Chinese fringetree (Chionanthus retusus) is native to China, Korea and Japan (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). As with the native U.S. species (C. virginicus), this plant is noted for its fragrant white flowers. Gardeners first fall in love with this large, multi-stemmed, deciduous large multi-branched shrub. Some nurseries are also offering the Chinese form as a […]
Archive for the ‘Pruning’ Category
Chinese Fringetree
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2022
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact tree, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Fringetree (Chionanthus), Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Chinese FringetreeFour Space-Saving Summer Blooming Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on April 21st, 2022
Miniaturation of many of our garden shrubs has been a trend for over 30 years. A common saying among gardeners has been they no making any more land making anymore or, in this case, garden planting space. In particular, urban gardeners continue to squeeze more color into limited spaces. Here are four flowering shrubs that […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Buddleia (Butterfly bush), Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Panicle hydrangea, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Vitex (Chaste tree), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Four Space-Saving Summer Blooming ShrubsThree Standout Panicle Hydrangeas
Posted by Hugh on April 6th, 2022
For over a decade the cultivar ‘Limelight’ has been among the best selling panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). It bears large greenish-white floral trusses on 6- 8 feet tall branches; beautiful for use as cut (fresh or dried) flowers. Here are three panicle hydrangeas that are also very popular. Vanilla Strawberry™ hydrangea […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Panicle hydrangea, Planting tips, Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sand Dune Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Standout Panicle HydrangeasFive Redbuds With Dynamite Seasonal Foliage
Posted by Hugh on March 11th, 2022
Here are five notable redbuds (Cercis canadensis) possessing colorful summer foliage. Of note, the first 3 of 5 varieties are the creation of noted plant breeder Dr. Dennis Werner of NC State University in Raleigh. Flame Thrower® has stunning eye-catching foliage color breakthrough in the world of redbuds. It is marketed as Eternal Flame® in Europe. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chlorosis (yellowing), Container garden, Container growing, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Redbud, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Five Redbuds With Dynamite Seasonal FoliageHardy Zone 6 Camellias
Posted by Hugh on February 21st, 2022
In the Southern U.S., camellias are treasured for their showy flowers in the fall-winter landscape. Their glossy evergreen foliage looks great all year long. Hardy varieties are now available for zone 6 northern gardens (-10 to 0 °F). Essentially, gardeners can raise camellias in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and in most coastal cities along the East […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Butterflies, Camellia, Cold tolerance, compact shrub, compost, Container garden, container shrub, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowering shrub, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Hardy Zone 6 CamelliasEleven Popular Perennials In The U.S.
Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2022
Today’s most popular perennials are ones asking for low maintenance and have few to no bug or disease problems. Cutflowers may be used in fresh cut and in dried arrangements. Coneflowers (Echinacea x) – native coneflowers are tough and pretty; flower colors: purple, white, orange, red, yellow. Compact coneflower series (16 to 30 inches tall): […]
Posted in acidic soil, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Daylilies, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Hellebores, Hosta, Monarda (Beebalm), mulching, Peony, Perennials, Phlox, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Red hot Poker (Kniphofia), Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Summer phlox (P. paniculata), watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Eleven Popular Perennials In The U.S.Lacebark Pine
Posted by Hugh on January 28th, 2022
Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) (USDA hardiness zones 4-8) is arboreal mid-sized gem is a lovely 3-needle pine. It is a slow-growing pine with an absolutely exquisite exfoliating patchwork bark which becomes more attractive as the tree ages. Some of the best specimens that I have witnessed are planted on the New York Botanical Gardens in […]
Posted in Attracting birds, compact tree, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Lacebark pine (P. bungeana), Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lacebark PineMore Cool Small Flowering Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on January 23rd, 2022
For many urban gardeners, landscape space is very limited. Here are several showy shrub choices along walkways and perennial border, and in deck and patio containers. Each year the list of dwarf shrubs continues to get longer. They are low maintenance, including very little annual pruning. Shrub Roses – like Drift™ and Flower Carpet™ roses- […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bumble bees, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Honey bees, Hummingbird, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, multi-flora rose, Native Plant, Native Plant, Ninebark, Non-native, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, rose rosette disease, shrub roses, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Vitex (Chaste tree), Weigela Comments Off on More Cool Small Flowering ShrubsSo Many Great Amsonias
Posted by Hugh on January 11th, 2022
Amsonias, commonly called blue star, are a group of easy-to-grow, long-lived native perennials. These highly dependable plants offer three-seasons of landscape interest: showy, long-lasting blooms in spring (mostly in May); threadlike green foliage in summer; and yellow foliage in fall. Amsonias are native primarily to North America and belong to the dogbane plant family (Apocynaceae). This clump-forming perennial has […]
Posted in acidic soil, Amsonia (blue star), Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower Arranging, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on So Many Great AmsoniasAfter The Holidays Poinsettia Care
Posted by Hugh on December 26th, 2021
The gift of a poinsettia means you should enjoy the beauty over the next three months or more. Your poinsettia should be warmly wrapped to protect from chilling outdoor temperatures from the garden shop to your home or apartment. If applicable, carefully unwrap the protective sleeve around your poinsettia to prevent injury to leaves and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Photoperiod (Daylength), Phytophthora ramorum, Planting tips, Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Powdery Mildew, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on After The Holidays Poinsettia Care
