Firethorn (Pyracantha spp.) is an old- fashion shrub that is making a comeback. Its white flowers makes a lovely presence in spring, followed by dark green leaves in summer, and bright orange or red fruits (berry clusters) in fall and winter. Firethorn tolerates close clipping and is often utilized as a short 6-8 foot tall privacy screen. White clusters […]
Archive for the ‘Planting tips’ Category
Firethorns Make Good Utility Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2012
Posted in Aggressive grower, Evergreen, Firethorn (Pyracantha), Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Winter Garden Interest 
Comments Off on Firethorns Make Good Utility ShrubsVariegated Tapioca Plant Thrives In The Summer Heat
Posted by Hugh on May 3rd, 2012
Add some tropical flair to your garden with variegated tapioca plant (Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’), aka Cassava. Variegated tapioca is a spectacular foliage plant (zone 8 – 11) which excels as summer’s heat and humidity arrives and lingers. Tapioca plant is not likely to be sold in every garden center and you’ll likely need to order one or more on-line. […]
Posted in Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Heat Tolerance, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tapioca plant (Manihot), Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Variegated Tapioca Plant Thrives In The Summer HeatPest Alert- Boxwood Blight
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2012
Boxwood blight is a disease caused by a fungus (Cylindrocladium pseudonaviculatum) which is a serious threat to most boxwood (Buxus) and related species such as sweetbox (Sarcococca spp.). To date there is no evidence of resistance to boxwood blight in any Buxus species. Plant pathologists in England first identified the disease in the mid-1990’s. It […]
Posted in Boxwood (Buxus), Disease prone, Disease resistant, Planting tips, Pruning, Sweetbox (Sarcococca) Comments Off on Pest Alert- Boxwood BlightEvergreen Kousa Dogwood? – Depends on Where You Garden
Posted by Hugh on March 28th, 2012
Chinese (kousa) dogwood (Cornus kousa) is a small spring flowering dogwood. Kousa blooms about 2 – 3 weeks after our native flowering dogwood (C. florida) has finished. Lustrous dark green leaves begin to emerge a week or two before the lovely pointed 3- inch white bracted flowers. Fall leaf color is purplish red and not quite as vibrant […]
Posted in Chinese (kousa) dogwood, Disease resistant, Evergreens, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Evergreen Kousa Dogwood? – Depends on Where You GardenAwaken Overwintering Tropical Plants
Posted by Hugh on March 5th, 2012
If you live in USDA zones 6 and 7, early March is usually the proper time to re-awaken containers of tender tropicals stored in your garage or moved in to join your house plants last fall. Likely, they’ve already begun to sprout. Specifically, angel trumpets (Brugmansia spp.), elephant ears (Colocasia spp. and Alocasia spp.), cannas […]
Posted in Angel trumpet (Brugmansia), Banana (Ensete spp.), Banana (Musa spp.), Canna lily, Canna lily, Colocasia, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized Comments Off on Awaken Overwintering Tropical PlantsRe-Potting Indoor Plants
Posted by Hugh on February 13th, 2012
The golden rule for house plant care is to repot them once a year. Times of seasonal change signal the best opportunity for repotting most house plants. September starts a slowdown and March (late February) a re-awakening period for your house plants. Most, but not all plants, should be re-potted in one of these periods. Purchase a […]
Posted in Interior (house) Plants, Orchids, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Re-Potting Indoor PlantsKey Points Whether To Grow Peaches
Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2012
Peaches grow in other places besides Georgia, USA. A decade long period of mild winters in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) have increased gardener confidence about growing peaches. Peaches (Prunus persica) tend to flower in early spring when the threat of spring frosts is still high. In many years spring frost may kill 80% of […]
Posted in Dwarf rootstocks, Fruits & Vegetables, Peach, Planting tips, Pollination needs, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Key Points Whether To Grow PeachesLeyland Cypress Too Big For Many Sites
Posted by Hugh on January 30th, 2012
Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) grows into a 50 foot tall evergreen behemoth. What happens when the plants (in photo) get too close to the small deck(s)? Access to the deck from the stairs will become impossible as the evergreens swallow up the entire back yard. Looking out from the deck and windows from the home won’t be likely […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Disease prone, Evergreen, Green Privacy Screen, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Leyland Cypress Too Big For Many SitesDon’t Crawl /Let’em Weep White Pine
Posted by Hugh on January 15th, 2012
In the beginning was a small weeping pine which wanted to crawl along the ground because it had no “legs”. The gardener came along and straightened up the leader and attached it to a tall pole. Straightening and staking continued for several years. Many years […]
Posted in acidic soil, Evergreens, Native Plant, Pine (Pinus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Weeping habit Comments Off on Don’t Crawl /Let’em Weep White PineWhat Can Be Done About Phytophthora
Posted by Hugh on January 10th, 2012
Phytophthora disease (Phytophthora spp.) is the fatal cause of root rots, stem cankers and crown rots. Several hundred species of plants are susceptible, including redbuds, dogwoods, rhododendrons, camellias, white pines, firs, yews (Taxus spp.), and fruit trees. It thrives in warm moist saturated soils. Phytophthora may lie dormant in the soil for several years, waiting for a […]
Posted in Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Camellia, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, mulching, mulching trees, Pines (Pinus spp.), plant nutrition, Planting tips, Redbud, Rhododendrons, root injury, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on What Can Be Done About Phytophthora
