Fragrance is a wonderful trait to include in your landscape. Although most viburnum species are not odorous, these 7 stand out for their spring floral fragrance. Bloom dates mentioned here are for zones 6-7 (TN, VA, NC and KY). Burkwood Viburnum (V. x burkwoodii) is semi-evergreen, 7 to 8 feet tall and wide, with glossy dark green leaves that turn […]
Archive for the ‘mulching’ Category
The Fragrant Viburnums
Posted by Hugh on March 15th, 2019
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnum x bodnantense, Viburnums, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on The Fragrant ViburnumsBleeding 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 GardenEasy To Care Siberian Iris
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2019
Siberian iris (called beadless iris) are favorites of gardeners and landscapers. Why? – ease of maintenance, plant longevity, and trouble free. Their flowers are smaller than the bearded iris blooms, but their grass-like foliage stays attractive all season long. They are more cold hardier. Siberian irises are mostly hybrids of two southwest Asian species, I. sibirica […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Borers, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Iris, Iris sibirica, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering iris, watering tips, Weed control, winter hardiness Comments Off on Easy To Care Siberian IrisGrowing 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 NasturtiumsEarly Flowering Magnolias
Posted by Hugh on February 20th, 2019
If you live (and garden) in the northern climes of the U.S. and Canada, Magnolia ×loebneri Leonard Messel is an excellent choice of a flowering yard tree. It is a hybrid deciduous magnolia (M. kobus x M. stellata) (zones (4)5-9). Other similar crosses include ‘Ballerini’ and ‘Merrill’. Leonard Messel magnolia grows to 20-30 feet tall with a rounded crown. It is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact tree, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Magnolia, Magnolia stellata, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Early Flowering MagnoliasMonkey Puzzle Tree
Posted by Hugh on February 15th, 2019
Monkey puzzle tree or Chilian pine (Araucaria araucana) is an evergreen conifer that is indigenous to forested volcanic slopes in the Andes Mountains in Chile and Argentina (USDA Zone 7b-11). It is the national tree of Chile. It typically grows 60-70 feet tall and 30-35 feet wide, but frequently reaches 100 feet or more in height […]
Posted in acidic soil, Container growing, Deer resistant, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Leaf retention, Leaf/needle spots, Mealy bugs, Monkey Puzzle Tree, mulching, Norfolk Island Pine, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Scale, Soil drainage, Summer heat tolerant, Thrips, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Monkey Puzzle TreeAmerican Hornbeam – Versatile Small U.S. Native Tree
Posted by Hugh on February 5th, 2019
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), aka ironwood or muscle wood, grows primarily in moist, slightly acidic soils along woodland rivers and streams (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). This native hornbeam adapts to either wet or dry ground as long as soil moisture drains off, and it does not flood over long periods. This durable small tree copes with […]
Posted in acidic soil, American hornbeam, Cold tolerance, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Hornbeam (Carpinus), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on American Hornbeam – Versatile Small U.S. Native TreeTips On Amending The Soil In The Planting Hole
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2019
Adding large amounts of compost or organic matter to a planting hole greatly improve the soil’s water-holding capacity and aeration. Simply throwing piles of leaves into the bottom of the planting hole helps improve a soil. However, amending the planting hole is not recommended by most plant experts. Why? According to soil scientists, the plant roots stay locked within the rich […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Birch (Betula spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Blackberries, Deciduous Azaleas, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Ilex (hollies), Inkberry Holly (Ilex), Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, mulching trees, Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, river birch, Soil drainage, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Tips On Amending The Soil In The Planting HoleAll About Soil Drainage
Posted by Hugh on January 20th, 2019
Many landscape plants die because they were planted in soil that was too wet or soggy. Poorly drained soils are generally poorly aerated. A high water table in an area limits your choices of plants that you may grow. Plants that grow naturally along streams and ponds are good candidates for poorly drained sites. During periods of heavy […]
Posted in compost, Container garden, Daphne odora, Garden ecology, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Moss (in lawn), mulching, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Purchasing Plants, root injury, Root rotting, Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Transplant problem, watering tips Comments Off on All About Soil DrainageUpdate On Boxwood Blight Disease
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2019
A decade ago, boxwoods (Buxus spp.) were the quintessential shrubs, particularly for formal hedges. Over the past half century, many new boxwood varieties have been introduced into nursery commerce, a boxwood variety that will work in most garden situations. Just five years ago, boxwood production at U.S. nurseries was greater than for azaleas, hollies, hydrangeas, and arborvitaes. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Boxwood (Buxus), Chlorosis (yellowing), Container garden, Disease prone, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Hedges, Landscape ideas, mulching, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips Comments Off on Update On Boxwood Blight Disease
