Sweet azalea (Rhododendron arborescens), aka smooth azalea, produces fragrant flowers in June. The native deciduous species grows along streams on woodland slopes and moist shrubby balds in the Appalachian Mountains from southern Pennsylvania and eastern Kentucky to North Georgia and Alabama. Here in Tennessee, you may spot this sweetly fragrant white blooms while hiking at […]
Archive for the ‘Pruning’ Category
Sweet Azalea
Posted by Hugh on May 15th, 2023
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compost, Deciduous, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Sweet azalea (R. arborescens), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Sweet AzaleaSix Mini-Shrubs For Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on May 10th, 2023
Many green thumbers and veteran senior gardeners have opted to grow in small garden beds. Here are six (6) small flowering shrubs that add lots of seasonal color from early spring to late summer. All six are easy to maintain; check the easy-care info at the end. Plants can also be grown in 12 inches […]
Posted in acidic soil, Althea (Hibiscus), Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Forsythia, Hummingbird, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, Lilac (Syringa), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Panicle hydrangea, Planting tips, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnums, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Mini-Shrubs For Small GardensMay Blooming Beauty Bush
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2023
Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis) is closely related to two other flowering shrubs – Weigela and Diervilla – and belong in the honeysuckle family (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). It is primarily grown for its outstanding spring flowering in May. This deciduous shrub grows 6-10 feet tall with an arching, vase-shaped shrub habit. Beauty Bush is an old-fashioned shrub planted […]
Posted in acidic soil, Beauty Bush (Kolkwitzia), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on May Blooming Beauty BushFalse Spirea (Sorbaria)
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2023
Ural false spirea (Sorbaria sorbifolia) is a vigorous suckering deciduous shrub. It typically grows 5-10 feet tall and wide depending on variety and soil quality. (USDA hardiness zones 2 -7). False spirea has coarse leaf textured foliage that resembles mountain ash (Sorbus sp.), hence the scientific name. It is listed in the rose (Roseacea) family. Jungle-like […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, False spirea (Sorbaria), Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on False Spirea (Sorbaria)Chinese Fringe Flower
Posted by Hugh on April 22nd, 2023
Chinese fringe flower, aka Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense) is related to witchhazels (Hamamelis spp) and is native to China, Japan, and the Himalayas (USDA 7-10). In the southern U.S., fringe flower is usually evergreen or semi-evergreen, and is deciduous in 6b-7a. For those who garden in areas that occasionally are hit cold winter snaps, plant them […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering shrub, Fringe flower (loropetalum), Heat Tolerance, Hedges, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Chinese Fringe FlowerStop The Chop
Posted by Hugh on March 24th, 2023
Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is a species of small, beautiful tree native to Asia, and are popular in Southern U.S. gardens (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). Before planting a tree or shrub form, do your homework first. So many landscapes wind up with severe and senseless pruning. Crape myrtles wind up with weak shoots and poor […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Crape myrtle aphid, Crape myrtle bark scale, Crapemyrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Stop The ChopGrowing Crapemyrtles In Containers
Posted by Hugh on March 17th, 2023
Gardeners who live in USDA zones 6 -10 can grow dwarf (shrubby) crapemyrtles either in the ground or in containers. In northern areas of the U.S., a few crape myrtle varieties are tender perennials and grown in containers. They’re overwintered in an unheated garage, shed or pots are dug into the ground. These dwarf varieties […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container garden, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Crape myrtle aphid, Deciduous, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Growing Crapemyrtles In Containers‘Ogon’ Spirea Is A Standout
Posted by Hugh on March 12th, 2023
Spireas (Spiraea spp.) represent a large number of mostly non-native flowering landscape shrubs. Most are not U.S. natives, indigenous to China and Japan. Baby’s breath spirea (S. thunbergii) is also called Thunberg spirea and Breath of Spring spirea. It is a showy, graceful shrub that grows 3 to 5 feet high and wide with many […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter blooming, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Ogon’ Spirea Is A StandoutAll About Flowering Quinces
Posted by Hugh on February 22nd, 2023
Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) is a deciduous shrub in the Rose (Rosaceae) family and related to apple and pear (Zones 5-9). It is native to China and is relatively easy to grow. Plant quince in moist, well-drained soil; it flowers best in full sun but is moderately shade tolerant. Feed quince shrubs annually in early […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Chlorosis (yellowing), Container growing, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Flowering quince (Chaenomeles), Flowering shrub, Fruits & Vegetables, Heat Tolerance, Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Quince, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on All About Flowering QuincesVarieties Of Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on February 18th, 2023
Crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia x indica) are small flowering trees and shrubs that are native to Asia and have naturalized in the Deep South of the U.S. Back in the 1970’s thru the 1990’s, plant breeders at the U.S. National Arboretum released 35 winter hardy varieties, named after North American Indian tribes. They varied in sizes […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Crape myrtle aphid, Crape myrtle bark scale, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Varieties Of Crape Myrtles
