Red Abyssinian banana (Ensete maurelii ‘Red Abyssinian’) is a tropical banana from high in the mountains of Ethiopia in eastern Africa. Its enormous reddish to purplish foliage and red – burgundy trunk adds a tropical presence to any garden. Compared to hardier banana genus Musa, Ensete does not produce root suckers […]
Archive for the ‘Staking’ Category
Red Abyssinian Banana For Tropical Looking Landscapes
Posted by Hugh on May 24th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Banana (Ensete spp.), Container garden, Container growing, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Red Abyssinian Banana For Tropical Looking LandscapesCosmos For Sunny Gardens
Posted by Hugh on May 15th, 2015
Cosmos, indigenous to Mexico and South America, are one of the easiest-to-grow flowering annuals. They start blooming in early summer and are at their best in late summer and early autumn. Two most popular species are Cosmos sulphureus and C. bipinnatus. Flower heads are composed of disc and ray flowers. Cosmos is a member of the aster […]
Posted in alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container garden, Cosmos, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Hummingbird, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Cosmos For Sunny GardensSupport Tomato Plants
Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2015
University research demonstrates that yields are lower for staked tomatoes. Staking tomatoes is not absolutely necessary, but harvesting tomatoes on the ground becomes more difficult. Dirt and disease blemishes on fruits laying on the ground necessitate grading, cleaning, and disposing of culls. Most tall growing indeterminate varieties are best supported off the ground in some manner to prevent […]
Posted in Edible fruits, Fruits & Vegetables, Harvest Time, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Tomato Comments Off on Support Tomato PlantsBlue Atlas Cedar Becoming Very Popular In Urban Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 10th, 2015
Blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ) hails from the Atlas Mountains in northern Morocco and Algeria (USDA hardiness zone 6). The cultivar ‘Glauca’ has been the popular choice because of its blue green foliage. Blue Atlas grows to 40-60 feet in height, but individuals over 70 feet are hard to find. Mature forms, those 50 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Atlas cedar (Cedrus), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Blue Atlas Cedar Becoming Very Popular In Urban LandscapeProvide 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 CedarRebuilding A Storm Damaged Young Tree
Posted by Hugh on October 25th, 2014
An enormous 60 foot white pine toppled over several smaller trees. The aftermath was a severely damaged 3- year old sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana). Replacing the 3 1/2 inch diameter tree would have cost the homeowner over $300. My recommendation to the homeowner was to cut back the magnolia trunk to approximately 12 inches from the ground in […]
Posted in Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Magnolia virginiana, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Rebuilding A Storm Damaged Young TreeMexican Sunflowers Thrive In A Hot Summer
Posted by Hugh on August 24th, 2014
Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundiloba) is a fast growing annual that produces vivid orange-red zinnia-like flowers from early summer to autumn frost. It is native to Mexico and Central America. Dark green leaves remain blemish-free all summer long. Snails and slugs are occasional pests during wet summers or when irrigated overhead. Plants grow 3-4 feet tall […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Hummingbird, Mexican sunflower (Tithonia), mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Mexican Sunflowers Thrive In A Hot SummerRooguchi Clematis: Let It Ramble
Posted by Hugh on May 12th, 2014
Combine two popular garden trends: climbing vines and vertical gardening. Vines may grow on a trellis or allow them to weave through an existing shrub or tree. In a small garden this can be a space saver. In the world of clematis, the cultivar Rooguchi, aka Roguchi, (Clematis integrifolia x C. reticulata) has become increasingly […]
Posted in Clematis 'Rooguchi', Heat Tolerance, mulching, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, watering tips Comments Off on Rooguchi Clematis: Let It RambleBlackberry Lily Is Easy Summer Perennial
Posted by Hugh on May 3rd, 2014
Blackberry Lily (Belamcanda chinensis) is a summer flowering perennial native to China and Japan (USDA hardiness zones 5 -10). Don’t be fooled by its name. It is not a “lily” as it belongs to the Iris family. The iris sword-like leafy stalks stand 2 to 3 feet high. Blackberry lily blooms in early to mid-summer […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Blackberry Lily (Belamcandra), Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Blackberry Lily Is Easy Summer Perennial‘Summer Cascade’ Is A Very Different Weeping River Birch
Posted by Hugh on December 22nd, 2013
Summer Cascade is a new weeping river birch (Betula nigra Summer Cascade™ (PPAF). Its pendulous branching habit represents a unique change for river birch. Its strong weeping nature creates a divine focal point planted next to a pond, deck, or patio. Left unstaked, Summer Cascade’s strong pendulous habit naturally grows into a shrub mound or […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, compact tree, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, river birch, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Summer Cascade’ Is A Very Different Weeping River Birch
