For homeowners in a rush to establish a tall green privacy screen from the neighbor(s), perhaps a 12-foot tall green fence may be your better option. Among the choices of evergreens to plant, Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyperus leylandii) is fastest growing, but is plagued by any of three serious disease problems. An established leyland cypress planted 12 feet apart completely […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Maintenance’ Category
Better Choices Than Leyland Cypress For Privacy Screen
Posted by Hugh on November 12th, 2014
Posted in Bagworms, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Disease prone, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Leyland cypress, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering iris, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Better Choices Than Leyland Cypress For Privacy Screen‘Gyokuryu’ Japanese Cedar -Privacy Screen For Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on November 9th, 2014
Gyokuryu Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Gyokuryu’) is a dense, broadly pyramidal evergreen shrub (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). It has short stiff needles that tend to be a slightly darker green than other cryptomeria cultivars. Gyokuryu holds its dark green color through most winters in zone 7 and further south. Expect winter bronzing when Gyokuryu is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Privacy Screen, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Gyokuryu’ Japanese Cedar -Privacy Screen For Small GardensCarolina Buckthorn Attractive Native Shrub/Tree
Posted by Hugh on November 6th, 2014
Many native plant enthusiasts consider the Carolina Buckthorn, aka Indian cherry (Rhamnus caroliniana), one of our most underutilized native shrubs or small trees. It suffers with a bad common name as it has no thorns or spines. This open, slender branched shrub grows 12 to 15 feet high and 10 to 15 feet wide. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Bright green leaves remain on […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Carolina buckthorn (Rhamnus), Deer resistant, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Green Privacy Screen, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Carolina Buckthorn Attractive Native Shrub/TreeBee Bee Tree (Tetradium) Rarely Seen In U.S. Landscapes
Posted by Hugh on November 3rd, 2014
Native to Korea and southwestern China, bee bee tree (Tetradium daniellii) is a deciduous tree with a spreading umbrella-shaped habit and rounded canopy (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). It was formerly named Evodia daniellii. Bee bee tree typically grows to 25-30 feet tall and wide. In July-August small […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn Fruiting, Bee Bee Tree (Tetradium), Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bee Bee Tree (Tetradium) Rarely Seen In U.S. LandscapesThe Last Mowing Of The Year
Posted by Hugh on October 31st, 2014
Within many garden circles, conventional wisdom says that you should mow lawns very close heading into winter. Mowing height should be adjusted by seasonal and current weather conditions. Mowing height also sets the shoot to root ratio of specific grass species. In cooler northern areas bluegrass and tall fescue are the lawn grasses of choice. In the mid-South (called the […]
Posted in Bermuda, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Kentucky bluegrass, Landscape ideas, Lawn Care, Mowing, Southern Appalachian Region, Tall Fescue, Winter Protection, Zoysia Comments Off on The Last Mowing Of The YearAre Your Trees Hazardous?
Posted by Hugh on October 28th, 2014
Is a hazardous tree lurking in your yard, ready to fall on your house or car? Take a few minutes to inspect trees on your property. Peek over the fence at your neighbor’s trees as well. Some property owners have an unnatural fear of trees. Well-shaped landscape trees with […]
Posted in Certified Arborist, Garden Maintenance, Maples (Acer), Paulownia (Empress tree), Pear (Ornamental), Poplar (Populus spp.), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Willows (Salix) Comments Off on Are Your Trees Hazardous?Rebuilding A Storm Damaged Young Tree
Posted by Hugh on October 25th, 2014
An enormous 60 foot white pine toppled over several smaller trees. The aftermath was a severely damaged 3- year old sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). Replacing the 3 1/2 inch diameter tree would have cost the homeowner over $300. My recommendation to the homeowner was to cut back the magnolia trunk to approximately 12 inches from the ground in […]
Posted in Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Magnolia virginiana, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Rebuilding A Storm Damaged Young TreePrep Garden Soil In The Fall
Posted by Hugh on October 22nd, 2014
Often, spring arrives with too many gardening chores to handle. Some work can be shifted to the fall. Since a garden is only as good as its soil, fall is a good time to till your garden or to construct new beds. Add soil amendments such as deciduous leaves and pine needles which nature is providing for free. Till amendments […]
Posted in compost, Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, Garden Tools, plant nutrition, Potting Mix, Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Weeds Comments Off on Prep Garden Soil In The FallEvergreens For Wet Soggy Soils
Posted by Hugh on October 19th, 2014
Most needle evergreens falter in moist soggy soils. These sites usually have a heavy clay or fine particle sand content. Some arborvitaes (Thuja spp.) and Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) tolerate temporary wet soggy conditions better than most evergreens (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). An assortment of shapes, sizes and colors are available. All are U.S. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Chamaecyparis, container shrub, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreens, Native Plant, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, winter hardiness Comments Off on Evergreens For Wet Soggy SoilsBird’s Nest Spruce
Posted by Hugh on October 16th, 2014
Bird’s nest spruce (Picea abies ‘Nidiformis’) is a dwarf cultivar of Norway spruce and is native to northern Europe (USDA hardiness zones 3-7). This slow growing compact shrub will attain 4 feet in height and 5 to 6 feet spread over 15 – 20 years. The shrub grows in a round form with a distinctive […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, mulching, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bird’s Nest Spruce
