In Tennessee (where I live) and in the Southeastern U.S., bad crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia x) pruning continues to be done by professional landscapers and homeowners (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). This practice, also called “topping”, reduces tree (or shrub) height. Over 25 years, Southern Living magazine called this “crape murder”. Crape murder is not going away. More crape […]
Archive for the ‘Summer heat tolerant’ Category
Stop The “Crape Murder”
Posted by Hugh on January 28th, 2017
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Cercopora leaf spot, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Downy mildew, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Messy Fruits, mulching, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Weak wooded, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Stop The “Crape Murder”Comparing Western Red Cedar And ‘Green Giant’ Arborvitaes
Posted by Hugh on January 21st, 2017
Western red cedar or giant red cedar (Thuja plicata) is native to the Pacific Northwest. In the eastern U.S. it is called western arborvitae and landscapers typically do not plant it. Instead, they plant the hybrid cultivar ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae, a cross between western red cedar (T. plicata and Japanese arborvitae (T. standishii). Western arborvitae […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Bagworms, Container growing, container shrub, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Fragrant, Green Privacy Screen, Inconspicious, Leyland cypress, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, winter hardiness Comments Off on Comparing Western Red Cedar And ‘Green Giant’ ArborvitaesLandscaping Plantings Around A Garden Railroad
Posted by Hugh on January 18th, 2017
Garden railroad layouts are becoming more popular. A number of dwarf and compact growing plants play a major role in landscaping around the layout. Many miniature forms of taller varieties are available. Here are several great plant choices to add the your garden railroad: Trees and Shrubs – offer scale or tall canopy […]
Posted in acidic soil, Angelonias, Carex (Sedges), compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, deadheading, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Elms (Ulmus), Euphorbias, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fullmoon maple, Ginkgo biloba, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Ground cover, Hemlock (Tsuga), Hosta, Ilex (hollies), Impatiens, Landscape ideas, Lantana, Moss rose (Portulaca), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Salvia, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Yews (Taxus spp.) Comments Off on Landscaping Plantings Around A Garden RailroadSouthern Gardeners Should Use The AHS Heat Zone Map
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2017
The AHS Heat Zone Map isn’t new. The American Horticultural Society developed it in 1960 and updated it in 1990. It has become an important reference for knowing both the cold and heat tolerances of garden plants. Many perennials in southern U.S. gardens struggle in the extreme heat and humidity. The heat zone map developed by AHS is […]
Posted in Evergreen, Garden ecology, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Pests, Platycodon (Balloon flower), Purchasing Plants, Regional, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Southern Gardeners Should Use The AHS Heat Zone MapLittle Goblin® Series Of Deciduous Hollies
Posted by Hugh on December 25th, 2016
Little Goblin® Red (Ilex verticillata ‘NCIV1’) is one of the new creation from plant breeder Dr. Tom Ranney, at the North Carolina Research And Extension Center in Mills River, NC. It is the first ever tetraploid winterberry. This dwarf variety is also exceptionally hardy and easy to care for. Little Goblin® Orange (‘NCIV2’) is extremely early flowering and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Ilex (hollies), mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Little Goblin® Series Of Deciduous HolliesLandscape Trees With Winter Interest
Posted by Hugh on December 22nd, 2016
Does your winter landscape look a bit shabby? This coming spring take some action by planting trees that should perk up its appearance. New tree choices should ratchet up seasonal interest, attract more bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in the spring-summer and hungry fruit feeding birds in fall-winter. Making smart tree choices can add four-seasons of interest to your yard. […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Birch (Betula spp.), Butterflies, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, Cornus officinalis, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Dogwood (Cornus), Edible fruits, Ginkgo biloba, Hummingbird, Kwanzan cherry, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Paperbark maple, Parrotia (Persian ironwood), Purchasing Plants, river birch, Southern Appalachian Region, Stewartia pseudocamellia, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winterberry holly Comments Off on Landscape Trees With Winter InterestArctic Fire™ Dogwood Brightens Up Winter Landscape
Posted by Hugh on December 19th, 2016
Red-twig or red osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) is a native shrub (USDA hardiness zones 2-7). It reaches 8 to 10 feet in height and roots sucker prolifically. It can become a chore keeping it contained in small garden spaces. Arctic Fire™ is a superior cultivar identified by its fiery red stems and compact growth habit. Expect […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Cornus stolonifera, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root suckering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Arctic Fire™ Dogwood Brightens Up Winter LandscapeSmall Southern Magnolia Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on December 13th, 2016
Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) is one of nature’s magnificent landscape trees (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). This reliable large tree, native to the Southern U.S., is at home in well-drained clay soils and hot summers. The species typically grows to 60-80 feet tall with a pyramidal (young) to a rounded crown (mature tree). It is not uncommon […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Flowers, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Magnolia grandiflora, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Small Southern Magnolia CultivarsCrape Myrtles Exhibit Beautiful Bark In Winter
Posted by Hugh on December 10th, 2016
The flowers of crape myrtles are a wonderful floral treat in the summer months, several exhibit gorgeous exfoliating bark. Some also show off autumn foliage colors. Here are the best ten species and cultivars of crape myrtles noted for their exfoliating bark. Lagerstroemia hybrids (L. indica x L. fauriei) Hopi – 8-10 feet semi-dwarf shrub; gray brown exfoliating bark; medium pink […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Downy mildew, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Crape Myrtles Exhibit Beautiful Bark In WinterPhotoperiodism – Short Day/Long Day Plants
Posted by Hugh on December 7th, 2016
“Photoperiodism” or daylength is responsible for triggering flowering in numerous plants. Some examples of short day plants are poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima), fall mums (Dendranthemum spp.), asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), Thanksgiving (Schlumbergera truncata), Christmas (S. bridgesii) cacti, Kalanchoes (Kalanchoe spp.) and Salvias (Salvia spp.). “Photoperiodism” is the amount of light and darkness a plant is exposed to. The […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anemone, Aster, Autumn flowering, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Chrysanthemum, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Kalanchoe, Perennials, Petunias, Photoperiod (Daylength), Planting tips, Poinsettia, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Roses, Salvia, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Strawberries, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sunflowers, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Photoperiodism – Short Day/Long Day Plants
