‘Green Giant’ arborvitae and Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar) have proven more dependable over the years than Leyland cypress across Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Leyland cypress is susceptible to three serious foliar diseases. Some people love the faster growth of Leyland cypress. Leyland cypress may be weak-wooded, as reported by some gardeners this current […]
Archive for the ‘watering tips’ Category
Privacy Screening – Avoid Using Leyland Cypress
Posted by Hugh on February 11th, 2010
Posted in acidic soil, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Bagworms, Disease prone, Evergreen, Evergreens, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, Leyland cypress, Privacy Screen, Southern Appalachian Region, Viburnums, watering tips 
Comments Off on Privacy Screening – Avoid Using Leyland CypressFerns in Your Garden
Posted by Hugh on January 22nd, 2010
I recommend adding ferns in your shade garden. Ferns offer very fine textured foliage. Plant’em in clumps of three or more. Select the proper fern by your garden site, e.g whether it is likely dry or moist soils. Some grow surprisingly well in full sun, but most prefer partial to full shade. Don’t buy a […]
Posted in Autumn fern (Dryopteris), Ferns, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Shade Gardening, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Ferns in Your GardenBig Begonias
Posted by Hugh on January 4th, 2010
The Benary ‘Big Begonia’ series are a hit, “begonias on steroids”, some gardeners may say. Individual flowers are twice that of other bedding begonias. Colors are vivid with three cultivars currently available . ‘Big Rose Bronze Leaf’ is my personal favorite. (pictured) Begonias grow best in well drained, humus-rich garden soil. Provide tender -loving care […]
Posted in Begonia, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Big BegoniasPrincess Lilies — Hardy in Zone 6
Posted by Hugh on December 29th, 2009
Not all alstroemerias are alike. I have been enjoying my Princess lilies (alstroemeria hybrids from Holland) over the past 6 years. They have been surprisingly winter hardy in zone 6-b where I garden. Further south in zones 7 and 8, Princess lilies prefer part sun to partial shade. I grow’em on the east side of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alstroemeria (Peruvian lily), Flowers, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Princess Lilies — Hardy in Zone 6‘Sky Pencil Holly vs ‘Dee Runk’ Boxwood
Posted by Hugh on December 28th, 2009
Boxwoods and hollies are mainline evergreen shrubs, utilized for low hedging, privacy barriers. Single shrubs are planted solely for their architectural accent. Both hollies and boxwoods grow best in moist, well-drained soils and in full sun to partial shade. Both prefer soils with a pH of slightly acidic to slightly alkaline. Boxwoods tend to be more shade tolerant than […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Boxwood (Buxus), Container garden, container shrub, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Weak branching, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Sky Pencil Holly vs ‘Dee Runk’ BoxwoodPlanting Leyland Cypress May Be Big Mistake
Posted by Hugh on December 23rd, 2009
If you live in USDA Plant Zone 6-b – 7, planting leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) could eventually turn into a maintenance diseaster in your landscape. Leyland cypress is a green behemoth, too fast and aggressive for most folks to handle. Ask yourself, “do you really need a 60-70 foot evergreen privacy screen around your […]
Hardy Forms of Deodara Cedar
Posted by Hugh on October 3rd, 2009
I am surprised by the increasing numbers of deodara cedars (Cedrus deodara) that are prospering in Zones 6-b and 7 gardens. Apparently, deodara cedars are much hardier than once thought. The buzz at a recent American Conifer Regional meeting is these varieties list here are worthy of planting: Tree forms: ‘Karl Fuchs’ ‘Shalimar’ ‘Eisregen’ ‘Eiswinter’ ‘Polar […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deodara cedars (Cedrus), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Landscape ideas, mulching, Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Hardy Forms of Deodara CedarGrowing Hardy Camellias
Posted by Hugh on September 22nd, 2009
Growing camellias in Tennessee is no longer a dream. Through the efforts of several plant breeders, particularly Dr. William L. Ackerman of the U.S. National Arboretum (retired) and Dr. Clifford Parks of Camellia Forest Nursery, as many as 40 cultivars of winter hardy camellias to -15 °F are now available in nursery commerce. Flower colors […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Camellia, compost, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Growing Hardy Camellias
