If someone was to create the Garden Performance Hall of Fame for summer flowering perennials, I would nominate this list of ten (10). I have had experience growing many of them in my Northeast Tennessee garden (USDA hardiness zone 6-b). In a few instances, I have selected a variety that grows in friends’ or a […]
Archive for the ‘compost’ Category
Perennial Favorites For The Summer Garden
Posted by Hugh on July 8th, 2019
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Butterflies, compost, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Coreopsis, Coreopsis 'Gold Standard, Daylilies, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Heuchera (coralbells), Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Phlox, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Russian sage (Perovskia), Sage (Salvia), Sedum (Shrub type), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summer phlox (P. paniculata), Tennessee Coneflower, watering tips 
Comments Off on Perennial Favorites For The Summer GardenSix Flowering Perennials For Downtown Areas
Posted by Hugh on July 3rd, 2019
Here is what some downtown areas in the Southeast and Midwest U.S. were planting this spring: Rudbeckia lacinata ‘Herbstonne’ aka ‘Autumn Sun’ is a long-blooming butterfly favorite with clusters of bright yellow ray flowers with large green cones from mid to late summer. Leaves are large, glossy, deep green, deeply cut along the stems. Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Biennial, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), compost, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heuchera (coralbells), Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Rudbeckia 'Herbstonne', Sage (Salvia), Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Switchgrass (Panicum), winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Flowering Perennials For Downtown AreasSummersweet Shrub – Underplanted And Underappreciated
Posted by Hugh on June 11th, 2019
Summersweet clethra (Clethra alnifolia), aka sweet pepperbush, is a deciduous summer blooming shrub that ranges from coastal Maine to Florida (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). This delightful shrub grows 3-6 feet, although some cultivars grow 8 feet or higher. Flower colors (depending on variety) range from white, pink, and rose pink. The sweetly fragrant flower clusters ( 4- 6 inches […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summersweet (Clethra), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Summersweet Shrub – Underplanted And UnderappreciatedSacred Lily (Rohdea)
Posted by Hugh on May 21st, 2019
Sacred lily (Rohdea japonica), aka nippon lilies, are native to Japan and China. Rohdeas are truly collector’s plants (USDA hardiness zones 6-10). In the Orient these lovely shade perennials are highly revered. In traditional Japanese horticulture, sacred lilies (known as o moto) came to be associated with long life and good fortune. Containers are planted […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Sacred Lily (Rohdea), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Sacred Lily (Rohdea)Try Maple-leaf Viburnum In Woodsy Areas
Posted by Hugh on May 16th, 2019
Maple-leaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium) is a small to medium deciduous shrub that is indigenous to many areas of the Eastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). This underutilized native viburnum is at its finest in a dappled shady woodland landscape. Slow-growing at first, a single plant may reach heights of 4-6 feet and 2-4 feet in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum Maple-leaf (V. acerifolium), Viburnums, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Try Maple-leaf Viburnum In Woodsy AreasEnjoy Two Kinds Of Stachys In Your Summer Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 26th, 2019
Many gardeners are acquainted with the wooly leaf perennial called lambs ears (Stachys byzantina). But the genus Stachys is also home to betony (S. officinalis) / (S. monieri). Alpine betony (Stachys monieri) is native to Europe and Asia (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). ‘Hummelo’ betony is very different in appearance from its gray velvety leaf relative […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Betony (Stachys), Butterflies, compost, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Lamb's ears (Stachys), Landscape ideas, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Sanitation, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Enjoy Two Kinds Of Stachys In Your Summer GardenThree New Summer Annuals You’ll Get Excited Over
Posted by Hugh on April 15th, 2019
Here are three new annuals which should delight: Striking Senecio ‘Angel Wings’ has silky, silvery white foliage. Angel Wings senecio is beautiful to add to mixed containers or use it solitary on patio or deck planters. Warning: you can’t resist touching the long, broad velvety leaves. Angel Wings grows 10-12 inches high and about as wide. Plant Angel Wings […]
Posted in acidic soil, Angelonias, Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Euphorbias, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Senecio, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Three New Summer Annuals You’ll Get Excited OverTemperamental Big Leaf Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on March 25th, 2019
Get use to it… big leaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), also called hortensia hydrangeas, are temperamental (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). After a long winter of sub-freezing temperatures, these blue (or pink) flowering shrubs should be stunningly beautiful in spring. However, if the late winter- early spring temps flucuate wildly, grab your pruning shears. Too most gardeners, myself included, […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Cold tolerance, compact shrub, compost, Container garden, container shrub, Disease resistant, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Hydrangea, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Temperamental Big Leaf HydrangeasBleeding Hearts Delight In The Spring Garden
Posted by Hugh on March 10th, 2019
Bleeding hearts (Dicentra spp.) are truly one of nature’s glorious delights in the spring garden (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Old fashion bleeding hearts (D. spectabilis), indigenous to Asia, grow taller and wider compared to their North American counterparts – wild bleeding heart (D. exima) and Dutchman’s breeches (D. cucullaria). Old fashioned bleeding bear larger (and showier) flowers […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra), Butterflies, compost, Deer resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Syneilesis aconitifolia, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bleeding Hearts Delight In The Spring GardenGrowing Nasturtiums
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2019
Old-fashioned nasturtiums never lose their appeal, whether in the garden or as a garnish on a salad, or added to stir-fries, or favorite pasta dishes. Depending on the variety, some may be grown as climbers on fences and trellises or as bushy plants in a window boxes and containers. Around the world there are several […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Culinary, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Edible fruits, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Nasturtium, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Nasturtiums
