Purple Pennisetum Grass in Hot Parking Lot Fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ) is a warm season grass native to Northern Africa (USDA zones 8-10). It is a dense clump-forming grass with several topnotch cultivars. Most popular are purple fountain grasses (varieties ‘Purpureum’ and ‘Rubrum’) for their heat resistant dark reddish purple foliage. The pink to […]
Archive for the ‘alkaline soil’ Category
Fountain Grasses Are Summer Sizzlers
Posted by Hugh on April 21st, 2012
Posted in acidify soil, alkaline soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Fountain Grass (Pennisetum), Heat Tolerance, Ornamental Grasses, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips 
Comments Off on Fountain Grasses Are Summer SizzlersBloomerang™ Lilac For Non-Stop Flowering
Posted by Hugh on April 8th, 2012
In most Northeast and Midwestern states, lilacs (Syringa spp.) are the classic spring-flowering shrub, treasured for their beautiful and fragrant flowers. Lilacs are vigorously growing shrubs and are utilized in the landscape as single specimens or as multiple hedging shrubs for privacy. Further south, in the warmer Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Green Privacy Screen, Lilac (Syringa), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Bloomerang™ Lilac For Non-Stop FloweringContorted Filbert Offers Great Fall And Winter Interest
Posted by Hugh on March 23rd, 2012
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 […]
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 InterestAll About Crabgrass
Posted by Hugh on March 8th, 2012
Crabgrass is an annual grassy weed which dies out around the first autumn frost. Seeds dropped last summer germinate when the soil warms up from early spring through summer. When spring soil temperatures reach 55-60 degrees (the forsythia shrub is blooming), apply a pre-emergent crabgrass preventative. These herbicides are very effective applied in late winter […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Crabgrass control, Lawn Care, Mowing, plant nutrition, seeding lawn, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on All About CrabgrassSoil Testing Is Fool-Proof Garden Insurance
Posted by Hugh on January 18th, 2012
Soil testing is a gardener’s best low cost insurance for enjoying a gorgeous garden or lawn. A soil analysis may be a problem solver, informing you of the soil nutrient content and pH. It accurately calculates how much chemical fertilizer, limestone, manure and other components to add. You save money is your soil is already rich enough or […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Blueberries, Fertilizing plants, lenten rose, organic gardening, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized Comments Off on Soil Testing Is Fool-Proof Garden InsuranceEuropean Beech Prefers Cool Climes
Posted by Hugh on November 18th, 2011
European Beech (Fagus sylvatica) is native to the cool temperate regions of Europe. In the U.S. it is more at home in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Northwest regions (USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 7) where summers are cool. European beech grows in full sun and moist, well-drained soils, ranging from mildly acidic to low basic. The tree suffers in […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Disease prone, European beech (F. sylvatica), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on European Beech Prefers Cool ClimesThe Other Lenten Roses
Posted by Hugh on February 7th, 2011
In addition to the popular Oriental hellebore (H. x orientalis), four other species are hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Christmas rose (H. niger) is the first lenten rose to bloom, often 4-6 weeks earlier if mild December weather permits. The 3 ½- inch flowers are large and showy, […]
Posted in alkaline soil, compost, Flowers, Lenten rose (Hellebore), mulching, Perennials, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on The Other Lenten RosesLenten Roses Perk Up the February Garden
Posted by Hugh on February 2nd, 2011
Lenten roses or hellebores (Helleborus spp.) are long-lived perennials, often surviving in the same garden spot for many years. Four species of Lenten roses grow in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). All thrive in shady garden recesses, exposed to as little as 3 – 4 hours of dappled sunlight. Numerous […]
Posted in alkaline soil, compost, Lenten rose (Hellebore), mulching, Perennials, Pruning, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Lenten Roses Perk Up the February GardenGinkgo -Sex Education 101
Posted by Hugh on October 22nd, 2010
Surviving an autumn season with a heavily fruited ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) tree is a foul smelling experience. The odorous yellow fleshy fruits ripen in October and drop onto public streets and home lawns. Several times I have witnessed the Jonesborough Tennessee Fire Department raking up fallen fruit and hosing down a sidewalk too treacherous to walk […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Autumn foliage color, Deer resistant, Gardenia, Ginkgo biloba, Large Shade trees, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Ginkgo -Sex Education 101Pennisetum ‘Karley Rose’
Posted by Hugh on July 25th, 2010
Asian fountain grass cultivar ‘Karley Rose'(Pennisetum orientale) is a four season eye-catcher. It is reliably hardy in USDA zones 5-9. It produces smoky rose colored flower spikes (plumes) in early summer, which persist thru the winter months. Its dark green foliage begins upright in form, 2 1/2 feet tall, achieving 3 feet in height in […]
