I hear people say that conifers won’t grow in the southeastern U.S. Wanta bet! 2016 marks the 8th year of the Reference Garden program sponsored by the American Confer Society (ACS)- Southeast Region. From Kentucky and Virginia south to Florida, 19 public gardens were now participating in the program. Two of the latest additions are Brookgreen […]
Archive for the ‘Winter Protection’ Category
ACS SOUTHEAST REGION CONIFER REFERENCE GARDENS*
Posted by Hugh on April 15th, 2017
Posted in acidic soil, Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Atlas cedar (Cedrus), Bald cypress (Taxodium), Chamaecyparis, China fir (Cunninghamia), Christmas tree, Container growing, container shrub, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Cupressus (cypress), Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Gardens to Visit, Green Privacy Screen, Hemlock (Tsuga), Japanese Black Pine, Japanese yew, mulching, Pine (Pinus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Purchasing Plants, Regional, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Summer heat tolerant, Taiwan cryptomeria, Thujopsis, Trees & Shrubs, Verdon hinoki cypress, Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata), winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on ACS SOUTHEAST REGION CONIFER REFERENCE GARDENS*Tips On Growing Azaleas
Posted by Hugh on March 31st, 2017
Evergreen azaleas (Rhododendron spp.) are actually small-flowered rhododendrons. Depending on where you garden, azaleas enjoy a long bloom period from late March (zone 8) to June (zone 4) in the U.S. Many cultivars bloom for two weeks or more. Fall blooming types like Encore® and Bloom-a thon® series are also available. Azaleas have shallow root systems […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Azaleas (evergreen), Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, mulching, Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Tips On Growing AzaleasBasic Care Tips In The Spring Perennial Garden
Posted by Hugh on March 22nd, 2017
In late winter – early spring, after the snow has melted and daytime temperatures are steadily above freezing, let’s get busy with the cleanup in the perennial garden. First, if you garden in a severe winter region such as zones 4 or colder, remove all winter protection such […]
Posted in Baptisia (wild indigo), Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Bloodgood (Sanguinaria), Bulb Crops, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), deadheading, Eupatorium 'Gateway', Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Flowering Bulb, Garden Maintenance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Overcrowding, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Snowdrops (Galanthus), Southern Appalachian Region, Spanish bluebells, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Weeds, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Basic Care Tips In The Spring Perennial GardenWinter Daphnes Can Be A Rewarding Challenge
Posted by Hugh on March 20th, 2017
Native to China and Japan, winter or fragrant daphnes (Daphne odora) open to light pink or white flowers in winter and early spring in the southeastern U.S. and Pacific Northwest (USDA hardiness zones 7-9). Their welcome floral fragrance will pervade through your garden for nearly two weeks starting in late winter. Winter daphnes grow 3 to 4 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, container shrub, Daphne odora, Disease prone, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, root injury, Root rotting, Scale, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Winter Daphnes Can Be A Rewarding ChallengeCool Plant Combos For Containers
Posted by Hugh on March 10th, 2017
As more and more urban gardeners are growing in small spaces, including decks and patio of condos and town houses, container gardens are becoming more significant. They’re creating large mixed containers that include miniature trees and shrubs rather than their big cousins. For design containers may include thrillers (tall or spiky), fillers, and spillers (weepers). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Begonia boliviensis, Calibrachoa (Million bells), compact shrub, compact tree, compost, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Euphorbias, Fan flower (Scaevola), Ferns, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Fountain Grass (Pennisetum), Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Hosta, Landscape ideas, Moss rose (Portulaca), Pansies, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scaevola, Sedges (Carex), Sedum (Groundcover types), Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sweet flag (Acorus), Sweet potato vine, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection, Zinnia Comments Off on Cool Plant Combos For ContainersExceptionally Hardy ‘Margarita’ Carolina Yellow Jessamine
Posted by Hugh on February 21st, 2017
Carolina yellow jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) is a lovely ignored native vine. It is native from Virginia to Texas to Florida, easily spotted growing in a sunny location growing on trees (USDA zones 6-9). It is the state flower of South Carolina. Grow it as a trellised vine or as a low shrub-like mound (ground cover). Flowers often serve as an early call […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, Jessamine (Gelsemium), Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Vine, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Tags: Vines Comments Off on Exceptionally Hardy ‘Margarita’ Carolina Yellow JessamineShopping Tips When Purchasing Plants
Posted by Hugh on January 4th, 2017
Spring and fall are excellent planting times and buying opportunities. A trips to a garden center can be very costly unless you go prepared. Here are some practical tips to make those shopping trips more enjoyable and a lot less expensive. Create your landscape plan first before buying plants. First, visit garden centers to pick up great landscaping ideas […]
Posted in Attracting Butterflies, Container growing, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Flowers, Foliage plant, Fruits & Vegetables, Garden Maintenance, Garden Problems, Ground cover, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Perennials, Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Vine, Water Gardens, watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Shopping Tips When Purchasing PlantsSouthern 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 MapSaving Heirloom Seeds
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2016
At the end of each growing season, you may choose to collect seeds from favorite flowering annuals and vegetables to holdover and plant in next year’s garden. Some may be heirloom varieties that you have saved for many years because you like their productivity or flavor. Note: these seeds should not be “hybrids”. Hybrids represent a cross between […]
Posted in Cold tolerance, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Edible fruits, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Flowers, Fruits & Vegetables, Goldenrod (Solidago), Green Recycling, Harvest and Storage, Maples (Acer), Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Seed Storage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Saving Heirloom SeedsOld-Fashioned Snake Plants
Posted by Hugh on November 29th, 2016
Snake plant (Sansevieria spp.), aka Mother-In-Law’s Tongue, is an easy to grow succulent. It is one of the hardest house plants to kill, grows in almost any room of your home, and demands little attention except an occasional watering. Its leathery sword-shape leaves are usually marked in gray green marbling. Some varieties may be edged in yellow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Interior (house) Plants, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Snake plant (Sanservieria), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Old-Fashioned Snake Plants
