Red-twig or red osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) is a native shrub (USDA hardiness zones 2-7). It reaches 8 to 10 feet in height and roots sucker prolifically. It can become a chore keeping it contained in small garden spaces. Arctic Fire™ is a superior cultivar identified by its fiery red stems and compact growth habit. Expect […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Maintenance’ Category
Arctic Fire™ Dogwood Brightens Up Winter Landscape
Posted by Hugh on December 19th, 2016
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Cornus stolonifera, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Arctic Fire™ Dogwood Brightens Up Winter LandscapeSaving Heirloom Seeds
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2016
At the end of each growing season, you may choose to collect seeds from favorite flowering annuals and vegetables to holdover and plant in next year’s garden. Some may be heirloom varieties that you have saved for many years because you like their productivity or flavor. Note: these seeds should not be “hybrids”. Hybrids represent a cross between […]
Posted in Cold tolerance, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Edible fruits, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Flowers, Fruits & Vegetables, Goldenrod (Solidago), Green Recycling, Harvest and Storage, Maples (Acer), Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Seed Storage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Saving Heirloom SeedsSmall Southern Magnolia Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on December 13th, 2016
Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is one of nature’s magnificent landscape trees (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). This reliable large tree, native to the Southern U.S., is at home in well-drained clay soils and hot summers. The species typically grows to 60-80 feet tall with a pyramidal (young) to a rounded crown (mature tree). It is not uncommon […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Flowers, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Magnolia grandiflora, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Small Southern Magnolia CultivarsCrape Myrtles Exhibit Beautiful Bark In Winter
Posted by Hugh on December 10th, 2016
The flowers of crape myrtles are a wonderful floral treat in the summer months, several exhibit gorgeous exfoliating bark. Some also show off autumn foliage colors. Here are the best ten species and cultivars of crape myrtles noted for their exfoliating bark. Lagerstroemia hybrids (L. indica x L. fauriei) Hopi – 8-10 feet semi-dwarf shrub; gray brown exfoliating bark; medium pink […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Downy mildew, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Crape Myrtles Exhibit Beautiful Bark In WinterPhotoperiodism – Short Day/Long Day Plants
Posted by Hugh on December 7th, 2016
“Photoperiodism” or daylength is responsible for triggering flowering in numerous plants. Some examples of short day plants are poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima), fall mums (Dendranthemum spp.), asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), Thanksgiving (Schlumbergera truncata), Christmas (S. bridgesii) cacti, Kalanchoes (Kalanchoe spp.) and Salvias (Salvia spp.). “Photoperiodism” is the amount of light and darkness a plant is exposed to. The […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anemone, Aster, Autumn flowering, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Chrysanthemum, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Kalanchoe, Perennials, Petunias, Photoperiod (Daylength), Planting tips, Poinsettia, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Roses, Salvia, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Strawberries, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sunflowers, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Photoperiodism – Short Day/Long Day PlantsKey Points About Poinsettias
Posted by Hugh on December 4th, 2016
The beautiful poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) has become a symbol of the Christmas and winter holidays. The showy colorful bracts, that most people think are the flowers, are actually modified leaves. The tiny “true” flowers are in the center of the bracts. Joel R. Poinsett introduced the poinsettia plant to the United States from Mexico. Poinsett […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Interior (house) Plants, Planting tips, Poinsettia, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter flowering Comments Off on Key Points About PoinsettiasPurchasing A Cut Christmas Tree
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2016
Around the holidays lots of people head out to local Christmas farms to purchase a tree. Local farms offer the best freshly cut trees that should last 3 or more weeks inside your home. Trees for sale in urban lots may have been harvested between 1-4 weeks earlier and shipped to your vicinity. A cut Christmas […]
Posted in Christmas tree, Christmas trees, Evergreens, Firs (Abies), Fraser fir (Abies), Harvest Time, Pines (Pinus spp.), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Purchasing A Cut Christmas TreeOld-Fashioned Snake Plants
Posted by Hugh on November 29th, 2016
Snake plant (Sansevieria spp.), aka Mother-In-Law’s Tongue, is an easy to grow succulent. It is one of the hardest house plants to kill, grows in almost any room of your home, and demands little attention except an occasional watering. Its leathery sword-shape leaves are usually marked in gray green marbling. Some varieties may be edged in yellow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Interior (house) Plants, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Snake plant (Sanservieria), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Old-Fashioned Snake PlantsChristmas Vs Thanksgiving Cacti
Posted by Hugh on November 26th, 2016
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) or Thanksgiving cacti (Schlumbergera truncata) are called holiday cacti. They are actually succulents and not true cacti. Both originate from tropical regions and make dependable, long-lived house plants. Christmas cactus are frequently mislabeled as such and are really Thanksgiving cactus. Christmas cacti have flattened leaves with rounded leaf edges compared to Thanksgiving […]
Posted in acidic soil, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Interior (house) Plants, Mealy bugs, Photoperiod (Daylength), Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Root rotting, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Thanksgiving cactus, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Christmas Vs Thanksgiving CactiAnnouncing AAS Ornamental Winners For 2017
Posted by Hugh on November 23rd, 2016
All American Selection (AAS) has named six Ornamental winners for 2017. Some include some new color breakthough in the series that you already know as well as some newbies. Dianthus ‘Supra Pink’ (Hem Genetics) is an easy-to-grow interspecific dianthus for three-seasons (spring, summer, fall) of garden color. Its mottled, frilly pink flowers stand up to summer’s heat and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Dianthus (Pinks), Disease resistant, Flowers, Geranium, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Native Plant, Penstemon, Perennials, Periwinkle (annual vinca), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Star zinnia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Verbena, winter hardiness, Zinnia Comments Off on Announcing AAS Ornamental Winners For 2017
