Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia) is a truly beautiful 20-30 foot small tree or multi-trunked shrub. Stewartia may be finicky to grow, but a great plant nonetheless. Although rarely seen in U.S. gardens, Japanese stewartia is the most commonly grown of the six stewartia species. All are winter hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 […]
Archive for the ‘compost’ Category
Stewartia- A Tree for All Seasons
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2011
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Flowers, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Stewartia pseudocamellia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering iris, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Stewartia- A Tree for All Seasons‘Janet Blair’ Rhododendron
Posted by Hugh on May 13th, 2011
Here in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) rhododendrons can be challenging. Of critical importance is to choose a good garden spot and to plant a hardy cultivar. Over the past 25 years ‘Janet Blair’ has been one of the most reliable varieties in my Northeast Tennessee garden. ‘Janet Blair’ bears medium-sized […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, deadheading, mulching, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, water garden maintenance, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on ‘Janet Blair’ RhododendronStop Ignoring Enkianthus
Posted by Hugh on May 7th, 2011
From the photo, looks like a pieris? No, it’s redveined enkianthus (Enkianthus campanulatus) and its brightly colored bell-shaped flowers are attention getters in the early May garden. Lovely cream yellow to orangy red bell shaped flowers are faintly red veined. The bell shaped blooms exude a slight scent, one that you may like or not. From the start, growth rate […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Enkianthus, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Stop Ignoring Enkianthus“Mary, Mary, How You Do Grow in My Garden”
Posted by Hugh on May 4th, 2011
‘My Mary’ is a hybrid deciduous azalea (R. ‘Nacoochee’ x R. austrinum) ending its flowering cycle in my spring garden. ‘My Mary’ has been a steady performer, averaging 4-5 feet in height in 10 years. Its clusters of bright yellow orange tubular flowers measure 2 1/2” across. Its early morning sweet fragrance is a gentle […]
Posted in acidify soil, Azalea (deciduous), compost, Deciduous Azaleas, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on “Mary, Mary, How You Do Grow in My Garden”‘Misty Blue’ Doll’s Eye Will Catch Your Eye
Posted by Hugh on March 22nd, 2011
White baneberry or doll’s eye (Actaea pachypoda) is a strikingly beautiful native perennial. The cultivar ‘Misty Blue’ was first discovered at Mt. Cuba Center in Greenville, Delaware. The bluish-green foliage is multi-stemmed and finely cut from mid-spring thru the summer months. Grow it in a moist shade garden environment. Lovely fringed white flowers appear in April. In the fall clusters of white “doll’s eye” berry fruits sit atop brightly red […]
Posted in acidic soil, Baneberry (Actaea), compost, Garden Maintenance, Native Plant, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Misty Blue’ Doll’s Eye Will Catch Your EyeBlueberries
Posted by Hugh on March 12th, 2011
Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are healthy for you and exceptionally easy to grow organically (without pesticides). Why?- because blueberries are bothered by very few disease and insect problems. Success in growing blueberries depends upon pre-plant soil preparation. If you’re thinking about growing blueberrues for the first time, then allot this calendar year for soil preparation. Put off planting blueberries until the early fall or […]
Posted in acidify soil, Blueberries, compost, Featured, Fruits & Vegetables, organic gardening, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on BlueberriesThe 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 GardenRecycle Live Christmas Trees
Posted by Hugh on December 30th, 2010
The holidays are over. This year take your live Christmas tree to a designated location to be recycled. Many cities and towns collect trees which are chipped into mulch. The mulch is spread around municipal park trees and street trees. It is utilized for erosion management along stream banks and on steep slopes. Mulch is also distributed to gardeners in the spring. Communities pile […]
Posted in Christmas trees, compost, Green Recycling, mulching, Sand Dune Protection, Soil Conservation, Winter Protection Comments Off on Recycle Live Christmas TreesDoghobble for Shady Landscape Areas
Posted by Hugh on November 11th, 2010
Drooping doghobble or fetterbush (Leucothoe fontanesiana) is native to woodland areas in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Doghobble is a tall ground cover, averaging 3 – 4 feet in height. The long gently arching evergreen branches display a rambling nature, best reined in with hand pruning as needed. White fragrant flowers, […]
