Box elder (Acer negundo) is a native fast-growing and suckering medium-sized tree (USDA hardiness zones 4b-8). Branches are weak wooded and easily damaged in wind and ice storms. Box elder grows almost anywhere in any average soil, medium to wet, and in full sun. The species fails on a shady site. This weedy maple is […]
Archive for the ‘Summer heat tolerant’ Category
Don’t Totally Dislike All Box Elder Trees
Posted by Hugh on July 16th, 2017
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Anthracnose, Aphids, Borers, Box elder (Acer), Disease prone, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Insect suseptible, Invasive plant, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, Maples (Acer), Messy Fruits, Native Plant, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Don’t Totally Dislike All Box Elder TreesThistle-like Bear’s Breeches
Posted by Hugh on July 13th, 2017
Spiny bear’s breeches (Acanthus spinosa) is a clump-forming perennial treasured for its attractive thistle-like foliage and architecturally bold flower spikes (USDA hardiness zones 5b-9). Plant requires little maintenance and is long-lived. Deeply-cut, arching, glossy green, spiny, thistle-like leaves attain 2-3 feet in length on older plants and remain attractive through the growing season. Leaves bear mostly hidden spines on […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting Butterflies, Bear’s breeches (Acanthus), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Thistle-like Bear’s BreechesBest of MT Cuba Center 2017 Monarda Study*
Posted by Hugh on July 10th, 2017
Monarda, commonly known as bee balm or wild bergamot, is a popular summer flowering perennial. Their large, brightly colored flower clusters brighten the season. Flowers attract many types of wildlife, including hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, moths, and seed-eating birds. Unfortunately, many cultivars are susceptible to powdery mildew disease which causes defoliation and plant loss. Over the past three […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Monarda (Beebalm), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Best of MT Cuba Center 2017 Monarda Study*Causes of Sudden Leaf Scorch
Posted by Hugh on July 7th, 2017
Leaf scorch or foliage burn is caused primarily by environmental stress factors such as drying winds, drought, mechanical root injury, and winter injury . Natural pathogens, such as viruses, fungi, or bacteria, can be secondary causes. Spraying the wrong pesticide or accidentally allowing spray to drift onto a nearby susceptible landscape plant can result in chemical foliar […]
Posted in Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Japanese maple, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, root injury, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Virus diseases, Wind protection, winter hardiness, winter injury Comments Off on Causes of Sudden Leaf ScorchAgaves Like It Hot, Dry and Sunny
Posted by Hugh on July 1st, 2017
Agaves (Agave spp.) are long-leaved succulent landscape plants. These native perennial succulents grow in desert-like environments (USDA hardiness zones 8 and warmer). Plants grow in a rosette form with long their fleshy leaves frequently tipped with one or more sharp spines and a prominent bloom spike with cup shaped flowers. Most are native to the Southwest U.S. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Agave, Agave, alkaline soil, Container growing, container shrub, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Agaves Like It Hot, Dry and SunnyIce Plants (Delosperma)
Posted by Hugh on June 23rd, 2017
Ice plants (Delosperma spp.) are perennial evergreen succulents from South Africa. Two species are most popular in U.S. gardens starting with hardy ice plant (D. cooperi) (zones 6b – 9) and yellow ice plant (D. nubigenum) (zone 4 – 10). There are also many hybrid cultivars sold at garden centers and on-line. North of zone […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Ice Plant (Delosperma), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 1 Comment »Summer Lawn Care Tips
Posted by Hugh on June 17th, 2017
“Summertime and the living is easy”. That’s a good adage to follow for home lawn care as well. Most lawn care chores, such as fertilizing, seeding, thatch management, and weed cleanup, should be delayed until late August through early October in most locales (USDA zones 4-7). During the heat of summer, proper mowing and irrigation are […]
Posted in Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Fertilizing, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Herbicide management, Irrigation, Kentucky bluegrass, Lawn Care, Mowing, Red fescue, Soil drainage, Summer heat tolerant, Tall Fescue, Thatch management, Weed control, Weed management Comments Off on Summer Lawn Care TipsPanicle Hydrangeas For Small Gardens And Containers
Posted by Hugh on June 13th, 2017
Panicle, PeeGee or PG hydrangeas (Hydrangea panculata) brighten up your July-August garden. They hail from China and Japan and grow almost anywhere in the U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 3 – 8). PG hydrangeas are far more reliable in northern areas (zones 3-5), than mophead hydrangeas (H. macrophylla). They flower at their best in full to partial day sunlight (6 hours […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, compost, Container garden, Container growing, deadheading, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Hydrangeas, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Panicle Hydrangeas For Small Gardens And ContainersSorting Through The Joe Pye Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on June 7th, 2017
Joe Pye weed (Eutrichum purpureum) is a native perennial commonly spotted onthe edge of farm fields in the eastern and northern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9). The wild species grows 5-7 feet high and 2-4 feet wide. It blooms from late July to September and is a magnet to attract bees and butterflies. Over the past two […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container growing, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate', Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Sorting Through The Joe Pye CultivarsSee Your Perennials Blooming Again
Posted by Hugh on June 4th, 2017
Deadheading is the removal of old spent flowers and stems of many perennials. Many (not all) perennials will respond and bloom a second and even a third time. Deadheading also refreshes the plant’s appearance and reduces or eliminates the threat of seed dispersal. It redirects the plant’s energy away from seed production toward root and vegetative growth. […]
Posted in Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Blanket flower (Gaillardia), Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Columbine (Aquilegia), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container garden, Coreopsis, Culver's Root (veronicastrum), Delphinium, Dianthus (Pinks), Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Gaura, Heat Tolerance, Helenium, Heliopsis (False sunflower), Hummingbird, Indian pink (Spigelia), Lavender (Lavandula), Milkweeds (Asclepias), Monarda (Beebalm), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Phlox, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Platycodon (Balloon flower), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Red hot Poker (Kniphofia), Russian sage (Perovskia), Sage (Salvia), Sanitation, Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Stokesia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Summer phlox (P. paniculata), Sunflower (Helianthus), Torch lily (red hot poker), Tradescantia (Spiderwort), Veronica (speedwells), watering tips, Weed control, Yarrow (Achillea) Comments Off on See Your Perennials Blooming Again
