Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata) is a large native evergreen tree from the Western U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-7). As many as 30 cultivars are available among dwarf, weeping, and variegated leaf forms. One of the most popular selections is ‘Green Giant,’ a hybrid between T. plicata and T. standishii, a Japanese arborvitae. In its native […]
Archive for the ‘Pruning’ Category
‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae: A Terrific Green Privacy Screen
Posted by Hugh on February 23rd, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Native Plant, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitae: A Terrific Green Privacy ScreenGrowing Pear Trees Too Challenging For Southeast Gardeners?
Posted by Hugh on February 15th, 2013
For many reasons growing pears in the Southeastern U.S. is very challenging. First, European (Pyrus communis) and Asian (P. pyrifera) pears are susceptible to fireblight (Erwinia amylovora). This bacterial disease is very difficult to manage. Two of the leading European pear varieties, ‘Bartlett’ and ‘Bosc’, are highly susceptible to fireblight. Varieties found to be fire […]
Posted in acidic soil, Biennial bearing, Disease prone, Failure to Bloom, Fruits & Vegetables, Harvest Time, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Planting tips, Pollination needs, Pruning, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering Comments Off on Growing Pear Trees Too Challenging For Southeast Gardeners?‘Pink Lemonade’ Blueberries Will Delight Your Taste Buds
Posted by Hugh on February 12th, 2013
Pink Lemonade blueberry (Vaccinium x ‘Pink Lemonade’) is a new variety introduction from the USDA. It combines the benefits of growing a beautiful landscape plant and one that produces a tasty crop of pinkish red blueberries. Pink Lemonade is also very winter hardy (USDA hardiness zone 4). Select a sunny location, preferably with an […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Blueberries, compost, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fruits & Vegetables, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Uncategorized, watering tips, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on ‘Pink Lemonade’ Blueberries Will Delight Your Taste BudsLeatherleaf Mahonia – Love It Or Don’t Plant It
Posted by Hugh on January 30th, 2013
Leatherleaf mahonia (Mahonia bealei), aka Beale’s barberry, is a holly-like evergreen shrub which appears in your garden uninvited. It is a member of the barberry family (Berberidaceae) (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). It has no sharp thorns on the stems, but leaf tips are sharply pointed. Leatherleaf mahonia is a princely evergreen shrub which blooms in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Mahonia, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Leatherleaf Mahonia – Love It Or Don’t Plant ItAdd Some Gold to Your Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 30th, 2013
Is your garden awash in green foliage? A few well placed bright gold-leaf shrubs or perennials can awaken almost any dull green landscape spot. Here are two shrubs, Mellow Yellow® spirea and Gold Nugget barberry, plus one perennial (‘All Gold’ hakone grass) that may add some flair. Mellow Yellow® Spirea (Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’) forms small white flowers which cover […]
Posted in acidic soil, Barberry (Berberis), Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Hakone grass, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on Add Some Gold to Your LandscapeFragrant Honeysuckle Is Long-Lived Heirloom Shrub
Posted by Hugh on January 21st, 2013
Fragrant honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) has creamy white flowers which open in January during a brief warm-ups and continues, off and on, through February and March in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). It is an old heirloom shrub indigenous of China. It’s hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4-8. Fragrant honeysuckle is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, Winter flowering Comments Off on Fragrant Honeysuckle Is Long-Lived Heirloom Shrub‘Otto Lukyen’ Cherry Laurel Exhibits Better Winter Hardiness
Posted by Hugh on January 17th, 2013
Otto Luyken (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’) is a very compact form of cherry laurel. It produces showy, fragrant, erect white spike flowers primarily in the spring, and repeats with light blooming thru the summer months. Its fragrant white flowers are showy racemes which rise several inches above the foliage in mid-spring. Its glossy pointed tip […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Cherry Laurel (Prunus), compact shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Planting tips, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Otto Lukyen’ Cherry Laurel Exhibits Better Winter HardinessSkip (Schipka) Laurel Creates Dense Evergreen Privacy Screen
Posted by Hugh on January 14th, 2013
Schipka laurel (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’) is a dense growing evergreen shrub with lustrous evergreen foliage and clusters of small white flowers in the spring. It is rated as one of the cold hardiest of cherry laurels (USDA hardiness zone 6-8). In the garden center it is often labeled ‘skip laurel”. Skip laurel grows 10 to […]
Witchhazels Invent Their Own Season
Posted by Hugh on January 7th, 2013
Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.) are medium to large shrubs which can be shaped into small trees by judicious pruning. In general, all witchhazels grow in full sun but can prosper with moderate amounts of shade. Other than pruning, they require little extra care. Plant in any soil type as long as it is adequately drained and mildly acidic. Species native to the Eastern […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, compact shrub, compact tree, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Pruning, Root suckering, Summer heat tolerant, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Witchhazels Invent Their Own SeasonDeer Don’t Feed On Plum Yews
Posted by Hugh on December 10th, 2012
Plum yews (Cephalotaxus harringtonia) are evergreen needle conifers which flourish in the heat and humidity of the Southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). Likely, the groundcover forms are hardier to zone 5-b if protected by snow cover or surrounding vegetation from dry winter winds. Plum yews are native to China, Korea and Japan. Many people […]
Posted in acidic soil, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Ground cover, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Deer Don’t Feed On Plum Yews
