At first sight Korean maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum), aka Korean fullmoon maple, is very similar in appearance to fullmoon Japanese maples (A. japonicum var. Acontifolium). If you live in a northern U.S. such as the upper Midwest, growing Japanese maples will likely become an unfulfilled wish. Korean maple is a hardier choice for northern locales (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). […]
Archive for the ‘Pruning’ Category
Korean Maple Substitute For Fullmoon Japanese Maple
Posted by Hugh on April 30th, 2017
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Borers, compact tree, compost, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Korean maple, Mites, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips 
Comments Off on Korean Maple Substitute For Fullmoon Japanese MapleGardenias Continue To Disappoint In The Mid-South
Posted by Hugh on April 24th, 2017
The lure of fragrant white flowers have mid-South gardeners (zones 6 and 7) wanting to grow gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides). New cultivars, supposedly hardier than previous ones, hit garden centers every spring. Unfortunately, zones 6 and 7 winters usually prove them wrong. Recent purchases of new cultivars ‘Frostproof’ and Pinwheel® and older selection ‘Kleim’s Hardy’ have […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, applying sulfur, Bacterial diseases, Botrytis disease, compact shrub, compost, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Flowers, Fragrant, Gardenia, Insect (Pest) Problems, Insect suseptible, Interior (house) Plants, Leaf diseases, Mites, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Thrips, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, White flies, Wind protection, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 1 Comment »Tips On Planting Landscape Trees or Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on April 18th, 2017
For some senior gardeners, planting a tree or shrub in your landscape may be a difficult task. The loss of a newly planted tree may be expensive as well as heartbreaking. Following proper planting techniques should avoid any mistakes. Here are a few tips to make the job a lot easier. No need to dig deep […]
Posted in compact shrub, compact tree, Garden Maintenance, Garden Tools, mulching, mulching trees, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Tips On Planting Landscape Trees or ShrubsVirginia Sweetspire — A Standout Native Shrub
Posted by Hugh on April 12th, 2017
Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) is a native shrub that touts showy white raceme flowers in late spring and brilliant reddish purple foliage in fall (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Flowers are very fragrant and attracts hundreds of bees and other pollinators. VA sweetspire excels in moist, humus-rich, mildly acidic soils (pH 5.2-6.5). In its native habitat, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Virginia sweetspire, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Virginia Sweetspire — A Standout Native ShrubTips On Growing Azaleas
Posted by Hugh on March 31st, 2017
Evergreen azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) are actually small-flowered rhododendrons. Depending on where you garden, azaleas enjoy a long bloom period from late March (zone 8) to June (zone 4) in the U.S. Many cultivars bloom for two weeks or more. Fall blooming types like Encore® and Bloom-a thon® series are also available. Azaleas have shallow root systems […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, mulching, Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Tips On Growing AzaleasKeep Your Eye on Red Buckeye
Posted by Hugh on March 25th, 2017
Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) is shrubby or low branching tree maturing to a 15 – 20 feet in height and spread. This southeastern U. S. native is becoming more recognizable as a good choice as a landscape tree for a small urban garden. Plant the tree in either full to partial sunlight and in average well-drained soil. A tree may […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease prone, Flowering, mulching, Native Plant, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Red buckeye (Aesculus), Small landscape tree, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Keep Your Eye on Red BuckeyeBasic Care Tips In The Spring Perennial Garden
Posted by Hugh on March 22nd, 2017
In late winter – early spring, after the snow has melted and daytime temperatures are steadily above freezing, let’s get busy with the cleanup in the perennial garden. First, if you garden in a severe winter region such as zones 4 or colder, remove all winter protection such […]
Posted in Baptisia (wild indigo), Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Bloodgood (Sanguinaria), Bulb Crops, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), deadheading, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Flowering Bulb, Garden Maintenance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Overcrowding, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Snowdrops (Galanthus), Southern Appalachian Region, Spanish bluebells, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Weeds, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Basic Care Tips In The Spring Perennial GardenWinter Daphnes Can Be A Rewarding Challenge
Posted by Hugh on March 20th, 2017
Native to China and Japan, winter or fragrant daphnes (Daphne odora) open to light pink or white flowers in winter and early spring in the southeastern U.S. and Pacific Northwest (USDA hardiness zones 7-9). Their welcome floral fragrance will pervade through your garden for nearly two weeks starting in late winter. Winter daphnes grow 3 to 4 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, container shrub, Daphne odora, Disease prone, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, root injury, Root rotting, Scale, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Winter Daphnes Can Be A Rewarding ChallengeCool Plant Combos For Containers
Posted by Hugh on March 10th, 2017
As more and more urban gardeners are growing in small spaces, including decks and patio of condos and town houses, container gardens are becoming more significant. They’re creating large mixed containers that include miniature trees and shrubs rather than their big cousins. For design containers may include thrillers (tall or spiky), fillers, and spillers (weepers). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Begonia boliviensis, Calibrachoa (Million bells), compact shrub, compact tree, compost, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Euphorbias, Fan flower (Scaevola), Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Fountain Grass (Pennisetum), Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Hosta, Landscape ideas, Moss rose (Portulaca), Pansies, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scaevola, Sedges (Carex), Sedum (Groundcover types), Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sweet flag (Acorus), Sweet potato vine, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection, Zinnia Comments Off on Cool Plant Combos For ContainersAutumn Ferns Offer Lush Tropical Touch
Posted by Hugh on March 7th, 2017
Ferns are fine textured lacey-leaf groundcovers. Many kinds of ferns add a tropical accent to the shade garden. Autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora), aka Japanese wood fern, has evergreen or semi-evergreen arching foliage, depending how cold winter is (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). Its common name is misleading. Best fronds color is in spring; fronds unfurl with […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn fern (Dryopteris), compost, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Autumn Ferns Offer Lush Tropical Touch
