It’s no secret that in many areas with cold winters (USDA hardiness zones 6-9), hardy crape myrtle cultivars are now available. In northern areas like eastern Maryland and northern VA, crape myrtles have been prospering for two decades and more. However, there is one rule regarding winter care — “Don’t Touch”. Hold off all pruning of crape […]
Archive for the ‘Summer heat tolerant’ Category
Avoid Crape Myrtle Woes In Winter
Posted by Hugh on October 25th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Fertilizing plants, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Avoid Crape Myrtle Woes In WinterNew England Aster A Great Pick For Fall Garden
Posted by Hugh on October 22nd, 2015
New England (NE) Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), aka Michaelmas Daisy, is a long-lived native perennial from the east shore west to New Mexico (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Flowering time is from August to October. It is a favorite choice for prairie restorations, roadside plantings, and wetland sites. This large aster species […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aster, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Virus diseases, winter hardiness Comments Off on New England Aster A Great Pick For Fall GardenAdd Alliums In Your Spring Flower Garden
Posted by Hugh on October 19th, 2015
Ornamental alliums, members of the onion family (Amaryllidaceae), produce flowers that are uniquely ball shaped and stand atop long, graceful stems. Young children marvel about the lollipop or stargazing blooms. Depending on species, alliums come in many colors (white, yellow, pink, purple, blue), shapes (round, oval, cascading), and sizes (5 inches to 5 feet tall). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alliums (onion), Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bulb Crops, Butterflies, Container growing, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower arrangments, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Add Alliums In Your Spring Flower GardenNew ‘Black and Bloom’ Salvia Lovely Touch To Late Summer Garden
Posted by Hugh on October 16th, 2015
Blue anise sage (Salvia guaranitica) is native to central South America (USDA hardiness zones 7-10). It primarily utilized as a garden annual in the U.S., but is rated a tender perennial in protected locations with winter mulch cover in zone 6. Plants exhibit a shrubby, somewhat open habit with upright branching, to 3-5 feet tall as a perennial and 2 ½ […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Blue anise sage, Butterflies, container shrub, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Overcrowding, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Sage (Salvia), Salvia, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on New ‘Black and Bloom’ Salvia Lovely Touch To Late Summer GardenThunderhead Japanese Black Pine For A Different Look
Posted by Hugh on September 27th, 2015
Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii ‘Thunderhead’) is compact form of Japanese black pine. At maturity it may reach 20 to 25 feet high and 15 to 20 feet wide (USDA hardiness zones 5b-8). Expect this slow-growing conifer to grow 5 feet height and 4 feet width in 10 years. By mid-winter its very long […]
Posted in acidic soil, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Japanese Black Pine, Privacy Screen, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Thunderhead Japanese Black Pine For A Different Look‘Victory’ Chosen Hosta Plant Of The Year For 2015
Posted by Hugh on September 15th, 2015
The Hosta Growers Association has selected ‘Victory’ the Hosta of the Year for 2015 (USDA Zones 3–9). ‘Victory’ is a large hosta cultivar with gold edged variegated leaves and an upright vase-shaped plant habit. Victory hosta is a sport of H. nigrescens ‘Elatior’, distinctive also for its beautiful, upright form. Plant develops into a broad 3 – […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, compost, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Hosta, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Victory’ Chosen Hosta Plant Of The Year For 2015Fall Landscaping Tips
Posted by Hugh on September 12th, 2015
Cool autumn temperatures and increased rainfall make Autumn an ideal time to plant. Attractive landscaping adds value to your home and property. Selecting select deciduous trees and shrubs may reduce home winter heating bills and provide cooling shade in summer. Gardeners living in condos or townhouses should also consider a winter hardy […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Fertilizing plants, Garden paths, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, mulching, Ornamental fruit, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall Landscaping TipsDwarf Ginkgoes For Small Spaces
Posted by Hugh on September 10th, 2015
Prehistoric Ginkgo trees (Ginkgo biloba) are easily identified by their triangular shaped leaves (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Trees mature to huge sizes, up to 80 – 90 feet high. Their growth rates are initially slow during the early establishment years. Ginkgo tree are “dioecious”, either male and female. Most (not all) ginkgoes develop into tall pyramidal […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ginkgo biloba, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Dwarf Ginkgoes For Small SpacesItalian Arum Returns Every Autumn
Posted by Hugh on September 7th, 2015
Italian arum (Arum italicum) is a long-lived woodland perennial native to Italy and much of the Mediterranean region. Several members of the arum family (Araceae), including this species, are also known as “Lords and Ladies”. It typically grows 9-18 inches tall (depending on location) and slowly spreads over many years. Shoots first emerge from beneath the woodland leaf […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fruits poisonous, Italian arum, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous plant, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Voles, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Italian Arum Returns Every AutumnMid-Summer Blooming ‘Happy Days’ Sunflower
Posted by Hugh on September 4th, 2015
The cheerful golden yellow flowers of Happy Days sunflower (Helianthus ‘Happy Days’) should brighten your garden during the waning days of summer (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). This perennial sunflower has a long 4 to 6 week blooming period. In its first season new plants grow 24-30 inches tall and almost as wide. In subsequent years, tack on an additional 12-18 inches in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compost, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sunflower (Helianthus), Sunflowers, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mid-Summer Blooming ‘Happy Days’ Sunflower
