Some gardeners call them “Christmas peppers”. In the late summer garden all eyes turn away from most flowering annuals and to the colorful fruits of ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum). Many are dwarf red hot chili peppers. (No!…not the rock band). Fruits are cylindrical or ball shaped and the brilliant colors range from white, yellow, […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Maintenance’ Category
Ornamental Peppers Sizzle In Autumn
Posted by Hugh on September 19th, 2011
Fall Is For Planting
Posted by Hugh on September 15th, 2011
Does your garden need a refresh? Summer’s heat and drought, devastating storms, and disease and pest problems combine to place a pall over your outdoor living space. Perhaps, you desire an entirely new look. Maybe you’re tired of the same old beds of roses, daylilies and other perennials. Maybe your garden saps too much of […]
Posted in Camassia, Dianthus (Pinks), Flowers, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Violas, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest 
Tags: Landscaping Tips 
Comments Off on Fall Is For PlantingSteps in Re-Blooming Last Year’s Poinsettia
Posted by Hugh on September 12th, 2011
Part IV. In mid-September bring plant indoors as outdoor temps start to drop below 50°F to initiate poinsettia flowering. Poinsettia is a “photoperiodic” plant, which means that floral buds and colorful bracts are initiated under short daylengths. A poinsettia requires 6 weeks of 10 hours or less of light per day. You must be determined to stay with […]
Posted in Fertilizing plants, Interior (house) Plants, Poinsettia, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips Comments Off on Steps in Re-Blooming Last Year’s PoinsettiaRe-Bloomers Need Your Help
Posted by Hugh on September 10th, 2011
Re-blooming is an unusual plant trait. Selected cultivars return this time of year for a repeat floral show. In my garden Encore™ azaleas (Rhododendron spp.), re-blooming irises (Iris spp.), and re-blooming daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) are back for second round of flowering in late summer and early fall. The gardener/landscaper must supply needed soil moisture and nutrition (primarily nitrogen) so that plants don’t struggle […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Azaleas (evergreen), Daylilies, Fertilizing plants, Iris, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Re-Bloomers Need Your Help‘Chocolate’ White Snakeroot Is A Better Choice
Posted by Hugh on September 7th, 2011
White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum) is native to moist woodland areas in most eastern and midwestern states (U.S.). It grows in average, moist, well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. It is a long-lived and an aggressive perennial. ‘Chocolate’ (E. rugosum ‘Chocolate’) earns its namesake for its chocolaty or burgundy tinted foliage. ‘Chocolate’ white […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', plant nutrition, Poisonous plant, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Chocolate’ White Snakeroot Is A Better Choice‘Slender Silhouette’ Sweetgum…Very Few Gumballs!
Posted by Hugh on September 4th, 2011
Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a medium to large landscape tree, which matures to 65-70 feet in height and 35 feet in spread. To many people it’s called the cursed “gumball” or “ankle twister” tree, not be confused with the fruit balls of the American sycamore or London plane tree (Platanus spp.). Gumball detractors should look […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Slender Silhouette’ Sweetgum…Very Few Gumballs!‘Autumn Bride’ Started A Heuchera Evolution
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2011
Autumn Bride heuchera (Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’) is blooming now. This native ground cover, aka “hairy alumroot”, displays wide lime-green foliage which is not as colorful as many new H. villosa hybrids introduced in recent years. However, the white flowers on Autumn Bride are showier and more numerous. Heucheras prefer a moist, well-drained, compost-rich soil. Plants are heat and humidity […]
Gaillardia Survival Depends On Winter Soil Drainage
Posted by Hugh on August 29th, 2011
In recent years several hybrid cultivars of blanket flowers (Gaillardia x grandflora) have been introduced. Some are annuals and others perennials. This North American prairie native is hardy in USDA zone 5 hardy. Gaillardias should thrive in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), but they don’t! Soggy winter clay soil is their […]
Posted in Blanket flower (Gaillardia), Butterflies, Disease resistant, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Perennials, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Gaillardia Survival Depends On Winter Soil DrainageSunpatiens Worth The Hype
Posted by Hugh on August 26th, 2011
Sunpatiens™ live up to all their hype, with a caveat. They are still impatiens, which means they love (and can’t go without) water. In the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7), Sunpatiens prosper in direct full day sun to part shade, but can’t go without weekly watering. The flower bed should be mulched […]
Posted in compost, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sunpatiens, watering tips Comments Off on Sunpatiens Worth The HypeKousa Dogwood Not Summer Heat Tolerant
Posted by Hugh on August 23rd, 2011
Chinese (Kousa) dogwood (Cornus kousa) rates four stars (out of four) as a beautiful small flowering landscape tree. Since the 1970’s, a deadly anthracnose (Discula spp.) fungus disease has threatened to eradicate our native flowering dogwood (C. florida). Kousa dogwood rates as a highly disease resistant alternative. Its Achilees’ heel is its less than stellar foliar heat […]
Posted in Chinese (kousa) dogwood, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Kousa Dogwood Not Summer Heat Tolerant
