Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is an attractive prairie grass native in southeastern or southwestern areas of the U.S. It is exceptionally hardy (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Heights of the species (including inflorescences) vary from 2 – 2.5 feet tall and many cultivars grow 3-4 feet tall. Its late summer to fall foliage is a kaleidoscope of pastel […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Maintenance’ Category
The Great Little Bluestems*
Posted by Hugh on November 12th, 2017
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Little Bluestem, Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium), Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on The Great Little Bluestems*Lantanas For Sunny Gardens
Posted by Hugh on November 8th, 2017
Lantanas (Lantana x) are favorite bedding plants, particularly in southern and western U.S. gardens where summers are hot and long. Lantanas are generally planted in flower gardens, but can be grown in containers, including hanging baskets. Plants bloom from late spring until the cool days of fall arrive. Some environmentalists classify them as invasive because […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Hummingbird, Lacebugs, Landscape ideas, Lantana, Mites, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, White flies, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lantanas For Sunny GardensUnappreciated And Underplanted Sawtooth Oak
Posted by Hugh on November 5th, 2017
Sawtooth oak (Quercus acutissima) is a medium-sized deciduous oak that exhibits traits similar to both the white oak and red oak sections. Indigenous to China, Korea and Japan, sawtooth oak has naturalized in some parts of the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones (5?)6-9). Sawtooth oak grows 40-60 feet tall and wide with broad spreading branches and rounded canopy. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, mulching, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Sawtooth oak (Q. acutissima), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Unappreciated And Underplanted Sawtooth OakGeraniums Enjoy The Cool Autumn Season
Posted by Hugh on October 30th, 2017
Annual geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) are popular bedding plants in the garden or in all kinds of containers including window boxes or hanging baskets. Color choices include red, pink, rose, salmon, orange, lavender, violet, or white. High summer heat is challenging for all geraniums. Some types of geraniums stop blooming completely and perk up […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Autumn flowering, Botrytis disease, Cercopora leaf spot, Container garden, deadheading, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Flowers, Geranium, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Geraniums Enjoy The Cool Autumn SeasonTis The Season For Ornamental Kales and Cabbages
Posted by Hugh on October 27th, 2017
Ornamental cabbage and kale (Brassica oleracea) are very close related to the same vegetables that we eat at our kitchen table. They are edible, just not as tasty. Plants are biennials, e.g. they produce leaves one year and flower the following spring. Ornamental kales have deeply cut serrated or ruffled leaves while leaves of ornamental cabbage […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Biennial, Butterflies, Cabbage, Caterpillars, compost, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Insect (Pest) Problems, kale, Landscape ideas, mulching, Ornamental vegetables, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tis The Season For Ornamental Kales and CabbagesFall Trimming Of Perennials
Posted by Hugh on October 23rd, 2017
You do not need to cut perennials back in the fall, but many gardeners do so as part of the garden cleanup. Don’t rush the job. Leaves of many perennial plants continue to produce and store carbohydrates in crowns and roots until they go fully dormant. Wait until after the first hard frost or until […]
Posted in acidic soil, Artemisia, Aster, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), deadheading, Drought tolerant, Echinops (Globe thistles), Fall Garden Interest, Hellebores, Landscape ideas, Lavender (Lavandula), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium), mulching, Ornamental fruit, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Russian sage (Perovskia), Sedum (Groundcover types), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall Trimming Of PerennialsPlant American Beautyberry For A Fall Show
Posted by Hugh on October 20th, 2017
American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is a loose open growing shrub valued for its spectacular fruits in the fall (USDA hardiness zones 6-10). The growth rate of this native shrub is rapid, eventually reaching 4-7 feet in height and 4-6 feet in spread within 5 years after planting. Beautyberry thrives in a moist, humus-rich, mildly acidic, well-drained soil […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.), Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Plant American Beautyberry For A Fall ShowPlanting A Rock
Posted by Hugh on October 17th, 2017
A well placed landscape rock or boulder is a perfect garden feature. Planted properly, the boulder appears to emerge naturally from the bowels of the earth. The crowning achievement is when mosses and lichens find a home in its crevices or when vines crawl over them. Boulders may exhibit seams of color(s), deep crevices, and/or have jagged or rounded edges. Is […]
Posted in Cranesbill (Geranium), Ferns, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Heuchera (coralbells), Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Pansies, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Sedges (Carex), Sedum, Sedum (Groundcover types), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Violas Comments Off on Planting A Rock‘Youngii’ White Bark Birch A Novelty Tree For Small Spaces
Posted by Hugh on October 13th, 2017
Young’s Weeping European Birch (Betula pendula ‘Youngii’) is small graceful tree with willowy pendulous branches (USDA hardiness zones 3-6). Nurseries often train the very pliable branches and trunk of grafted seedlings into unique novelty shapes. Plant this miniature 12 to 20 feet tree specimen near a deck or patio where it should receive mostly morning sunlight. Fall foliage turns […]
Posted in acidic soil, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Bee Favorite, Birch (Betula spp.), Borers, Chlorosis (yellowing), compact tree, Container growing, Disease resistant, Insect (Pest) Problems, Insect suseptible, Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, Leaf miner, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Youngii’ White Bark Birch A Novelty Tree For Small SpacesNuts About Acorns
Posted by Hugh on October 10th, 2017
Acorns are nuts that form on mature oak trees (Quercus spp.). Acorns come in many shapes, sizes and colors, depending on the species. An acorn is a single nut encased in a hard shell by a cap (used to identify what oak species it is). For example, Northern Red Oak (Q. rubra) tree produces egg-shaped […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bur oak (Q. macrocarpa), Butterflies, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Edible fruits, Environmental Conservation, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, mulching, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Nuts About Acorns
