It is usually quite difficult to determine why a shrub or tree fails to bloom. Most often the problem is the plant’s health, related to weather or environmental factors. Sometimes, the gardener has grown the plant poorly. Here are the seven leading causes: High much nitrogen? The nitrogen to carbohydrate ratio (C:N) is a common […]
Posted in Failure to Bloom, Featured, Garden Maintenance, Garden Problems 
Comments Off on Failure of Shrubs and Trees to BloomPhoto: Fall anemone ‘Honorine Jobert’ The end of summer does not mean that other perennials aren’t beginning their blooming season. Three fall flowering perennials- reblooming daylilies, remontant iris, and fall anemones- thrive here in the Southern Appalachian (USDA zones 6 and 7). Early fall is a great time to again enjoy a lovely bed of […]
Leaf raking is a major chore this month. I’m still a bit old fashioned and rake by hand. Most modern folks have switched to leaf blowers, but protect those ears with plugs or headphones. Compost is called “black gold” and is created from garden trash that the intelligent gardener collects, a natural process of enriching […]
A generation of gardeners have extolled the benefits of mulching around trees and flower beds. Sometimes, mulching is not a good practice. Often, a heavy clay soil retains too much moisture over the winter months. Some dryland perennials, such as cheddar pinks (dianthus), euphorbia, and delospermum, prefer dry to moderately wet winter soils. Amending with […]
Posted in Garden Problems, mulching, Pests, poor quality mulch Comments Off on Mulching- Not Always a Good Practice‘Autumn Ruby’ Encore azalea in April 2009 Photo credit: Dr. Alan Windham, Extension Plant Pathologist, University of Tennessee Encore Azaleas™ bloom twice: in the spring and from late summer into the fall season.Ten varieties consistently exhibited cold hardiness throughout zones 6-a and 6-b: Autumn Amethyst, Autumn Carnation, Autumn Cheer, Autumn Lilac, Autumn Royalty, Autumn Ruby, […]
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is a hardy perennial native in USDA zones 5-8. Clumps should be divided every 2-3 years to retain plant vigor. Soil moisture determines its height and vigor. Cardinal flower prefers half-day direct morning sunlight, particularly in more southern climes. The brilliant red flowers bloom from late July through most of September, […]
Plumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium) has been blooming in my garden for the past ten days. This species is a late July – early August bloomer in northeast TN. The bright orange-red flowers of this native azalea light up any garden spot whether in full sun or partial shade. Provide some additional shade in southern climes […]
Posted in Azalea (deciduous), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, mulching, Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Plumleaf Azalea Is Showy Summer Blooming ShrubAsian fountain grass cultivar ‘Karley Rose'(Pennisetum orientale) is a four season eye-catcher. It is reliably hardy in USDA zones 5-9. It produces smoky rose colored flower spikes (plumes) in early summer, which persist thru the winter months. Its dark green foliage begins upright in form, 2 1/2 feet tall, achieving 3 feet in height in […]
Daylily ‘Buttered Popcorn’ (Hemerocallis ‘Buttered Popcorn’) produces buttery yellow 6″ flowers from late June thru mid-July. The 32-inch tall floral scapes are well branched and flowers are mildly fragrant. Bud count on each scape may average 10 or more. This tetraploid cultivar is also well known for its incredible fall re-bloom. In the Southern Appalachian […]
Posted in Daylilies, Flowers, Perennials, Regional, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Buttered Popcorn’ Daylily- Performs In The Mid-SouthCreate a hot splash in your garden this summer. Threadleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata) ‘Route 66’ is a new selection by Itsaul Nursery in Atlanta, Georgia (USDA zone 4 to 9). Coreopsis ‘Route 66’ originated in Pennsylvania (zone 5). Perennial gardeners have been planting yellow- flowered ‘Moonbeam’ and ‘Zagreb’ cultivars for over a quarter of a […]
Posted in Coreopsis, deadheading, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized Comments Off on Coreopsis ‘Route 66’ – A Riot of Color
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