Snowdrops (Galanthus spp.) are one of the first of all spring flowers to bloom. Depending on the region, they appear in February and March, often while patches of snow is still blanketing the ground. Snowdrops belong in the small genus Galanthus, that contains approximately 20 species of bulbous perennial herbaceous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. They are […]
Archive for the ‘mulching’ Category
Snowdrops (Galanthus)
Posted by Hugh on March 16th, 2022
Posted in Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Flower Arranging, Flowering Bulb, Galanthus (snowdrops), Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Soil drainage, Spring flowering bulbs, watering tips, Wildflowers, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Snowdrops (Galanthus)Five Redbuds With Dynamite Seasonal Foliage
Posted by Hugh on March 11th, 2022
Here are five notable redbuds (Cercis canadensis) possessing colorful summer foliage. Of note, the first 3 of 5 varieties are the creation of noted plant breeder Dr. Dennis Werner of NC State University in Raleigh. Flame Thrower® has stunning eye-catching foliage color breakthrough in the world of redbuds. It is marketed as Eternal Flame® in Europe. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chlorosis (yellowing), Container garden, Container growing, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Redbud, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Five Redbuds With Dynamite Seasonal FoliageBigleaf Magnolia
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2022
Bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) is a deciduous, native tree that reaches 30-40 feet tall. This unusual pyramidal tree magnolia is rarely found in the wild, inhabiting a few rich wooded areas in river valleys in the southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). With age, the tree develops a spreading rounded crown. Bigleaf magnolia is a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (layering), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bigleaf MagnoliaHardy Zone 6 Camellias
Posted by Hugh on February 21st, 2022
In the Southern U.S., camellias are treasured for their showy flowers in the fall-winter landscape. Their glossy evergreen foliage looks great all year long. Hardy varieties are now available for zone 6 northern gardens (-10 to 0 °F). Essentially, gardeners can raise camellias in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and in most coastal cities along the East […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Butterflies, Camellia, Cold tolerance, compact shrub, compost, Container garden, container shrub, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowering shrub, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Hardy Zone 6 CamelliasUniqely Different Chinese Quince
Posted by Hugh on February 16th, 2022
Chinese quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis) is an under-utilized small 10-20 feet tall deciduous tree or large shrub with a dense oval crown (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Initially, it starts out a slow grower for 1-2 years to establish its roots. Throughout the year, it provides several months of landscape charm that includes an attractive form, large […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Chinese Quince (Pseudocydonia), Deciduous, Drought tolerant, Edible fruits, Fall Garden Interest, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Uniqely Different Chinese QuinceJapanese Cornel – Notable Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on February 11th, 2022
Starting in late February, Japanese cornel (C. officinalis) burst into bloom with clusters of yellow flowers (zones 5–8). Native to Japan, China, and Korea, this lovely small tree (or large shrub) is one of a few plants that is an early harbinger of spring. Here are notable cultivars: ‘Sunsphere’ grows 20-25 feet high and is an exceptional heavy bloomer with […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact tree, Cornus officinalis, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Japanese Cornel – Notable CultivarsEleven Popular Perennials In The U.S.
Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2022
Today’s most popular perennials are ones asking for low maintenance and have few to no bug or disease problems. Cutflowers may be used in fresh cut and in dried arrangements. Coneflowers (Echinacea x) – native coneflowers are tough and pretty; flower colors: purple, white, orange, red, yellow. Compact coneflower series (16 to 30 inches tall): […]
Posted in acidic soil, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Daylilies, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Hellebores, Hosta, Monarda (Beebalm), mulching, Peony, Perennials, Phlox, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Red hot Poker (Kniphofia), Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Summer phlox (P. paniculata), watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Eleven Popular Perennials In The U.S.Create A Garden With Four Seasons Appeal
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2022
Your garden should be a year-round enjoyment and you should design it to reflect that. Many trees and shrubs offer multi-seasonal attraction. Several years back I designed a series of walking paths to network through my garden to capture its 12-month natural beauty. Planning next year’s garden? Look for calendar gaps in your own landscape […]
Posted in Acer griseum, American hornbeam, Attracting birds, Autumn foliage color, Autumn Fruiting, Birch (Betula spp.), Bulb Crops, Camellia, Celandine poppy (Stylophorum), Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), Common witchhazel (H. virginiana), Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), Cornus stolonifera, Deciduous holly, Dogwood (Cornus), Edgeworthia, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowering Bulb, Flowering shrub, Garden paths, Hawthorn (Crataegus), Hibiscus syriacus, Hornbeam (Carpinus), Hydrangea arborescens, Japanese maple, Katsura tree (Cercidophyllum), Kwanzan cherry, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Magnolia virginiana, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Paperbark maple, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Purchasing Plants, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, Winter flowering, winter flowering tree, winter hardiness, Winterhazels (Corylopsis), Witchhazel (Hamamelis), Yoshino cherry (Prunus) Comments Off on Create A Garden With Four Seasons AppealLacebark Pine
Posted by Hugh on January 28th, 2022
Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) (USDA hardiness zones 4-8) is arboreal mid-sized gem is a lovely 3-needle pine. It is a slow-growing pine with an absolutely exquisite exfoliating patchwork bark which becomes more attractive as the tree ages. Some of the best specimens that I have witnessed are planted on the New York Botanical Gardens in […]
Posted in Attracting birds, compact tree, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Lacebark pine (P. bungeana), Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lacebark PineMore Cool Small Flowering Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on January 23rd, 2022
For many urban gardeners, landscape space is very limited. Here are several showy shrub choices along walkways and perennial border, and in deck and patio containers. Each year the list of dwarf shrubs continues to get longer. They are low maintenance, including very little annual pruning. Shrub Roses – like Drift™ and Flower Carpet™ roses- […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bumble bees, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Honey bees, Hummingbird, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, multi-flora rose, Native Plant, Native Plant, Ninebark, Non-native, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, rose rosette disease, shrub roses, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree), Weigela Comments Off on More Cool Small Flowering Shrubs
