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- […]
Archive for the ‘mulching’ Category
More Cool Small Flowering Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on January 23rd, 2022
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 ShrubsFour Tree Conifers Which Should Be Planted More
Posted by Hugh on January 16th, 2022
Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana), aka Caucasian fir, is native to the Caucasus Mountains (USDA hardiness zones 4-6). This dense pyramidal conifer grows to 50 feet tall and 20 feet wide and are typically branched to the ground. Their flat dark green shiny needles (up to 1 ¼ inches long) feature two white bands on the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bagworms, compact tree, Deciduous, Deciduous conifer, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fall Garden Interest, Fir (Abies), Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pseudolarix amabilis, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Thujopsis, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Four Tree Conifers Which Should Be Planted MoreSo Many Great Amsonias
Posted by Hugh on January 11th, 2022
Amsonias, commonly called blue star, are a group of easy-to-grow, long-lived native perennials. These highly dependable plants offer three-seasons of landscape interest: showy, long-lasting blooms in spring (mostly in May); threadlike green foliage in summer; and yellow foliage in fall. Amsonias are native primarily to North America and belong to the dogbane plant family (Apocynaceae). This clump-forming perennial has […]
Posted in acidic soil, Amsonia (blue star), Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on So Many Great AmsoniasRaked Leaves Improve Garden Soil
Posted by Hugh on December 9th, 2021
Don’t rake and send fallen leaves to urban landfills. In a recent poll, nearly one-third of weekly disposable materials are composed of yard waste, newspapers, and food waste. Many of your neighbors are sending bags of “nutrient gold” to landfills. Improve your gardening skills and save money. Adding fallen leaves back into the garden is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bulb Crops, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Environmental issues, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Garden ecology, Green Recycling, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Trees & Shrubs, Virginia bluebell (Mertensia), Wildflower Comments Off on Raked Leaves Improve Garden SoilHawthorn Trees In The Landscape
Posted by Hugh on November 1st, 2021
The world of hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) includes several outstanding landscape trees that exhibit four-season ornamental interest: 1. spring flowering, 2. disease-free summer foliage, 3. variable fall leaf color, and 4. colorful fruits for wildlife in the fall and winter months. World-wide, hawthorns are native to temperate regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Anthracnose, Borers, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Hawthorn (Crataegus), Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Rust diseases, Scale, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Hawthorn Trees In The LandscapePerennials With Great Autumn Leaf Color
Posted by Hugh on October 27th, 2021
In addition to foliage changes seen in landscape trees and shrubs, a select number of perennials contribute to the autumnal leaf colors. Here is a select list of popular perennials endeared for their autumnal foliage hues. Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) – stunning golden foliage beginning in late September. Bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum) – geranium ground […]
Posted in Amsonia (blue star), Aralia 'Sun King', Autumn fern (Dryopteris), Container garden, Deciduous, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Muhly grass, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Purchasing Plants, Rodgersia, Sedges (Carex), Sedum, Sedum (Groundcover types), Soil drainage, Spanish bluebells, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Switchgrass (Panicum), Uvularia (bellwort), Variegated Solomon Seal, winter hardiness Comments Off on Perennials With Great Autumn Leaf ColorTips On Overwintering Outdoor Containers
Posted by Hugh on October 21st, 2021
Containers filled with shrubs and perennials, doesn’t necessarily ensure their winter survival. Without adequate cold protection plants may succumb to cold injury—turning them into dead annuals. To over-winter perennials in containers, you need to know their root and shoot temperature hardiness. Often, plant hardiness ratings is listed on the label. Roots and shoots of several […]
Posted in Azaleas (evergreen), Blue mist (Caryopteris), Boxwood (Buxus), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Cold tolerance, common boxwood, Container garden, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Hedges, Hydrangeas, Japanese yew, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Pruning, Repotting plants, Rhododendrons, root injury, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Sun scald, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, Winter blooming, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection, Yews (Taxus spp.) Comments Off on Tips On Overwintering Outdoor ContainersForms of Western Arborvitae
Posted by Hugh on October 16th, 2021
Here is a partial listing of cultivars of Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata), as found in the U.S. nursery industry. Several are good choices for dwarf conifer collectors, in rock gardens, and in large containers. Winter hardiness of some cultivars is variable. Note: some are dwarf forms of ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata) which […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, compact shrub, compost, Container garden, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fragrant, Hedges, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata), Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Forms of Western ArborvitaePossum Haw Holly
Posted by Hugh on October 11th, 2021
Possum haw (Ilex decidua) is a deciduous holly, grown as a large shrub or small tree. Its colorful winter berries brighten woodlands along creeks and rivers in the Midwest and Southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5 -9). It is known by a number of common names, including bearberry, winterberry, deciduous holly, among others. Its popular […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deciduous holly, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Garden ecology, Honey bees, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Possum haw (Ilex decidua), Praying Mantis (Mantid), Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Possum Haw HollyCoral honeysuckle
Posted by Hugh on October 6th, 2021
Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), aka trumpet honeysuckle, is a vigorous twining flowering vine that is primarily native to the southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 4 -8). Cultivars are available in shades of red, orange. and yellow. The colorful flowers appear in spring and summer, and colorful berries decorate in late summer and autumn. Invite hummingbirds […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Ground cover, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Coral honeysuckle
