Flowering apricot (Prunus mume) is native to southeastern Asia(USDA hardiness zones 6-8). It is primarily grown for its mid to late winter bloom of pink flowers. This small 15-20 feet tall tree grows in average well-drained, acidic soils in full sun to partial shade. Avoid planting in heavy or wet soils. Most abundant flowering occurs in full sun. In the […]
Archive for the ‘Pruning’ Category
Winter Blooming Flowering Apricot
Posted by Hugh on January 28th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, compact tree, Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Edible fruits, Flowering, Flw. apricot (Prunus mume), Fragrant, Harvest Time, Heat Tolerance, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter flowering tree, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Winter Blooming Flowering ApricotHiring A Tree Service
Posted by Hugh on January 24th, 2015
The trees around your home do much more than provide seasonal beauty and cooling shade in the summer months. Just as you need to get an occasional haircut, trees (and shrubs) need pruning as well. Homeowners should invite a trained arborist to inspect their trees every 5 -7 years. First, select a tree pruner who is licensed and […]
Posted in Garden Maintenance, Large Shade trees, Pruning, Root suckering, Sanitation, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, winter injury Comments Off on Hiring A Tree ServiceWhat Roses Need
Posted by Hugh on January 13th, 2015
A goal of most rose gardeners (rosarians) is to grow them almost maintenance free. The improved shrub roses introduced almost two decades ago have brought this too reality. Rose series such as Knockout®, Home Run®, Drift®, OSO Easy®, Carefree® and Meidiland™ are among the best. No matter the pedigree of the rose, selecting a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Insect (Pest) Problems, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, rose rosette disease, Roses, shrub roses, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Weeds, Winter Protection Comments Off on What Roses NeedMany Shapes and Sizes Of Cryptomerias
Posted by Hugh on January 7th, 2015
Japanese cedar, aka cryptomeria, (Cryptomeria japonica) is the national tree of Japan and is also indigenous to China (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). Cryptomeria cultivars vary greatly from very dwarf to rounded shrubs to large tree forms. Needle-like foliage may be dark green, medium green, golden or contorted leaves. Cryptomerias tolerate hot humid summers and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Landscape ideas, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Many Shapes and Sizes Of CryptomeriasIs Your Tree A Hazard?
Posted by Hugh on December 30th, 2014
Is a dangerous tree lurking in your yard, ready to tumble down on your house or car? A well shaped landscape tree with a full canopy (top) and undergoes a safety checkup every 3-5 years is rarely at risk. When the weather forecaster is predicting a hurricane or an ice storm, it’s generally too late to call a local […]
Posted in Poplar (Populus spp.), Pruning, Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Southern Appalachian Region, Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus), Trees & Shrubs, Willows (Salix) Comments Off on Is Your Tree A Hazard?New Christmas Roses (Hellebores) Greatly Improved
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2014
Christmas roses (Helleborus niger) is a winter flowering perennial. It is native to central and southern Europe (USDA hardiness zones 4-8) and is not as winter hardy as lenten rose (Helleborus x orientalis). Christmas rose tends to flower 1 to 4 weeks earlier, around the Christmas holidays in southern climes (zones 7-8). New selections of H. niger are better […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Hellebores, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on New Christmas Roses (Hellebores) Greatly ImprovedNellie R. Stevens Holly
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2014
Hollies and the winter season work well together. Female hollies with bright red fruits (yellow-fruited forms also) contrast with their glossy evergreen foliage. ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ holly (NRS), a female form, is a cross between English (Ilex aquifolium) and Chinese (I. cornuta) hollies. NRS is the popular holly choice in Southern landscapes (USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9). Hollies are dioecious, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Green Privacy Screen, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Nellie R. Stevens HollyProvide Space For Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar
Posted by Hugh on December 13th, 2014
Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) hails from the Atlas Mountains in northern Morocco and Algeria (USDA hardiness zone 6-9). ‘Glauca Pendula’ is a popular weeping form with blue green needle foliage. It is found in limited quantities at full service garden centers. Mature forms of weeping blue atlas cedars take up lots of space. When young its natural weeping form perform as a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Atlas cedar (Cedrus), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Provide Space For Weeping Blue Atlas CedarLacebark Pine Is An Arboreal Gem
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2014
Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) is an arboreal gem which few gardeners are privileged to own (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Hopefully, this will change. Lacebark is a lovely 3-needle pine with exquisite exfoliating bark which becomes more attractive as it ages. Bark mottling begins after 8-10 years, that’s worth the wait if you’re a young patient […]
Posted in acidic soil, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Lacebark pine (P. bungeana), mulching trees, Pine (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lacebark Pine Is An Arboreal GemTips On Crape Myrtles In Fall And Winter
Posted by Hugh on November 24th, 2014
Hardy cultivars of crape myrtles are best left alone in the fall. Light pruning to remove a broken branch or the seed capsules is ok, but major pruning should wait until early spring. “Crape murder” is a common practice in the Southeast U.S. and is not recommended any time or place. It involves lopping […]
Posted in Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Failure to Bloom, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Tips On Crape Myrtles In Fall And Winter
