Climbing or coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is a native vine. It can be spotted growing on fence rows along roadsides and in woodlands from Connecticut to Nebraska, and south to Texas and Florida. ‘Major Wheeler’ is one of the better climbing honeysuckles noted for its non-stop production of bright red trumpet flowers and green mildew resistant foliage. Red […]
Archive for the ‘Pruning’ Category
Exceptional Describes ‘Major Wheeler’ Climbing Honeysuckle
Posted by Hugh on April 25th, 2012
Posted in Aggressive grower, Butterflies, Climbing honeysuckle (Lonicera), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Uncategorized, Vine 
Comments Off on Exceptional Describes ‘Major Wheeler’ Climbing HoneysuckleBloomerang™ Lilac For Non-Stop Flowering
Posted by Hugh on April 8th, 2012
In most Northeast and Midwestern states, lilacs (Syringa spp.) are the classic spring-flowering shrub, treasured for their beautiful and fragrant flowers. Lilacs are vigorously growing shrubs and are utilized in the landscape as single specimens or as multiple hedging shrubs for privacy. Further south, in the warmer Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Green Privacy Screen, Lilac (Syringa), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant Comments Off on Bloomerang™ Lilac For Non-Stop FloweringRe-blooming Iris For Twice (and More) Flowering
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2012
Gardeners who desire more flowering from garden iris (Iris spp.) should be planting re-blooming types. Some cultivars may re-bloom up to three times in one growing season. The re-blooming trait is found both in bearded and beardless irises (I. germanica). Re-bloomers need to be well established for one year, sometimes two, to bloom multi-seasonly. Some […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, compost, Fertilizing plants, Iris, Iris (Tall bearded), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, watering iris Comments Off on Re-blooming Iris For Twice (and More) FloweringPiedmont Azalea
Posted by Hugh on March 30th, 2012
Piedmont Azalea (R. canescens) at Callaway Gardens Early flowering Piedmont azalea (Rhododendron canescens) is one of the most common native deciduous azaleas in the southeastern U.S. It is frequently confused for pinxterbloom azalea (R. periclymenoides) which blooms 3-4 weeks later. Piedmont azalea is hardy in USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9. Piedmont azalea reaches a mature height between […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Azalea (deciduous), Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Insect (Pest) Problems, mulching, Native Plant, Piedmont azalea, Pruning, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Piedmont AzaleaContorted Filbert Offers Great Fall And Winter Interest
Posted by Hugh on March 23rd, 2012
Contorted filbert (Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’), aka Harry Lauder’s walking stick, is an 8-10 foot tall shrub. It grows in average well-drained acidic or mildly alkaline soil and thrives either in full or partial (6 hours) sunlight. Contorted filbert is usually sold in a grafted form. It is also called corkscrew hazelnut because most branches, twigs and leaves display […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Contorted filbert (Corylus), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Weeping habit Comments Off on Contorted Filbert Offers Great Fall And Winter InterestPowis Castle Artemisia Is Exceptional
Posted by Hugh on March 16th, 2012
Most artemisias (aka “wormwood”) can not cope with the summer heat and humidity in the mid-South. Their silvery foliage tends to burn out (some say “melt out”) in mid to late summer. ‘Powis Castle’ artemisia is truly the exception. Powis Castle is likely a hybrid (Artemisia arborescens x A. absinthium Powis Castle is a bushy, woody-based perennial […]
Posted in Artemisia, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Perennials, plant nutrition, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Powis Castle Artemisia Is ExceptionalAwaken Overwintering Tropical Plants
Posted by Hugh on March 5th, 2012
If you live in USDA zones 6 and 7, early March is usually the proper time to re-awaken containers of tender tropicals stored in your garage or moved in to join your house plants last fall. Likely, they’ve already begun to sprout. Specifically, angel trumpets (Brugmansia spp.), elephant ears (Colocasia spp. and Alocasia spp.), cannas […]
Posted in Angel trumpet (Brugmansia), Banana (Ensete spp.), Banana (Musa spp.), Canna lily, Canna lily, Colocasia, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized Comments Off on Awaken Overwintering Tropical PlantsRe-Potting Indoor Plants
Posted by Hugh on February 13th, 2012
The golden rule for house plant care is to repot them once a year. Times of seasonal change signal the best opportunity for repotting most house plants. September starts a slowdown and March (late February) a re-awakening period for your house plants. Most, but not all plants, should be re-potted in one of these periods. Purchase a […]
Posted in Interior (house) Plants, Orchids, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Re-Potting Indoor PlantsKey Points Whether To Grow Peaches
Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2012
Peaches grow in other places besides Georgia, USA. A decade long period of mild winters in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) have increased gardener confidence about growing peaches. Peaches (Prunus persica) tend to flower in early spring when the threat of spring frosts is still high. In many years spring frost may kill 80% of […]
Posted in Dwarf rootstocks, Fruits & Vegetables, Peach, Planting tips, Pollination needs, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Key Points Whether To Grow PeachesFormerly A Tree… Now A Hat Rack
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2012
Tree topping continues! The concern about a large tree falling on the house, garage, autos or pedestrians sends out calls to cut the tree back. If the tree in photo does recover (grow), the new branches will be mostly weak suckers. After 2-3 years, the sucker growth will be susceptible to high winds and snow/ice storms […]
