People think peaches grow only in Georgia. A decade long period of mild winters in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) have increased gardener confidence in growing peaches. Peaches (Prunus persica) tend to flower in early spring, when the threat of spring frost is high across the region. In many years spring frost […]
Archive for the ‘Winter Protection’ Category
Key Points About Growing Peaches
Posted by Hugh on December 8th, 2011
Posted in Bee Favorite, Fruits & Vegetables, Peach, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Key Points About Growing PeachesThujopsis: Semi-Dwarf Evergreen Shrub
Posted by Hugh on November 28th, 2011
Hiba or false arborvitae (Thujopsis dolobrata) is a slow to moderate growing evergreen shrub or tree. It is also called elkhorn cedar and deerhorn cedar, referring to the shape of its scale-like leaves. Tall 50-80 feet tall tree forms arefound in the forests of Japan. This native of Japan and China has a pyramidal form and beautiful dense foliage, similar […]
Posted in acidic soil, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Landscape ideas, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Thujopsis, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, Winter Protection Comments Off on Thujopsis: Semi-Dwarf Evergreen ShrubIrrigate Evergreens This Winter
Posted by Hugh on October 28th, 2011
Fall slowdown in the garden brings many of us back indoors to prepare for the winter holidays ahead. A number of serious canker diseases attack evergreens in the fall and winter if soil moisture is not plentiful. These diseases include botryosphaeria, cytospora, phomopsis, and seiridium cankers. Each organism is capable of causing branch dieback or […]
Posted in Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Christmas trees, Disease prone, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Leyland cypress, Pines (Pinus spp.), Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Thujopsis, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips, winter injury, Winter Protection 1 Comment »Winter Storage of Non-Hardy Tropicals*
Posted by Hugh on October 16th, 2011
There is frost on your pumpkin. By late October, northern U.S. gardeners (USDA zones 3 thru 6) must protect non-hardy tropicals such as cannas (Canna spp.), bananas (Musa spp. and Ensete spp.), elephant ears (Colocasia spp. and Alocasia spp.) and angel trumpets (Brugmansia spp.). Most gardeners living in zone 7-b and further south have little […]
Posted in Alocasia, Banana (Ensete spp.), Banana (Musa spp.), Canna lily, Colocasia, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Winter Protection Comments Off on Winter Storage of Non-Hardy Tropicals*To Grow Crocosmia Or Not?
Posted by Hugh on July 19th, 2011
This South African native, also called ‘montbretia”, thrives in full sun in well-drained average garden soil. A richly composted soil tends to boost foliage size and bloom count, but often weakens bloom stems, requiring some staking. Crocosmia may struggle in a wet soggy wintry soil. Established plants are exceptionally summer heat and drought tolerant. Brightly colored […]
Posted in Crocosmia (Montbretia), Mites, Perennials, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Winter Protection Comments Off on To Grow Crocosmia Or Not?‘Janet Blair’ Rhododendron
Posted by Hugh on May 13th, 2011
Here in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7) rhododendrons can be challenging. Of critical importance is to choose a good garden spot and to plant a hardy cultivar. Over the past 25 years ‘Janet Blair’ has been one of the most reliable varieties in my Northeast Tennessee garden. ‘Janet Blair’ bears medium-sized […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, deadheading, mulching, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, water garden maintenance, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on ‘Janet Blair’ Rhododendron“Mary, Mary, How You Do Grow in My Garden”
Posted by Hugh on May 4th, 2011
‘My Mary’ is a hybrid deciduous azalea (R. ‘Nacoochee’ x R. austrinum) ending its flowering cycle in my spring garden. ‘My Mary’ has been a steady performer, averaging 4-5 feet in height in 10 years. Its clusters of bright yellow orange tubular flowers measure 2 1/2” across. Its early morning sweet fragrance is a gentle […]
Posted in acidify soil, Azalea (deciduous), compost, Deciduous Azaleas, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on “Mary, Mary, How You Do Grow in My Garden”Edgeworthia Deserves A Try
Posted by Hugh on February 21st, 2011
Edgeworthia flowering in March garden First, I must thank South Carolina nurseryman, Mr. Ted Stephens, who gifted me a Chinese paperbush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) nearly 6 years ago. Most plant authorities rate its winter hardiness to USDA zones 7 and 8. It struggled through its first winter and spring in my zone 6-b garden, but has never disappointed. […]
Posted in compact shrub, Disease resistant, Edgeworthia, Flowering, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Protection 
Tags: Edgeworthia Comments Off on Edgeworthia Deserves A TryThe Other Lenten Roses
Posted by Hugh on February 7th, 2011
In addition to the popular Oriental hellebore (H. x orientalis), four other species are hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Christmas rose (H. niger) is the first lenten rose to bloom, often 4-6 weeks earlier if mild December weather permits. The 3 ½- inch flowers are large and showy, […]
Posted in alkaline soil, compost, Flowers, Lenten rose (Hellebore), mulching, Perennials, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on The Other Lenten RosesRecycle Live Christmas Trees
Posted by Hugh on December 30th, 2010
The holidays are over. This year take your live Christmas tree to a designated location to be recycled. Many cities and towns collect trees which are chipped into mulch. The mulch is spread around municipal park trees and street trees. It is utilized for erosion management along stream banks and on steep slopes. Mulch is also distributed to gardeners in the spring. Communities pile […]
Posted in Christmas trees, compost, Green Recycling, mulching, Sand Dune Protection, Soil Conservation, Winter Protection Comments Off on Recycle Live Christmas Trees
