Crocosmias are bulbous summer blooming flowering perennials that are closely related to gladiolas, also called montbretia and sword lilies. They’re actually corms, not bulbs, and are indigenous to South Africa (USDA hardiness zones 5b to 9). Crocosmias enjoy lots of sun, soil moisture, and hot temps to produce flowers. Plants prefer nutrient-rich, slightly acidic, moist, […]
Archive for the ‘mulching’ Category
Grow Crocosmias In Your Summer Garden
Posted by Hugh on June 6th, 2019
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, Container garden, Corms, Crocosmia (Montbretia), Disease resistant, Flower Arranging, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Mites, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Thrips, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Grow Crocosmias In Your Summer GardenSacred 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 AreasBlack Mondo Grass
Posted by Hugh on May 11th, 2019
Black mondo grass or black lilyturf (Ophiopogon planiscapus) is sold as a number of cultivars – ‘Arabicus’, ‘Black Dragon’, ‘Nigrescens’, or ‘Ebony Knight’. This stoloniferous grass-like perennial belongs to the lily family (Liliaceae) (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). Its blackish-purple foliage (3/16 inch wide leaf blades) forms lush arching clumps. For the patient gardener, know that […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Cold tolerance, Container garden, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mondo grass (Ophiopogon), mulching, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Black Mondo GrassAnnual Geraniums Make Garden Comeback
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2019
Once popular annual geraniums (Pelargonium x) are making a comeback with U.S. gardeners. Geraniums are also planted in window boxes or hanging baskets. Three types of geraniums are sold at garden centers: zonal or bedding geraniums (P. x hortorum), ivy-leaf geraniums (P. peltatum), and Martha Washington geraniums (P. x domesticum). Color choices include red, pink, rose, salmon, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Autumn flowering, Botrytis disease, Cercopora leaf spot, Container garden, deadheading, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Geranium, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Leaf diseases, mulching, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Sanitation, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Annual Geraniums Make Garden ComebackRussian Arborvitae For Cool Areas Of The U.S.
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2019
Russian arborvitae and Siberian cypress (Microbiota decussata) is an underutilize ground cover (USDA hardiness zones 3-7). This tough juniper-like evergreen hails from Siberia and demonstrates exceptional cold hardiness to -40 ° F. In extreme northerly sites, the lacy evergreen foliage may turn complete brown in the dead of winter and re-sprout in spring. In the cool temps of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Microbiota, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Russian Arborvitae For Cool Areas Of The U.S.Planting Small Trees Under Power Lines
Posted by Hugh on April 20th, 2019
Look Up before you plant. From city streets to country roadside are a myriad of power (utility) lines, e.g. electric, telephone, and cable TV wires. Utility companies have a “right of away” clearance to operate their lines. In most municipalities, mature trees growing into their lines can be cut down or all offending branches removed. Large trees often end […]
Posted in acidic soil, American hornbeam, Amur maple (A. ginnala), Appalachian dogwood series, Attracting birds, Bald cypress (Taxodium), Bees and other pollinators, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, Container growing, Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), Crabapple, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Flowering, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Heat Tolerance, Hornbeam (Carpinus), Landscape ideas, Large shrub, Lilac (Syringa), Maackia, Magnolia, Magnolia liliiflora, Maples (Acer), mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Ornamental plum (Prunus), Parrotia (P. persica0, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Red buckeye (Aesculus), Redbud, Seven son flower (Heptacodium), Silverbell (Halesia), Small landscape tree, Smoketree (Cotinus), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetheart tree (Euscaphis), Three Flower Maple (A. triflorum), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis), Zelkova Comments Off on Planting Small Trees Under Power LinesThree 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 OverSelect List Of The Better Kousa Dogwood Varieties
Posted by Hugh on April 10th, 2019
There are over 100 named varieties (cultivars) of kousa (Chinese) dogwoods (Cornus kousa) in nursery trade (USDA hardiness zone 5-8). Most cultivars grow 20-30 feet high with some exceptions. Kousa dogwood blooms 2-3 weeks after U.S. native flowering dogwood (C. florida). Most grow shrub-like and tree forms require extensive training at the nursery. Flowers are 2-4 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark Comments Off on Select List Of The Better Kousa Dogwood VarietiesSpring Ephemerals
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2019
The cold dreary days of March have waned and many of our great Appalachian wildflowers have awakened. These plants are often referred to as “ephemerals” because they come up, bloom, and fade away in 6-9 weeks. They bloom in a shady woodland or garden environment before the deciduous tree canopy has completely leafed out. Their […]
Posted in acidic soil, bloodroot (Sanguinaria), celandine poppies (Stylophorum), Disease resistant, Ferns, Garden ecology, Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Tiarella (foam flower), Twinleaf (Jeffersonia), Virginia bluebells (Mertensia), watering tips, Wildflower, Wildflowers, Wind protection, Woodland phlox Comments Off on Spring Ephemerals
