When northerners move south, they insist on growing lilacs (Syringa spp.). Southern U.S. heat and humidity often take their toll on these lovely fragrant and colorful spring flowering shrubs (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). One very popular and exceptionally reliable lilac is ‘Miss Kim’ lilac (S. pubescens ssp. patula ‘Miss Kim’). A cultivar of Manchurian lilac, […]
Archive for the ‘Planting tips’ Category
‘Miss Kim’ Lilac Tackles Southeast U.S. Heat and Humidity
Posted by Hugh on April 17th, 2014
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Lilac (Syringa), Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs 
Comments Off on ‘Miss Kim’ Lilac Tackles Southeast U.S. Heat and HumidityMighty Rodgersias For Your Shade Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 14th, 2014
In a shade garden the large palmately compound foliage of rodgersias (Rodgersia spp.) make a bold statement (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). In recent years rodgersias are becoming more available at garden centers in the U.S. Three of five species are listed below. Hybrid forms are also available. Rodgersias thrive in moist, organically rich soils. They […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Rodgersia, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mighty Rodgersias For Your Shade GardenAttracting Monarch Butterflies To Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 1st, 2014
From Canada to Mexico, gardeners are called upon to halt the decline of the Monarch butterfly populations across North America. The best way you can help is to fill your garden with Monarch’s favorite flowering nectar plants and milkweeds (Asclepias spp.). Plants should be sited in open full sun and moist well-drained soil. Avoid spraying […]
Posted in Aster, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, Cosmos, Drought tolerant, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Lantana, Liatris, Marigold, Milkweeds (Asclepias), Monarda (Beebalm), Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Star zinnia, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Zinnia Comments Off on Attracting Monarch Butterflies To Your GardenBeautiful Giant Dogwood Has Some Limitations
Posted by Hugh on March 28th, 2014
Giant dogwood (Cornus controversa) is a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows to 35 to 40 feet high (in the wild to 60 feet) in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 7. This Asian native (China and Japan) is cherished for its distinctive horizontal (tiered) branching habit. Giant dogwood prefers an acidic, organically rich, moisture, well-drained soil. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease prone, Dogwood (Cornus), Flowering, Insect (Pest) Problems, Medium sized Tree, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Beautiful Giant Dogwood Has Some LimitationsServiceberry- Favorite Tree of Gardeners And Birdwatchers
Posted by Hugh on March 24th, 2014
On an early late winter’s morn, the frosty appearance from a nearby mountainside may actually be from our native serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.) (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Serviceberry’s small white blooms frequently signals that winter’s end is near. Flowering may last 7-10 days. Downy serviceberry (A. arborea) and shrubby Allegheny serviceberry (A. laevis) are commonly planted. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Serviceberry (Amelanchier), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Serviceberry- Favorite Tree of Gardeners And BirdwatchersStart Spring Out with Easy To Grow Japanese Pieris
Posted by Hugh on March 12th, 2014
Japanese pieris (Pieris japonica) offers a year-round show in a garden with evergreen foliage and showy bell-shaped blooms (USDA hardiness zones 5- 8). New spring foliage starts out bronze-colored and matures to dark green. Attractive, pendulous branches if ivory white flower appears in early spring. Remnants of the old seed heads generally persist into the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, compact shrub, Evergreen, Flowering, Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Start Spring Out with Easy To Grow Japanese PierisChallenging Sourwood Worth A Try
Posted by Hugh on February 25th, 2014
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), aka lily of the valley tree, is one of the most beautiful U.S. native flowering trees (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). However, attempting to establish one in your landscape may prove challenging. The tree grows in sparse populations from eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and Georgia Piedmont. It grows naturally to 20-30 feet […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Fragrant, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Planting tips, Sourwood (Oxydendrum), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Challenging Sourwood Worth A TryGive Edgeworthia A Try In Your Winter Garden
Posted by Hugh on February 16th, 2014
To begin, I must thank South Carolina nurseryman, Mr. Ted Stephens, who gifted me a Chinese paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) 12 years ago. Most plant authorities rate its winter hardiness to USDA zones 7 and 8, but no one told this to my edgeworthia in zone 6-b. People who see it blooming in my early March […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compost, Disease resistant, Edgeworthia, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Give Edgeworthia A Try In Your Winter Garden‘Thunderhead’ Pine
Posted by Hugh on February 14th, 2014
Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’) is a dwarf compact form of Japanese black pine (USDA hardiness zones 5b-8). Expect this slow-growing conifer to reach 5 feet high and 4 feet wide in 10 years. Whereas Japanese black pine grows 60 to 80 feet tall, Thunderhead matures to 20 to 25 feet in height […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Japanese Black Pine, Pine (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Thunderhead’ PineChristmas Ferns Are Easy To Grow
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2014
On a woodland hike in the eastern U.S., lush colonies of evergreen Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) flourish along the moist slopes (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8). This native perennial fern favors either a deep or light shade environment. A vigorous clump may grow 18 – 24 inches in height and width. Set new plants […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ferns, Ground cover, Native Plant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Christmas Ferns Are Easy To Grow
