Turtlehead (Chelone spp.) is a U.S. native. Turtle-head shaped flowers appear in August and September. The 1 inch flowers open from bottom to top along the stem (s). Colors vary from bright white, creamy white, and white tinged with pink (depending on species and cultivar grown). Pink turtlehead (C. lyonii ) is native to the Southern […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Maintenance’ Category
‘Hot Lips’ Turtlehead – A Late Summer Flowering Native
Posted by Hugh on August 8th, 2012
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Native Plant, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Turtlehead (Chelone), watering tips 
Comments Off on ‘Hot Lips’ Turtlehead – A Late Summer Flowering NativeOstrich Fern Likes It Moist And Cool
Posted by Hugh on August 6th, 2012
For sheer toughness ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) handles most landscape situations (USDA hardiness zones 2-7a). Ostrich fern is commonly seen growing naturally in cool moist river bottom soils, 3-5 feet in height and spreading aggressively. Roots have a clumping rhizomatous nature. The fronds grow upright with a slightly arching form, typically to 2-3 feet in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Disease resistant, Foliage plant, Native Plant, Ostrich fern (Matteuccia), Perennials, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Ostrich Fern Likes It Moist And CoolThe Boys Or Girls of Summer
Posted by Hugh on August 3rd, 2012
Gardeners are looking for simple plant combinations and this photo, shot at Kingwood Center in Mansfield, Ohio, shows three easy to grow perennials, “no-brainers” as some might call them. Originally, all three plants emigrated from the prairie where each coped with hot summers without much rainfall. In the hands of modern plant breeders, each perennial has been greatly improved. All are disease and pest resistant. Some […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Weed control Comments Off on The Boys Or Girls of SummerDawn Redwood Is Back From Extinction
Posted by Hugh on August 1st, 2012
Dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) was thought to be extinct until the mid-twentieth century. In 1948 dawn redwood was re-introduced into North America from Sichuan-Hubei Provinces in China. Dawn redwood grows in full sun and in well-drained, compost-rich soil. The tree struggles in dry or high pH soils. Dawn redwood will tolerate standing water for a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bald cypress (Taxodium), Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Japanese beetles, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens Comments Off on Dawn Redwood Is Back From Extinction‘Morning Grace’ Spiderwort Is A Delicate Beauty
Posted by Hugh on July 26th, 2012
Morning Grace spiderwort (Tradescantia rosea ‘Morning Grace’) is a short growing spiderwort native from Maryland south to Florida. Its small size and clumping nature makes it a wonderful rock garden plant. It grows into 8″ tall x 8″ wide clump of narrow medium green leaves. At first glance this spiderwort’s foliage appears very grass-like. […]
Posted in Butterflies, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tradescantia (Spiderwort), winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Morning Grace’ Spiderwort Is A Delicate BeautyYellow Nutsedge Control Is In Your Hands
Posted by Hugh on July 21st, 2012
Yellow nutsedge, aka “nutgrass” (Cyperus esculentus) is a nasty weed found in lawn and garden areas. It is a sedge, and not a grass, and methods of eliminating it vary. Yellow nutsedge is easily identified by its yellow to light green glossy leaves and the triangular shape of the stem. It grows most actively during […]
Posted in Garden Maintenance, Nutsedge Control, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Weed control, Weeds, Weeds Comments Off on Yellow Nutsedge Control Is In Your HandsHollyhock Rust Prevention Tips
Posted by Hugh on July 19th, 2012
Hollyhocks (Alcea rosea) are old-fashioned perennials (and biennials) which are currently finding a new audience. There are numerous cultivars differing in plant height from 5 to 9 feet and spread of 1 to 3 feet. Flowers come in single and double forms and in many color shades. Hollyhocks are hardy to USDA hardiness zone 4. […]
Posted in Disease prone, Disease resistant, Flowers, Hollyhock (Alcea), Japanese beetles, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering Comments Off on Hollyhock Rust Prevention Tips‘Sunburst’ Golden St. John’s Wort
Posted by Hugh on July 16th, 2012
Our native golden St. John’s wort (Hypericum frondosum) deserves more planting space in U. S. gardens (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). ‘Sunburst’ is the leading cultivar and exhibits superior traits over the species. Golden St. John’s wort forms a small, dense growing deciduous shrub, noted for its showy golden yellow flowers and attractive blue-green foliage. Sunburst grows more compact […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Butterflies, compact shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Winter bark Comments Off on ‘Sunburst’ Golden St. John’s Wort‘Brigadoon’ Hypericum Wakes Up a Garden Bed
Posted by Hugh on July 13th, 2012
The bright chartreuse (almost golden) foliage Brigadoon St. John’s wort (Hypericum calycinum ‘Brigadoon’) can brighten up almost any dull garden spot. This Euro-Asian ground cover thrives in any well-drained soil under full to partial sunlight (USDA zones 4-7). Full sun may burn the summer foliage in zone 7. ‘Brigadoon’ grows 12 to 16 inches tall and spreads […]
Posted in Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Planting tips, Pruning, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, St. John's Wort (Hypericum), Summer flowering Comments Off on ‘Brigadoon’ Hypericum Wakes Up a Garden BedSelecting The Right Ivy For Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on July 5th, 2012
Have you taken the “No Ivy Pledge”? I have not. In an effort to slow defections from growing ivy, the American Ivy Society has developed a list of non-invasive cultivars. It includes several dwarf English ivy cultivars (Hedera spp.). Add a little water and fertilizer and these mini-ivies do not miss a beat. Mini- ivies […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Evergreens, Ivy (Hedera), Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Vine, watering tips Comments Off on Selecting The Right Ivy For Your Garden
