Since the introduction of the Invincibelle Spirit® hydrangea in 2009, sales from this special plant have raised funds for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF). At the end of 2015, fundraising efforts reached over $900,000 toward its million dollar goal. In addition to donating one dollar for every plant sold, it serves as the heart […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Maintenance’ Category
Invincibelle Spirit Hydrangea Raises Money For The Cure
Posted by Hugh on December 31st, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, compact shrub, container shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Hydrangeas, Native Plant, Propagation (Cuttings), Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Invincibelle Spirit Hydrangea Raises Money For The CureArrowhead Vine- Easy Care House Plant
Posted by Hugh on December 27th, 2015
Arrowhead vine (Syngonium podophyllum), often called nephthytis, is a easy to grow trailing or vertical climbing house plant. It is indigenous to the Central and South America tropics and is botanically related to philodendron. Its 5-7 inch long leaves are arrowhead shape, with a dull pointed tip (apex) and two basal lobes. Foliage of modern day varieties come in more color […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arrowwood (Syngonium), compost, Fertilizing plants, Planting tips, Poisonous plant, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Arrowhead Vine- Easy Care House PlantCare of Holiday Cactus
Posted by Hugh on December 25th, 2015
Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and Christmas cactus (S. bridgesii) are popular fall- and winter-flowering houseplants. Flower colors (by variety) include red, purple, lavender, cream, and white. Holiday cacti thrive in hanging baskets. The scalped stems and foliage start out growing vertically and weeks later begin to spill over the edge of the pot. Plants flourish for many years if […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Container garden, deadheading, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Foliage plant, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Wind protection, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Care of Holiday CactusAmerican Holly For Year-round Interest
Posted by Hugh on December 22nd, 2015
American Holly (Ilex opaca) is a pyramidal evergreen tree that deserves to be planted more for multiple reasons. It is native to the eastern and central U. S. and is easily identified by its spiny green leaves (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 9). It grows slowly to 15 to 35 feet, sometimes taller. The leathery, deep […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Ilex (hollies), Leaf miner, Mites, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Wind protection, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on American Holly For Year-round InterestGrowing Calamondin Orange
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2015
Calamondin (Citrofortunella mitis) hails from China and is hardy to 20 ºF in temperate regions. It prospers outdoors in Florida, central and southern Texas, and Southern California gardens. Its sweetly fragrant flowers develop into edible ornamental fruits beginning in late fall. Small 1-2 inch diameter orange fruits are highly decorative as an indoor house plant. Calamondin can be […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bee Favorite, Calamondin Orange, Container garden, Container growing, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Mealy bugs, Mite susceptible, Mites, Ornamental fruit, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Growing Calamondin OrangeRe-blooming Your Poinsettia
Posted by Hugh on December 14th, 2015
Many people like to save their poinsettia plant and re-flowered it next Christmas. Scheduling a poinsettia to re-bloom is not difficult, but you need to follow an exact year-long procedure. First, continue to water the soil in the pot until early April. In April, cut the stems back to about 4 inches above the soil. […]
Posted in Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Poinsettia, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy) Comments Off on Re-blooming Your PoinsettiaWhat’s In Your Garden Soil
Posted by Hugh on December 10th, 2015
There are two basic rules in gardening: 1. the right plant in the right place, and 2. properly feeding the soil that nourishes the plants. Many problems in lawns and gardens can be avoided if the gardener knows what the fertility and pH of the soil is. What is soil pH? It is a measure of the soil acidity […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, alkaline soil, applying sulfur, compost, Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, mulching, organic gardening, plant nutrition, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on What’s In Your Garden SoilWidely Planted Norway Spruce
Posted by Hugh on December 7th, 2015
Norway spruce (Picea abies) is a large pyramidal evergreen conifer. It is native to the mountains of northern and central Europe where it often matures to 100 feet or more in height. In the cool temperate areas of the U.S. and Canada, Norway spruce is widely planted, typically reaching 50 to 80 feet tall at maturity (USDA hardiness […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Christmas tree, container shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Mites, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Widely Planted Norway SpruceCare Of Staghorn Ferns
Posted by Hugh on December 4th, 2015
Staghorn fern (Platycerium bifercatum) is an epiphyte from the forests of Africa, Australia, and Southeast Asia. In temperate regions, it is a popular house plant. In their natural habitat, it prefers to grow attached to tree trunks or rock outcroppings for support. It draws no nutrients from the tree. Two very different types of fronds (leaves) […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Container growing, Disease resistant, Ferns, Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Mealy bugs, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Repotting plants, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Staghorn fern, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Care Of Staghorn FernsStop Inviting Critters to Your Property
Posted by Hugh on November 27th, 2015
Landscaping practices can influence pest populations. Old landscape timbers, particularly those that are partially rotted, may provide food for termites. powder post beetles, and carpenter ants. Numbers of millipedes, earwigs, crickets, sowbugs, and clover mite larvae may be greatly reduced if piled up old branches and boards are properly disposed of. Mosquito populations rise in wet summer weather […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Insect (Pest) Problems, Invasive plant, Millipedes & centipedes, Mulch Quality, Pests, Poisonous plant, Snakes, Southern Appalachian Region, Virus diseases, Weeds, Weeds, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on Stop Inviting Critters to Your Property
