American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a loose open growing shrub valued for its spectacular fruits in the fall (USDA hardiness zones 6-10). The growth rate of this native shrub is rapid, eventually reaching 4-7 feet in height and 4-6 feet in spread within 5 years after planting. Beautyberry thrives in a moist, humus-rich, mildly acidic, well-drained soil […]
Archive for the ‘acidic soil’ Category
Plant American Beautyberry For A Fall Show
Posted by Hugh on October 20th, 2017
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.), Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Plant American Beautyberry For A Fall Show‘Youngii’ White Bark Birch A Novelty Tree For Small Spaces
Posted by Hugh on October 13th, 2017
Young’s Weeping European Birch (Betula pendula ‘Youngii’) is small graceful tree with willowy pendulous branches (USDA hardiness zones 3-6). Nurseries often train the very pliable branches and trunk of grafted seedlings into unique novelty shapes. Plant this miniature 12 to 20 feet tree specimen near a deck or patio where it should receive mostly morning sunlight. Fall foliage turns […]
Posted in acidic soil, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Bee Favorite, Birch (Betula spp.), Borers, Chlorosis (yellowing), compact tree, Container growing, Disease resistant, Insect (Pest) Problems, Insect suseptible, Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, Leaf miner, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Youngii’ White Bark Birch A Novelty Tree For Small SpacesNuts About Acorns
Posted by Hugh on October 10th, 2017
Acorns are nuts that form on mature oak trees (Quercus spp.). Acorns come in many shapes, sizes and colors, depending on the species. An acorn is a single nut encased in a hard shell by a cap (used to identify what oak species it is). For example, Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra) tree produces egg-shaped […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bur oak (Q. macrocarpa), Butterflies, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Edible fruits, Environmental Conservation, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, mulching, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Nuts About AcornsHalloween Pumpkins And Gourds
Posted by Hugh on October 3rd, 2017
It’s Pumpkin Time!…celebration of Halloween across America. A local pumpkin farm had over 60 kinds of pumpkins to choose from. According to the Missouri Botanical Gardens website: “the term pumpkin really has no botanical meaning”. Pumpkins and gourds are classified as squashes in the Cucurbitaceae family along with cucumbers and melons. If you want to grow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anthracnose, Aphids, Bees and other pollinators, Borers, Cucumbers, Disease prone, Downy mildew, Fertilizing plants, Fruits & Vegetables, Gourd, Melons, mulching, Ornamental vegetables, Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Seed), Squash, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Weed control, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on Halloween Pumpkins And GourdsFirst Days Of Fall…. Bring In Your House Plants
Posted by Hugh on September 30th, 2017
The final days are summer are over. It’s time to move your tropical plants indoors before night temps in the low 40°F arrive. These plants thrive outdoors in summer temperatures and high humidity, but cannot survive being left outdoors. Container plants such as Ficus (rubber) trees, orchids, Norfolk Island pines, scheffleras, bromeliads, gardenias, palms, and […]
Posted in acidic soil, African violet (Saintpaulia), Aphids, Bromeliads, Container garden, Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Foliage plant, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Millipedes & centipedes, Mites, Norfolk Island Pine, Peace lily (Spathiphyllum), Pesticide recommendations, Philodendron, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Sanitation, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Umbrella plant (Schefflera), Wind protection, winter injury Comments Off on First Days Of Fall…. Bring In Your House PlantsSizing Up Crape Myrtles (Including Most Recent Introductions)
Posted by Hugh on September 24th, 2017
Hybrid crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia fauriei x indica) have undergone significant makeovers over the past quarter century. Several new cultivar series continue to arrive garden centers, including: Black Diamond™ series, Enduring Summer™, Delta™ series, and Magic™ series. In landscape terms size is very important and gardeners often make a serious error when not calculating the size of […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Sizing Up Crape Myrtles (Including Most Recent Introductions)Pest Alert – Emerald Ash Borer Update
Posted by Hugh on September 18th, 2017
Recent news about Emerald Ash Borer continues not to be good. Almost weekly, state officials report the spread of this pest in their state. Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive metallic wood boring or flat-headed wood boring beetle that is killing all species of North American ash trees (Fraxinus spp.). Since 2002, EAB has […]
Posted in acidic soil, Borers, Emerald ash borer, Garden Maintenance, Garden Problems, Insect (Pest) Problems, Insect suseptible, Pesticide recommendations, Pests, Planting tips, Pruning, Uncategorized Comments Off on Pest Alert – Emerald Ash Borer UpdateRobb’s Spurge (Euphorbia)
Posted by Hugh on September 15th, 2017
I always been a fan of spurges, but some have not perform well in my garden. One that does not disappoint is Robb’s spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae), aka “Mrs. Robb’s Bonnet”. This evergreen spurge grows equally well in either sun or shade, including dry shade (USDA hardiness zones 6-8). This carefree slowly spreading groundcover displays shiny, dark green, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Garden paths, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Poisonous plant, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spurge (Euphorbia), Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Robb’s Spurge (Euphorbia)‘Sunshine’ Privet: A Great Accent Shrub and It’s Not Invasive
Posted by Hugh on September 12th, 2017
For generations ligustrum (privet) had been a landscape plant in East Coast and Southern gardens. However, in several states, privets have become declared as an notoriously invasive species . Unfortunately, you should never brand all privet cultivars the same way. Sunshine privet (Ligustrum sinensis ‘Sunshine’) is likely to change your mind (USDA hardiness zones […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Ligustrum (Privet), mulching, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Sunshine’ Privet: A Great Accent Shrub and It’s Not InvasiveMulti-Purpose Lavender Spur Flowers Sparkle In The Cool Fall Air
Posted by Hugh on September 6th, 2017
Lavender Spur Flower (Plectranthus Mona Lavender™) is a fast growing flowering annuial that is full of lavender blue flowers from late summer to autumn frost (USDA hardiness zones 9-11). Flowers can usually cope with light frosts of 25 – 30° F in early autumn. Plants grow 2 to 2.5 feet tall and wide forming […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spur Flower (Plectranthus), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Multi-Purpose Lavender Spur Flowers Sparkle In The Cool Fall Air
