Invite landscape trees to your property that will be long-lived, seasonally beautiful, and low maintenance. Gardeners are looking for all kinds of plants that invite pollinators and songbirds to their property. We also wish to avoid critter proof and invasive plants. Below is a list of notoriously bad tree choices in most urban yards and […]
Archive for the ‘Planting tips’ Category
Don’t Plant These Trees In Your Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 27th, 2026
Posted in Ash (Fraxinus), Bradford Pear, Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), Canker disease, Deciduous, Emerald ash borer, Evergreen, Garden Problems, Green ash (Fraxinus), Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Messy Fruits, Mimosa tree (Albizia), Mulberry (Morus), Native Plant, Non-native, Pests, Planting tips, Poplar (Populus spp.), Siberian elm (Ulmus pumla), Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Sumac (Rhus), Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus), Trees & Shrubs, Willows (Salix) 
Comments Off on Don’t Plant These Trees In Your LandscapeStunning Midwinter Fire Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on January 22nd, 2026
‘Midwinter Fire Bloodtwig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) is a multi-season deciduous shrub that is native to Europe and western Asia. It is an upright, round-topped, spreading, twiggy, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 8-15 feet tall and as wide. It is native to northern Europe and northwestern Asia (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). ‘Midwinter Fire’ is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Cornus sanguinea, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Erosion control, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Ornamental bark, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stunning Midwinter Fire DogwoodVery Different Hart’s Tongue Fern
Posted by Hugh on January 13th, 2026
Hart’s Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) is an evergreen fern with a tropical look. This glossy green native fern with elegant, smooth, unserrated edged fronds that are 8 -16 inches in length. Hart’s Tongue is native to Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Disjunct North American populations are found in parts of Ontario Canada, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Container garden, Evergreen, Ferns, Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Summer heat tolerant, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Very Different Hart’s Tongue FernNew Redbuds From Dr. Dennis Werner
Posted by Hugh on January 7th, 2026
Despite his retirement from NC State University, Dr. Werner, the redbud breeder of varieties like ‘Flamethrower’ and ‘Ruby Falls’, has introduced two more new varieties. Both cultivars are the beginning of the new compact redbud series. The two newest redbud releases from NCSU are ‘Pom Poms’ and ‘Amethyst’ are two new compact redbud trees. (Zone […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Cold tolerance, compact tree, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Redbud, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on New Redbuds From Dr. Dennis WernerEarly Risers In The New Year Garden
Posted by Hugh on January 2nd, 2026
Some flowering bulbs, corms, and tubers are early-bloomers. With the start of calendar year January 2026, several days in the 50’s and 60’s have been forecasted. In our garden, flowers of three perennials are beginning to poke through the soil. That’s besides the early daffodils which are always early-risers but hold off blooming until late […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Flower arrangments, Galanthus (snowdrops), Ground cover, Hellebores, Lenten rose (Hellebore), mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Winter aconite (Eranthis), Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Early Risers In The New Year GardenRestart Your Amaryllis Bulb
Posted by Hugh on December 27th, 2025
Amaryllis is native to Cape Province in South Africa, and as with other bulbs native to this region. They benefit from a period of dry dormancy before reblooming again. In the autumn season, many temperate zone gardeners bring potted amaryllis bulbs indoors and dry out potting soil to induce dormancy. By withholding water, amaryllis leaves […]
Posted in acidic soil, Amaryllis, Amaryllis (Bulb), Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering Bulb, Forcing, Light requirement, Non-native, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Restart Your Amaryllis BulbRe-Blooming Clivia House Plant
Posted by Hugh on December 12th, 2025
Chase away any winter blahs with colorful flowers of clivia (Clivia miniata). This sub-tropical plant should brighten your home. Start by purchasing a plant already budded or in flower. Clivia lives a long time as a potted house plant. An older plant will grow 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Grow in a large, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Clivia, Clivia, Container garden, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Mealy bugs, Mites, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Re-Blooming Clivia House PlantDaphniphyllum
Posted by Hugh on November 27th, 2025
Daphniphyllum macropodium is a rounded understory broadleaf evergreen shrub or small tree native to forested lands in Japan, Korea and China. Daphniphyllum, aka “false daphne”, is recognized for its attractive foliage and unique flowering habit. It stands out for its bold rhododendron-like leaveage. It typically grows to 15-25 feet tall in cultivation; add on 5-10 feet if plant […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Daphniphyllum macrophyllum, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on DaphniphyllumGrowing Hoyas
Posted by Hugh on November 22nd, 2025
Hoyas, also called wax plant, porcelain flower, honey plant, common waxflower, are an Asian native plant (epiphyte) with fragrant, low-maintenance with lovely flowers that grow in a ball-shaped cluster. These low-maintenance plants produce woody stems with waxy evergreen leaves. Hoyas have become hugely popular among house plant collectors and available at most retail garden centers, box stores, and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Light requirement, Mealy bugs, Mites, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing HoyasEastern Prickly Pear Cactus
Posted by Hugh on November 7th, 2025
Prickly pears are a subgroup of Opuntia, identified by their wide, flat, branching pads. They are also called nopal cactus or paddle cactus. Most prickly pear plants are found in warm, dry climates like the Southwestern U.S., although there are some cold-hardy species such as the Eastern prickly pear (O. humifusa). (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Prickly […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Cactus, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Native Plant, Native Plant, Opuntia spp, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus
