Oleander (Nerium oleander) is an attractive evergreen shrub for warm climates. Indigenous to the Mediterranean region, it is popular in warm regions of the U.S., namely in western, coastal, and southern states (USDA hardiness zones 8-11). Oleander prefers moist, well-drained soil and a sunny landscape site. Established shrubs withstand dry and windy conditions along coastal areas. Brightly colored […]
Archive for the ‘Pruning’ Category
Colorful Oleanders For Hot Summer Climes
Posted by Hugh on July 9th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Aphids, compact tree, container shrub, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Oleander (Nerium), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering evergreens, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Colorful Oleanders For Hot Summer Climes‘PeeDee Ingot’ Liriope Brightens Dark Areas
Posted by Hugh on July 6th, 2015
If you live in the Southeastern U.S., another variety of liriope probably will not impress you. Here we call it “monkeygrass”. PeeDee Ingot liriope (Liriope muscari ‘PeeDee Ingot’) is no ordinary ground cover (USDA hardiness zones 6-10). ‘Peedee Ingot’ liriope is named after the Peedee River in South […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Ground cover, Liriope, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘PeeDee Ingot’ Liriope Brightens Dark AreasMy Search Continues For A Hardy Gardenia
Posted by Hugh on July 3rd, 2015
The longer you garden, many plant species keep improving, including their winter hardiness. A few years ago, growing gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides) in a U.S. zone 6 garden was a dream. Today, hardy gardenias are a safe bet in zone 7 or in zone 6 in a protected area of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Gardenia, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on My Search Continues For A Hardy GardeniaPersian Shield Offers Radiant Foliage Color
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2015
The iridescent purple foliage of Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) radiates in a warm summer garden in the U.S. Here it is treated as an annual (USDA hardiness zones 9-11). Persian shield is native to tropical Myanmar (formerly Burma), where it is a 3-4 feet tall soft-stemmed evergreen shrub or subshrub. In temperate regions it grows […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Persian shield (Strobilanthes), plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Persian Shield Offers Radiant Foliage ColorObedient Plant For Late Summer Blooming
Posted by Hugh on June 21st, 2015
Obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana) is native from the Central to Southern U.S. and northern Mexico (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). It is called “obedient plant” because each tubular flower will, upon being pushed in any one direction, stays in new position. From July to September obedient plant is valued for its late season pink or white […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, deadheading, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Obedient plant (Physotegia), Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Obedient Plant For Late Summer BloomingVanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea
Posted by Hugh on June 18th, 2015
Vanilla Strawberry™ hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) is a new peegee hydrangea selection introduced from France and it is really catching on with U.S. gardeners (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). This exceptionally cold hardy hydrangea blooms from late June thru early September. Blooms are enormous and stand upright. Following a heavy summer shower, saturated floral trusses temporarily bow down under their sheer weight, but gradually recover. Flower color […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Fertilizing plants, Hydrangeas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Vanilla Strawberry™ HydrangeaSwamp Azalea Deserves More Garden Space
Posted by Hugh on June 12th, 2015
Swamp Azalea (Rhododendron viscosum, formerly R. serrulatum) is very different among deciduous azaleas. Most rhododendrons (azaleas) do not care for soppy, poorly drained soils. This U.S. native is an exception, indigenous to swamps, bogs, stream edges and wet lowlands from southern Maine to northeastern Ohio south to Florida and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Pruning, Rhododendrons, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Swamp Azalea Deserves More Garden SpaceJapanese Hydrangea Vine Worth The Wait
Posted by Hugh on June 10th, 2015
Japanese hydrangea vine (Schizophragma hydrangoides) ‘Moonlight’ is a deciduous woody vine (USDA hardiness zone 5 to 8). It is closely related to climbing hydrangea vine (Hydrangea anomala ‘Petiolaris’). This ornate climbing vine is valued for its silvery, silvery-green, heart-shaped foliage and large, flat-topped, lace cap hydrangea-like clusters (8-10 […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Japanese hydrangea vine, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, Vine, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Japanese Hydrangea Vine Worth The WaitWinter Damage On Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on June 2nd, 2015
Extremely cold winters of 2013-14 and 2014-15 have damaged many cultivars of crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia x indica). Don’t assume that new crape myrtles are hardy; many are rated hardy only to zone 7. Several of the U.S. National Arboretum cultivars are hardy in zone 6. Gardeners living in the […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury Comments Off on Winter Damage On Crape MyrtlesModern Day Clematis Bloom Freely
Posted by Hugh on May 29th, 2015
The old-fashioned clematis(es) in grandma’s garden bloomed one time in spring or summer and bore huge showy flowers (USDA hardiness zones 3-7). Vines took up lots of space in the garden. Old cultivars grew 8-9 feet tall; many bore one single large flower at the end of each growing […]
Posted in acidic soil, Clematis 'Rooguchi', Clematis spp., Fertilizing plants, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Modern Day Clematis Bloom Freely
