf rootstocks, Fruits & Vegetables, Peach, Planting tips, Pollination needs, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Key Points Whether To Grow PeachesTree and Berry Fruit Pollination Chart
Posted by Hugh on February 3rd, 2012
A frequent question of newbie fruit gardeners is what will pollinate what. Do I need many varieties or can all be the same variety? The four common terms are used: Self-pollinated: transfer of pollen occurs within the same variety. Cross-pollinated: transfer of pollen occurs between two varieties. Self-unfruitful: low fruit set unless the blossoms […]
Posted in apple orchard, Apple tree, Bee Favorite, Blueberries, Elderberry (Sambucus), Flowering, Fruits & Vegetables, Grapes, Peach, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Plum, Pollination needs, Raspberries, Spring flowering, Strawberries, Uncategorized Comments Off on Tree and Berry Fruit Pollination Chart‘Little King’ Birch For Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on January 12th, 2012
Little King, aka Fox Valley™, (Betula nigra ‘Little King’) is a 10-12 foot tall shrubby river birch, which fits into small landscapes. Simple minimal pruning can shape it into a lovely small tree. Little King possesses the desirable traits of large river birches, including an oft-white exfoliating bark. River birch exhibits good heat tolerance in the Southeastern U.S. (USDA zones 4-8) and has […]
Posted in acidic soil, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Purchasing Plants, river birch, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Little King’ Birch For Small GardensFoster Holly Has It All
Posted by Hugh on December 25th, 2011
Foster holly (Ilex x attenuata) is an old holly favorite which has not lost its sizzle. While many new holly cultivars have entered the landscape scene, do not assume that Foster holly is now passé. It is utilized in a number of landscape options in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), including in containers in zones […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Container growing, container shrub, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Foster Holly (Ilex), Ilex (hollies), Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Foster Holly Has It All
