In early spring many area gardeners rush to set out hummingbird feeders filled with a sugary solution to encourage these feathery critters to visit. However, the sugary drink also attracts ants, bees, and wasps. The solution does not furnish vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids that hummingbirds pick up from pollinating flowers and eating insects. In addition, […]
Archive for the ‘Zinnia’ Category
Attracting Hummingbirds
Posted by Hugh on June 16th, 2021
Posted in acidic soil, Agastache (Hyssop), Annuals, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Campsis grandifolia 'Morning Calm', Canna lily, Climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera), Container growing, container shrub, Cupheas, Daylilies, Environmental Conservation, Flowering, Foxglove (Digitalis), Hibiscus syriacus, Hummingbird, Impatiens, Landscape ideas, Lantana, Lobelia (cardnial flower), Monarda (Beebalm), Morning glory (Ipomoea), Native Plant, Native Plant, Nepeta (catmint), Penstemon, Pentas (Egyptian star flower), Perennials, Phlox, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Sage (Salvia), Salvia leucantha, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, Trumpet vine (Campsis), Weigela, Wildlife attractant, Zinnia 
Comments Off on Attracting HummingbirdsFall Clean Up Of Garden Beds
Posted by Hugh on October 1st, 2020
Cleaning up vegetable and flower beds requires some thought. Most gardeners desire to get a start on next spring’s clean up in the fall. They may rototill garden beds in fall, particularly if soils are too moist to work in early spring. Turning the soil also kills lots of weeds, including winter weeds which have […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, applying sulfur, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, Canna lily, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Landscape ideas, Lavender (Lavandula), mulching, Native Plant, Purchasing Plants, Rosemary, Rudbeckia 'Herbstonne', Soil Conservation, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Tennessee Coneflower, Weeds, Weeds, Wildflowers, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness, Zinnia Comments Off on Fall Clean Up Of Garden BedsSummer Heat And Drought Tolerant Annuals
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2017
Annuals (bedding plants) provide many more weeks of colorful flowers and/or foliage than perennials and woody landscape plants. Planting a fabulous flower garden does involve lots of initial preparation, including adding lots of organic matter (compost) to the ground and tilling it in. First, plan your summer flower garden before you plant. Choose those that […]
Posted in acidic soil, Angelonias, Bees and other pollinators, Begonia, compost, Container garden, Cupheas, Drought tolerant, Euphorbias, Fan flower (Scaevola), Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Marigold, Mexican sunflower (Tithonia), Million Bells (Calibrachoa), Moss rose (Portulaca), mulching, Native Plant, Pentas (Egyptian star flower), Periwinkle (annual vinca), Petunias, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Salvia, Scaevola, Sedum, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spider flower (Cleome), Spring flowering, Star zinnia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, Zinnia Comments Off on Summer Heat And Drought Tolerant AnnualsCool Plant Combos For Containers
Posted by Hugh on March 10th, 2017
As more and more urban gardeners are growing in small spaces, including decks and patio of condos and town houses, container gardens are becoming more significant. They’re creating large mixed containers that include miniature trees and shrubs rather than their big cousins. For design containers may include thrillers (tall or spiky), fillers, and spillers (weepers). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Begonia boliviensis, Calibrachoa (Million bells), compact shrub, compact tree, compost, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Euphorbias, Fan flower (Scaevola), Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Fountain Grass (Pennisetum), Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Hosta, Landscape ideas, Moss rose (Portulaca), Pansies, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scaevola, Sedges (Carex), Sedum (Groundcover types), Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sweet flag (Acorus), Sweet potato vine, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection, Zinnia Comments Off on Cool Plant Combos For Containers50+ Flowering Pollen/Nectar Plants For Bumblebees
Posted by Hugh on January 24th, 2017
Here are three key points in planning your pollination garden. To attract U.S. native bumblebees: First, add both early(*), mid-summer, and late(**) flowers in the mix for a three seasons long garden. Second, mass together many of the same kinds of flowers, not just one or two plants, so that bees will spot them easier and to visit the planting frequently. […]
Posted in Alliums (onion), Alyssum (annual), Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial Insects, Beneficial insects, Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Cosmos, Cranesbill (Geranium), Crocus, Culver's Root (veronicastrum), Flowers, Heather (Calluna), Hollyhock (Alcea), Liatris, Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Nepeta (catmint), Pentas (Egyptian star flower), Perennials, Pollination needs, Rosemary, Russian sage (Perovskia), Sage (Salvia), Salvia, Sedum (Groundcover types), Snapdragons, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Stokesia, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Sunflowers, Verbena, Zinnia Comments Off on 50+ Flowering Pollen/Nectar Plants For BumblebeesPowdery Mildew Disease Resistant Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on January 15th, 2017
Gardeners have learned to associate certain plants with a troublesome disease(s). Powdery and downy mildews have become epidemic in many regions of the U.S. Best ways for managing mildew diseases are prevention, good cultural practices, and spraying.. First, avoid planting susceptible cultivars. Plant in the proper location and space plants far enough apart so they’re not touching. Surrounding […]
Posted in Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Pesticide recommendations, Powdery mildew, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Sycamore (Platanus), watering tips, Zinnia Comments Off on Powdery Mildew Disease Resistant CultivarsAnnouncing AAS Ornamental Winners For 2017
Posted by Hugh on November 23rd, 2016
All American Selection (AAS) has named six Ornamental winners for 2017. Some include some new color breakthough in the series that you already know as well as some newbies. Dianthus ‘Supra Pink’ (Hem Genetics) is an easy-to-grow interspecific dianthus for three-seasons (spring, summer, fall) of garden color. Its mottled, frilly pink flowers stand up to summer’s heat and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Dianthus (Pinks), Disease resistant, Flowers, Geranium, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Native Plant, Penstemon, Perennials, Periwinkle (annual vinca), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Star zinnia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Verbena, winter hardiness, Zinnia Comments Off on Announcing AAS Ornamental Winners For 2017Attracting Monarchs To Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on February 21st, 2016
From Canada to Mexico, gardeners are being recruited to halt the decline of the Monarch butterfly populations across North America. One way you can help is to fill your garden with Monarch’s favorite flowering nectar plants and milkweeds (Asclepias spp.). Plants should be sited in open full sun and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aster, Attracting Butterflies, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Blazing star (Liatris), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Caterpillars, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Heat Tolerance, Ironweed (Vernonia), Lantana, Marigold, Mexican sunflower (Tithonia), Native Plant, Pentas (Egyptian star flower), Perennials, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Salvia, Sedum (Groundcover types), Southern Appalachian Region, Star zinnia, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness, Zinnia Comments Off on Attracting Monarchs To Your GardenPreventing Powdery Mildew Disease On Summer Plants
Posted by Hugh on May 18th, 2014
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 […]
Posted in Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease prone, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Garden Problems, Irrigation, Lilac (Syringa), Monarda (Beebalm), Peony, Perennials, Phlox, Powdery Mildew, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Zinnia Comments Off on Preventing Powdery Mildew Disease On Summer PlantsAttracting Monarch Butterflies To Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2014
From Canada to Mexico, gardeners are called upon to halt the decline of the Monarch butterfly populations across North America. The best way you can help is to fill your garden with Monarch’s favorite flowering nectar plants and milkweeds (Asclepias spp.). Plants should be sited in open full sun and moist well-drained soil. Avoid spraying […]
Posted in Aster, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, Cosmos, Drought tolerant, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Lantana, Liatris, Marigold, Milkweeds (Asclepias), Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Star zinnia, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Zinnia Comments Off on Attracting Monarch Butterflies To Your Garden
