Maintaining good plant nutrition is of key importance. A tree and shrub which is growing vigorously can resist infestation from most diseases and insects. Symptoms of poor nutrition: pale green or chlorotic leaves; undersized plants; slower annual growth rate; many dead or dying branch tips; increased insect/disease problems. Trees under 10 years of age should be fertilized annually. There is little need to […]
Archive for the ‘Fertilizing plants’ Category
Fertilizing Trees And Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on November 15th, 2018
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, Insect suseptible, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Large shrub, Maples (Acer), Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil Conservation, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs 
Comments Off on Fertilizing Trees And ShrubsStoloniferous Dogwoods Jazz Up The Winter Landscape
Posted by Hugh on October 25th, 2018
Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub native to much of the Northern and Western United States (USDA hardiness zones 2-7). Without question these shrubs standout in winter by their colorful stems (see pruning recommendations below). Cut branches are an added plus for indoor arrangements. The yellow-twig form (C. sericea ‘Flaviramea’) is also available. Leaves are oblong-lanceolate […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, container shrub, Cornus sericea, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stoloniferous Dogwoods Jazz Up The Winter LandscapeUmbrella Pine—A Conifer Collector’s Dream Plant
Posted by Hugh on October 10th, 2018
Japanese Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) is an evergreen (USDA hardiness zones 5b -9). It is not actually a pine. Historically, umbrella pines date back to the dinosaur age. This mid-sized landscape tree displays several fine attributes: shiny leaves are arranged in whorls like the spokes of an umbrella; peeling, reddish brown bark and a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, mulching trees, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys), watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Umbrella Pine—A Conifer Collector’s Dream PlantToadlilies In The Autumn Garden
Posted by Hugh on September 25th, 2018
Toadlilies (Tricyrtis spp.) are late season flowering perennials in the shade garden. Most perennials have finished blooming as their flower buds are forming. They’re native to moist woodsy environs of India, China and Japan and are Botanical members of the lily (Lilaceae) family (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). When properly sited, toadlilies are long-lived and require […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, plant nutrition, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Toadlily (Tricyrtis), watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Toadlilies In The Autumn GardenOsage Orange As A Landscape Tree
Posted by Hugh on September 20th, 2018
Osage orange (Maclura pomifera) has been declawed and neutered (USDA Zones 5-9). A member of the mulberry family (Moraceae), this tough prairie tree species is native to east Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. It grows fast @ 2 ½ to 3 feet per year. It is also called Bois D’Arc (pronounced “bow-dark”). Osage orange is a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fencing, Fertilizing plants, Fruits poisonous, Heat Tolerance, Inconspicious, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, Messy Fruits, mulching, Native Plant, Osage Orange (Maclura), plant nutrition, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Osage Orange As A Landscape TreeFall Lawn Care Tips
Posted by Hugh on September 15th, 2018
The fall season is “spring-time” for home lawn care. This is a great opportunity to apply grass seed, fertilize, and eliminate weeds in cool season lawns. In Tennessee (USDA hardiness zones 6-7), cool season grasses (fescue, bluegrass and perennial rye) are fertilized in mid-September with a high nitrogen-based fertilizer, available at most garden centers. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bermuda, Broadleaf weeds, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing, Fertilizing plants, Garden ecology, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Herbicide management, Irrigation, Kentucky bluegrass, Landscape ideas, Lawn Care, Mowing, Pesticide recommendations, Pesticide Recommendations, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Red fescue, Ryegrass, seeding lawn, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tall Fescue, watering tips, Weed control, Weed management, Weeds, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall Lawn Care TipsSuccess In Growing Franklinia Tree
Posted by Hugh on September 10th, 2018
Franklinia (Franklinia altamaha) is a uniquely different large shrub or small tree. Great plant for the “I can grow anything crowd”. Rated hardy in USDA hardiness zones 5-8, I’ve never seen a landscape quality specimen in zone 5 and find that the tree performs best in zones 6 to 7. Success with growing franklinia hinges on […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact tree, compost, Environmental issues, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Fragrant, Franklinia, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Success In Growing Franklinia Tree‘Henry Eilers’ Coneflower (Rudbeckia)
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2018
Called “sweet coneflower” (Rudbeckia subtomentosum), this U.S. Midwest prairie species is a long-lived perennial that grows in a variety of soils (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Sweet coneflower prefers full or partial sun (6 hours minimum) and a moist well-drained loamy soils. It is highly drought tolerant after its first year in the garden. Established plants emerge in mid-spring as a […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Henry Eilers’ Coneflower (Rudbeckia)Growing Morning Glories
Posted by Hugh on August 28th, 2018
Morning glory vines (Ipomoea tricolor) add a dash of old fashion charm to today’s gardens. YES! these aggressive vines demand a high degree of attention. Their funnel or tubular-shaped flowers open in the morning and close late in the afternoon. In a single growing season, vines may grow 6 to 12 feet and more (depending on variety). Morning […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Annuals, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Landscape ideas, Morning glory (Ipomoea), mulching, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Vine, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Morning GloriesLigularias For Moist Sites
Posted by Hugh on August 20th, 2018
Ligularias (ligs) are big leafy perennials whose roots must be kept constantly moist so that plants don’t wilt or “faint”. An established plant may tolerate several days in dry soil, yet the droopy foliage will recover from the water loss each night. Several species are tropical (under the genus Farfugium). Bigleaf ligs (L. dentata) and narrow-spiked ligularias (L. stenocephala), […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Garden ecology, Landscape ideas, Ligularias, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Ligularias For Moist Sites
