Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is a U.S. native broadleaf evergreen shrub (USDA hardiness zone 5 – 7(8)). Whether you are hiking through area woodlands or driving through Biltmore Estates in Asheville, NC, flowering mountain laurels dominate the May-June landscape in Northeast Tennessee or Western North Carolina. Mature shrub sizes range from 5 feet (dwarf cultivars) […]
Archive for the ‘Winter Protection’ Category
Mountain Laurels – A Native Shrub Many Gardeners Forget To Plant
Posted by Hugh on May 6th, 2021
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, compost, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Phytophthora ramorum, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Mountain Laurels – A Native Shrub Many Gardeners Forget To PlantPlanting A Tropical Look In Your Temperate Garden
Posted by Hugh on April 26th, 2021
This summer, whether you garden in Florida or Michigan, you can enjoy the tropical look in your garden with these 5 leafy plants, which are classified as “foliage annuals” because they are hardy in zones 10-12. Caricature Plant (Graptophyllum pictum) in its natural tropical habitat grows 6-9 feet tall, typically 4-5 feet tall in zone […]
Posted in Alocasia, Banana (Ensete spp.), Banana (Musa spp.), Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Canna lily, Canna lily, Caricature Plant (Graptophyllum), Chlorosis (yellowing), Colocasia, Container garden, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Elephant ears (Colocasia), Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Tapioca plant (Manihot), Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Planting A Tropical Look In Your Temperate GardenAnnuals To Plant In 2021
Posted by Hugh on April 21st, 2021
I spend spring, summer, and fall months visiting public gardens mostly in the eastern and southeast U.S. (Ohio/Pennsylvania south to Florida with camera in hand). I get ideas of new flowers to plant in my garden next year. Here are five flowering annuals that caught my attention. Begonia ‘Canary Wing’ – this golden leaf plant […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Catharanthus (Vinca), Coleus, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowers, Fragrant, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, organic gardening, Periwinkle (annual vinca), Planting tips, Plectranthus, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Re-Bloomers, Salvia, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Annuals To Plant In 2021Steps In Planting A Hedge
Posted by Hugh on March 21st, 2021
Why Plant A Hedge: Living privacy fence offers privacy from street traffic and neighbors Serves as a sound barrier to reduce noise A windbreak to reduce harsh winds Snow fence to reduce snow accumulation Wildlife protection and food for birds from berries and seed. Planning: Select vigorous disease and pest free trees and shrubs that suit […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Althea (Hibiscus), Boxwood (Buxus), Deer resistant, Firethorn (Pyracantha), Flowering shrub, Forsythia, Hedges, Hemlock (Tsuga), Hophornbeam (Ostrya), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Ilex (hollies), Inkberry Holly (Ilex), Japanese yew, Juniper, Large shrub, Lilac (Syringa), Linden (Tilia), mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Pyracantha (firethorn), Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips, Wind protection, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection, Yews (Taxus spp.) Comments Off on Steps In Planting A HedgeIs Your Home Ready For Monstera?
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2020
Monstera, aka Swiss Cheese Philodendron or Split-leaf philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) is a climbing evergreen member of the Arum family (Araceae) native to the tropics of Central America. It may also be grown outdoors in (USDA plant hardiness zones 10-12). Monstera is grown for its large cutleaf foliage, sometimes perforated, that may grow up to 3 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Foliage plant, Landscape ideas, Monstera (Split leaf Philo), Philodendron, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Is Your Home Ready For Monstera?Coast Leucothoe a Better Choice
Posted by Hugh on November 16th, 2020
Compared to other doghobble species, coast leucothoe or doghobble (Leucothoe axillaris) is a best choice for Southern U.S. landscapes (USDA zones 6 -9). This species is native to open woodland areas of the Southeastern U.S. The species grows along woodland slopes usually nearby a water source. However, its roots do not tolerate perennially damp ground. Doghobbles are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anthracnose, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Deer resistant, Doghobble (Leucothoe), Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Leaf retention, Leaf/needle spots, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Coast Leucothoe a Better ChoiceSome Conifers Don’t Like Summer Heat And Clay Soils
Posted by Hugh on February 16th, 2020
Most conifers are best grown in deep, moist, well-drained, acidic loamy soils and in full sun. In the deep South evergreen conifers are challenged by warm soils, poor soil drainage, and humidity. Humidity increases their susceptibility to diseases. Once established they are drought tolerant, but most fail in poorly drained wet soils. Many pine species […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bagworms, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Borers, Caterpillars, Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus), Cercopora leaf spot, Christmas tree, Container garden, Deer resistant, Deodara cedars (Cedrus), Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Firs (Abies), Heat Tolerance, Hemlock (Tsuga), Hemlock adelgid, Insect (Pest) Problems, Juniper, Korean fir (Abies koreana), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Norway spruce (Picea), Oriental spruce (Picea), Pine (Pinus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys), watering evergreens, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Some Conifers Don’t Like Summer Heat And Clay SoilsZone 6 Hardy Camellias
Posted by Hugh on February 11th, 2020
Once upon a time, across the Southern U.S., camellias were highly prized for their showy flowers in the fall-winter landscape. What has changed is that gardeners in the Middle Atlantic and mid-Southern states can now grow them equally well. Camellias are evergreen woody shrubs native to Asia. Currently, after decades of inter-breeding with species from […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Camellia, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Zone 6 Hardy Camellias12 Woody Trees And Shrubs Perfect For Containers
Posted by Hugh on January 6th, 2020
Japanese maples, hydrangeas, hollies, boxwoods, camellias, and dwarf conifers are popular favorites to grow in pots. Often, they’re part of mixed plantings coordinated with colorful annual and perennial flowers. If and when these outdoor trees and shrubs outgrow their pots, you have one of three options available: 1.) move plants into a bigger pot, 2.) […]
Posted in acidic soil, Boxwood (Buxus), Cephalotaxus (Plumleaf yew), Chamaecyparis, Cold tolerance, compact shrub, compact tree, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Deciduous conifer, Deodara cedars (Cedrus), Dioecious, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens, Inkberry Holly (Ilex), Invasive plant, Invasive species, Japanese maple, Japanese yew, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, Nandina, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on 12 Woody Trees And Shrubs Perfect For ContainersUltra Dwarf Korean Fir
Posted by Hugh on October 1st, 2019
Korean fir (Abies koreana) is slow-growing compact fir species with a mature height between 15 to 30 feet tall and 6 to 15 feet wide. Its tiny needles are ½- to 1- inch long, green on top and two white stripes on the underside. It bears 2-3 inches long erect purple cones almost annually that […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Firs (Abies), Korean fir (Abies koreana), Landscape ideas, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Ultra Dwarf Korean Fir
