Gardeners no longer have to give up growing garden impatiens (Impatiens walleriana). No, the worldwide disease outbreak of downy mildew on garden impatiens is not over. But new disease resistant cultivars of impatiens are arriving at garden centers this spring. Two of the newest are: SunPatiens® Spreading Shell Pink and Bounce® Pink Flame (‘Balboufink’). […]
Archive for the ‘mulching’ Category
Good News About Garden Impatiens
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Container growing, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Impatiens, mulching, New Guinea impatiens, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Good News About Garden ImpatiensWonderful Bellworts For Woodland Gardens
Posted by Hugh on April 18th, 2015
The soft yellow bell-shaped flowers of bellworts (Uvularia spp.), aka merrybells, contribute to spring’s awakening in U.S. woodlands and shade gardens (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). On both U. grandiflora and U. perfoliata, flower stems pierce (pass through) the center of the leaves. A third species, (U. sessilifolia), nicknamed Wild Oats, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compost, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uvularia (bellwort), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Wonderful Bellworts For Woodland GardensGomphrena (Globe Amaranth) For Summer Easy Color
Posted by Hugh on April 15th, 2015
Gomphrena, aka Globe amaranth, is an annual bedding plant that blooms profusely in the summer heat and sun. Small ball-shaped flowers are clove-like in appearance. Many gardeners tend to ignore them at the garden center for showier flowering annuals. By mid-summer, a peek into your neighbor’s yard may cause to rethink that decision. Gomphrenas […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Butterflies, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Mites, mulching, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering Comments Off on Gomphrena (Globe Amaranth) For Summer Easy ColorMillion Bells (Calibrachoa)
Posted by Hugh on April 8th, 2015
Among gardeners “million bells” or “callies” are common names for calibrachoas (Calibrachoa x), spring-summer-fall flowering annuals; they’re closely relative of petunias (Petunia spp.). Low spreading plants are blanketed with small petunia-like flowers from spring until frost. Blooms hold up well to rain showers and do not need to be deadheaded. Plants are heat-tolerant and disease […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Calibrachoa (Million bells), Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, mulching, Petunias, Planting tips, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Million Bells (Calibrachoa)‘Cherokee Brave’– Outstanding “Red” Flowering Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on April 3rd, 2015
Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) is the most beautiful of U.S. native flowering trees (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9). It typically grows 15-30 feet tall, but larger forms are known. The tree is broadly-pyramidal at a young age, branching is low, and matures with a rounded canopy. Spring bloom time usually overlaps with redbud (Cercis […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact tree, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Drought tolerant, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Powdery Mildew, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Cherokee Brave’– Outstanding “Red” Flowering DogwoodOld-fashioned Star Magnolias Very Beautiful Start Of Spring
Posted by Hugh on March 15th, 2015
Star magnolia (Magnolia stellata) is a multi-branched shrub or small tree which is native to Japan (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8). This early flowering magnolia is noted for its compact form. A mature tree form grows 15 to 25 feet tall, 10 to 20 feet wide, and […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact tree, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Magnolia stellata, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, winter injury Comments Off on Old-fashioned Star Magnolias Very Beautiful Start Of SpringDouble Knockout® Roses
Posted by Hugh on March 9th, 2015
Knockout® roses continue to wow gardeners across the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9). The original Knock Out series grew 5 to 8 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. Shorter growing Double Knockout® series make better fit in most urban gardens at 3 to 4 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide. Double […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, mulching, Planting tips, Roses, shrub roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Double Knockout® RosesBasic Hosta Facts
Posted by Hugh on March 8th, 2015
Hostas are the most popular shade perennial in the U.S. They prefer a moist, compost-rich, well-drained soil. In northerly areas (USDA hardiness zones 4-5), where summers are cooler, most hardy cultivars grow in full sun. In warmer zones those in full sun must be irrigated frequently. Blue leaf cultivars look their best only in shady areas; the white waxy coating, responsible […]
Posted in acidic soil, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Ground cover, Hosta, Irrigation, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Rabbit/deer Protection, Sanitation, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Voles, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 1 Comment »Rose Care Starts With A Good Planting Site
Posted by Hugh on March 4th, 2015
Roses should be planted 4 feet apart on a garden site that receives 6 to 8 hours of sun. The garden soil must be well-drained and pH between 6.0 and 6.5. Prevent disease problems by providing good air movement between plants and not crowd them. Spring thru mid- summer is an ideal period to plant roses to allow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, container shrub, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Flowers, Fragrant, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pruning, Roses, shrub roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Rose Care Starts With A Good Planting SiteGrowing Zone 6 Hardy Camellias 101
Posted by Hugh on February 13th, 2015
Drs. William L. Ackerman with the USDA (deceased) developed bred a series of interspecific crosses between C. oleifera and C. sasanqua, C. hiemalis, or C. vernalis selections. Many, not all, are identified as the Winter series because they bloom in the fall into very early winter. Dr. Clifford […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Camellia, compost, Disease resistant, Evergreen, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Growing Zone 6 Hardy Camellias 101
