This South African native, also called ‘montbretia”, thrives in full sun in well-drained average garden soil. A richly composted soil tends to boost foliage size and bloom count, but often weakens bloom stems, requiring some staking. Crocosmia may struggle in a wet soggy wintry soil. Established plants are exceptionally summer heat and drought tolerant. Brightly colored […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Maintenance’ Category
To Grow Crocosmia Or Not?
Posted by Hugh on July 19th, 2011
Posted in Crocosmia (Montbretia), Mites, Perennials, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on To Grow Crocosmia Or Not?Galinsoga -The Gardener’s Weed
Posted by Hugh on July 13th, 2011
Thirty plus years ago a gardening friend passed along this tidbit: “galinsoga (Galinsoga parviflora) is the gardener’s weed”. Galinsoga grows only in cultivated soils such as in your vegetable and/or flower garden from part shade to full sun. It prefers moist soil but grows almost anywhere, even between cracks in a sidewalk. Its thin leaves may wilt […]
Posted in Broadleaf weeds, Flowers, Fruits & Vegetables, Herbicide management, mulching, Pests, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, Weeds Comments Off on Galinsoga -The Gardener’s WeedSummer Blooming Oyama Magnolia
Posted by Hugh on July 10th, 2011
A friend on vacation sent me the attached photo from Wooster, Ohio. When I told him that it was Oyama magnolia (Magnolia sieboldii), he asked why gardeners are not growing it. Good question! Oyama magnolia is a 10-15 feet tall (and equal spread) deciduous tree or large shrub from eastern Asia. It prefers to grow […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Featured, Flowering, Large shrub, Magnolia, Magnolia sieboldii, mulching, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Summer Blooming Oyama MagnoliaInvite Sonata Cosmos Into Flower Beds
Posted by Hugh on July 7th, 2011
Over the past few years a flower bed containing cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) has become a rare sight across the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Not so, at the recently visited BuGa National Gardening Show 2011 in Koblenz, Germany. Called by some “Mexican asters”, cosmos produces big 3- inch wide red, white, pink […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Flowers, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Invite Sonata Cosmos Into Flower BedsTough And Reliable Chinese Astilbes
Posted by Hugh on July 4th, 2011
Astilbes (also called “false spireas”) are favorite late spring flowering perennials. The Astilbe x arendsii hybrids from Germany are most popular and available at local garden centers. Astilbes are very hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). If low maintenance is your goal, try Chinese astilbe (Astilbe chinensis var tacquetii). Their […]
Posted in Astilbe (false spirea), Flowers, Perennials, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Tough And Reliable Chinese AstilbesGoldenrain Tree – A Golden Shower of Bloom
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2011
Goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) is a medium sized landscape tree maturing to 30-40 feet in height and spread with rounded canopy. A native of China, Japan, and Korea, the tree is winter hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Large panicles of dark yellow flowers set off a golden fireworks for your 4th of July celebration. Individual flowers barely measure […]
Posted in Disease resistant, Golden Raintree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Goldenrain Tree – A Golden Shower of BloomRosebay Rhododendron for Cool Shady Landscapes
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2011
Rosebay Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) grows in dense woodland shade along cool mountain streams and on moist, rocky slopes. This Southern Appalachian native is extremely winter hardy to -15° to -20° F. It is a late-season bloomer reaching its peak around late June. Rosebay grows large, 15 to 20 feet in height. On some sites it […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Attracting birds, compost, mulching, Rhododendrons, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering evergreens Comments Off on Rosebay Rhododendron for Cool Shady LandscapesFlaming ‘Fireball’ Hibiscus Quite A Summer Show
Posted by Hugh on June 18th, 2011
‘Fireball’ hibiscus (Hibiscus x moscheutos ‘Fireball’) is a vigorous hardy perennial with burgundy tinted cutleaf foliage and huge 10-12 inch clear red flowers from mid-summer to late summer. Plant height is 4 – 5 feet and 2 – 3 feet in width. A strikingly beautiful plant, ‘Fireball’ thrives on heat and humidity. It wants full […]
Posted in compost, Flowers, Hardy hibiscus, Hibiscus moscheutos, Perennials, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Flaming ‘Fireball’ Hibiscus Quite A Summer ShowSummer Pruning of Oakleaf and Bigleaf Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on June 15th, 2011
Bigleaf or “mophead” hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) tend to get tall and leggy, and outgrow their garden space. Our native oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) are pruned as blooms quality declines. Remove or “deadhead” all withered or faded flowers. Main pruning time for these two species is from mid-June thru mid-August. Mopheads may rebloom if they had […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Garden Maintenance, Hydrangea, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized Comments Off on Summer Pruning of Oakleaf and Bigleaf HydrangeasCalliope™ Dark Red Geranium- One of the Best
Posted by Hugh on June 4th, 2011
Garden performance is very important. Calliope™ Dark Red geraniums have it!! Calliope geraniums are interspecific hybrids with zonal-type leaves and huge vibrant red flowers. Plant breeders crossed ivy geraniums (the kind commonly used as hanging baskets) and zonal geraniums (found growing in pots, window boxes, and as bedding plants). Calliope is a vigorous grower with a mounding to semi-trailing […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, deadheading, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Geranium, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Calliope™ Dark Red Geranium- One of the Best
