Siberian iris (called beadless iris) are favorites of gardeners and landscapers. Why? – ease of maintenance, plant longevity, and trouble free. Their flowers are smaller than the bearded iris blooms, but their grass-like foliage stays attractive all season long. They are more cold hardier. Siberian irises are mostly hybrids of two southwest Asian species, I. sibirica […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Maintenance’ Category
Easy To Care Siberian Iris
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2019
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Borers, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Iris, Iris sibirica, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering iris, watering tips, Weed control, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Easy To Care Siberian IrisGrowing Nasturtiums
Posted by Hugh on March 1st, 2019
Old-fashioned nasturtiums never lose their appeal, whether in the garden or as a garnish on a salad, or added to stir-fries, or favorite pasta dishes. Depending on the variety, some may be grown as climbers on fences and trellises or as bushy plants in a window boxes and containers. Around the world there are several […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Culinary, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Edible fruits, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Nasturtium, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing NasturtiumsSaucer Magnolias
Posted by Hugh on February 25th, 2019
Saucer magnolias (M. x soulangeana) are deciduous hybrid magnolias (M. denudata x M. liliiflora) as broad shrubs or small trees. They typically grow 20-30 feet in height and width. Saucer magnolias are often called tulip magnolias because of the shape of the colorful blooms. Flower colors range from white, pink, rose, purple, magenta, and burgundy. Flowers […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Magnolia, Magnolia liliiflora, Magnolia x soulangeana, Medium sized Tree, mulching trees, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, Winter blooming, winter hardiness Comments Off on Saucer MagnoliasEarly Flowering Magnolias
Posted by Hugh on February 20th, 2019
If you live (and garden) in the northern climes of the U.S. and Canada, Magnolia ×loebneri Leonard Messel is an excellent choice of a flowering yard tree. It is a hybrid deciduous magnolia (M. kobus x M. stellata) (zones (4)5-9). Other similar crosses include ‘Ballerini’ and ‘Merrill’. Leonard Messel magnolia grows to 20-30 feet tall with a rounded crown. It is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact tree, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, Magnolia, Magnolia stellata, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Early Flowering MagnoliasMonkey Puzzle Tree
Posted by Hugh on February 15th, 2019
Monkey puzzle tree or Chilian pine (Araucaria araucana) is an evergreen conifer that is indigenous to forested volcanic slopes in the Andes Mountains in Chile and Argentina (USDA Zone 7b-11). It is the national tree of Chile. It typically grows 60-70 feet tall and 30-35 feet wide, but frequently reaches 100 feet or more in height […]
Posted in acidic soil, Container growing, Deer resistant, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Leaf retention, Leaf/needle spots, Mealy bugs, Monkey Puzzle Tree, mulching, Norfolk Island Pine, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Scale, Soil drainage, Summer heat tolerant, Thrips, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Monkey Puzzle TreeKnow About Liriopes
Posted by Hugh on February 10th, 2019
Monkeygrass (Liriope muscari) and creeping lilyturf (L. spicata) are native to Asia. They are known by several names including lilyturf, monkeygrass, spider grass and liriope (USDA hardiness zones 6-10). Some varieties are hardier than others. In general, L. muscari have more narrow leaves. Depending on variety, spikes of lavender, purple, or white flowers arise in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Liriope, Mowing, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Know About LiriopesAmerican Hornbeam – Versatile Small U.S. Native Tree
Posted by Hugh on February 5th, 2019
American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), aka ironwood or muscle wood, grows primarily in moist, slightly acidic soils along woodland rivers and streams (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). This native hornbeam adapts to either wet or dry ground as long as soil moisture drains off, and it does not flood over long periods. This durable small tree copes with […]
Posted in acidic soil, American hornbeam, Cold tolerance, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Hornbeam (Carpinus), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on American Hornbeam – Versatile Small U.S. Native TreeTips On Amending The Soil In The Planting Hole
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2019
Adding large amounts of compost or organic matter to a planting hole greatly improve the soil’s water-holding capacity and aeration. Simply throwing piles of leaves into the bottom of the planting hole helps improve a soil. However, amending the planting hole is not recommended by most plant experts. Why? According to soil scientists, the plant roots stay locked within the rich […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Birch (Betula spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Blackberries, Deciduous Azaleas, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Ilex (hollies), Inkberry Holly (Ilex), Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, mulching trees, Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, river birch, Soil drainage, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Tips On Amending The Soil In The Planting HoleRe-blooming Poinsettia This Fall
Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2019
The winter holidays may be over, but your poinsettia plant is likely still looking pretty. If you opt to grow and re-bloom your plant next Christmas, follow this growing schedule. Keep the soil evenly moist and set the plant in bright daylight. Feed bi-monthly with a house plant fertilizer. Inspect and rid your plants of all […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Aphids, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Photoperiod (Daylength), Planting tips, Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, White flies, Winter Protection Comments Off on Re-blooming Poinsettia This FallAll About Soil Drainage
Posted by Hugh on January 20th, 2019
Many landscape plants die because they were planted in soil that was too wet or soggy. Poorly drained soils are generally poorly aerated. A high water table in an area limits your choices of plants that you may grow. Plants that grow naturally along streams and ponds are good candidates for poorly drained sites. During periods of heavy […]
Posted in compost, Container garden, Daphne odora, Garden ecology, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Moss (in lawn), mulching, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Purchasing Plants, root injury, Root rotting, Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Transplant problem, watering tips Comments Off on All About Soil Drainage
