A goal of most rose gardeners (rosarians) is to grow them almost maintenance free. The improved shrub roses introduced almost two decades ago have brought this too reality. Rose series such as Knockout®, Home Run®, Drift®, OSO Easy®, Carefree® and Meidiland™ are among the best. No matter the pedigree of the rose, selecting a […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Maintenance’ Category
What Roses Need
Posted by Hugh on January 13th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Insect (Pest) Problems, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, rose rosette disease, Roses, shrub roses, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Weeds, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on What Roses NeedBlue Atlas Cedar Becoming Very Popular In Urban Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 10th, 2015
Blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ) hails from the Atlas Mountains in northern Morocco and Algeria (USDA hardiness zone 6). The cultivar ‘Glauca’ has been the popular choice because of its blue green foliage. Blue Atlas grows to 40-60 feet in height, but individuals over 70 feet are hard to find. Mature forms, those 50 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Atlas cedar (Cedrus), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Blue Atlas Cedar Becoming Very Popular In Urban LandscapeMany Shapes and Sizes Of Cryptomerias
Posted by Hugh on January 7th, 2015
Japanese cedar, aka cryptomeria, (Cryptomeria japonica) is the national tree of Japan and is also indigenous to China (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). Cryptomeria cultivars vary greatly from very dwarf to rounded shrubs to large tree forms. Needle-like foliage may be dark green, medium green, golden or contorted leaves. Cryptomerias tolerate hot humid summers and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Landscape ideas, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Many Shapes and Sizes Of CryptomeriasTwelve Days Of Christmas Showcase At Dallas Arboretum
Posted by Hugh on January 3rd, 2015
The Dallas Arboretum in Texas is hosting a festive holiday exposition: The Twelve Days at Christmas. It is an elaborate collection of 25-foot Victorian gazebos themed to “The Twelve Days at Christmas”. Each of 12 gazebos is comprised of charming costumed characters and whimsical animals made famous […]
Posted in Christmas tree, Evergreens, Gardens to Visit, Landscape ideas, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Twelve Days Of Christmas Showcase At Dallas ArboretumWhat A Plant Costs
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2015
I overheard a customer complain about the “outrageous” prices for plants, particularly the newly introduced ones. Here is some of the whys: Certain plants are difficult to reproduce. Occasionally, stores may stock some expensive items like paperbark maple (Acer griseum) and fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus). These […]
Posted in Landscape ideas, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Uncategorized Comments Off on What A Plant CostsIs Your Tree A Hazard?
Posted by Hugh on December 30th, 2014
Is a dangerous tree lurking in your yard, ready to tumble down on your house or car? A well shaped landscape tree with a full canopy (top) and undergoes a safety checkup every 3-5 years is rarely at risk. When the weather forecaster is predicting a hurricane or an ice storm, it’s generally too late to call a local […]
Posted in Poplar (Populus spp.), Pruning, Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Southern Appalachian Region, Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus), Trees & Shrubs, Willows (Salix) Comments Off on Is Your Tree A Hazard?Holiday Poinsettia Requires Basic Care
Posted by Hugh on December 24th, 2014
Gifts have been opened and a great dinner served. The holiday season may be waning, but your beautiful poinsettia plant (Euphorbia pulcherrima) will require some minimal care. Generally, the same weekly care that you provide your house plants will keep your poinsettia looking beautiful most of the winter. Here are some basic tips: Place poinsettia in bright natural light […]
Posted in acidic soil, Fertilizing plants, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Purchasing Plants, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Holiday Poinsettia Requires Basic CareDetermining A Plant’s Cold Hardiness
Posted by Hugh on December 21st, 2014
On-line nursery catalogs and plant labels at garden centers list the hardiness of the trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials that they sell. Many years ago the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed the hardiness rating scale based on geographic location from northern Canada to southern Mexico. Most U.S. gardeners live within Zones 3 to 11. Don’t know […]
Posted in Environmental issues, Landscape ideas, Perennials, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Determining A Plant’s Cold HardinessNew Christmas Roses (Hellebores) Greatly Improved
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2014
Christmas roses (Helleborus niger) is a winter flowering perennial. It is native to central and southern Europe (USDA hardiness zones 4-8) and is not as winter hardy as lenten rose (Helleborus x orientalis). Christmas rose tends to flower 1 to 4 weeks earlier, around the Christmas holidays in southern climes (zones 7-8). New selections of H. niger are better […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Hellebores, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on New Christmas Roses (Hellebores) Greatly ImprovedNellie R. Stevens Holly
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2014
Hollies and the winter season work well together. Female hollies with bright red fruits (yellow-fruited forms also) contrast with their glossy evergreen foliage. ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ holly (NRS), a female form, is a cross between English (Ilex aquifolium) and Chinese (I. cornuta) hollies. NRS is the popular holly choice in Southern landscapes (USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9). Hollies are dioecious, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Green Privacy Screen, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Nellie R. Stevens Holly
