Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) and (A. japonicum) are among the most picturesque of trees and shrubs. Their star-shaped leaves are comprised of 5-7-9 pointed lobes, depending on variety (cultivar). Trees exhibit layered branching, cascading form, lacy foliage (dissectum types), and stunning fall color. There are countless numbers of cultivars… […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Problems’ Category
Selecting Japanese Maple Varieties For Winter Hardiness
Posted by Hugh on November 4th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Japanese maple, Landscape ideas, Maples (Acer), mulching, mulching trees, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Selecting Japanese Maple Varieties For Winter HardinessTips On Sowing Milkweed Seeds
Posted by Hugh on November 1st, 2015
Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), aka butterfly weeds, are tuberous rooted perennials native to the Eastern and southern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9). It grows in dry/rocky open woodlands, prairies, farm fields, and along roadsides. A clump of milkweed plants grow 1- 3 feet tall and spread 1 ½ feet wide. Unlike other milkweeds […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildflower, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tips On Sowing Milkweed SeedsCrocus: A Fine Start To Spring
Posted by Hugh on October 29th, 2015
Crocus (Crocus spp.) can be your wake-up reminder that winter is coming to an end (USDA hardiness zones 3- 8). They bloom in late winter (in the south); fall blooming varieties are also available. Bulbs (they’re actually “corms”) are available in flower colors from blue, purple, white, yellow, and mixed […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bulb Crops, Container growing, Crocus, Crocus, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall crocus, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Virus diseases, Voles, Wildlife attractant, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Crocus: A Fine Start To SpringNew 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 GardenPaint and Wrap Newly Set Peach Tree Trunks
Posted by Hugh on October 4th, 2015
The bark of young peach (Prunus persica) or nectarine (P. persica nucipersica) trees are sensitive to winter injury caused by rapid drops in daily temperatures. On a winter’s day, the sun may heat up the sapwood under the thin skinned peach bark. Research in Georgia shows that temperatures on the south side of a peach tree may […]
Posted in Fruits & Vegetables, Peach, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Voles, Winter bark, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Paint and Wrap Newly Set Peach Tree TrunksFoxtail Lilies Are Uniquely Different
Posted by Hugh on October 2nd, 2015
Foxtail lilies or desert candles (Eremurus spp.) are beginning to find an audience with U.S. gardeners. Foxtail lilies are indigenous to the grasslands and semi-arid parts of Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan (USDA hardiness zones 5–8). Tall spires of brightly colored flowers emerge in late spring; small individual flowers are densely packed together. Each showy […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, compost, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Eremurus (desert candles), Flowers, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Voles, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Foxtail Lilies Are Uniquely DifferentShould You Plant In Fall?
Posted by Hugh on September 30th, 2015
Should you plant in the Fall? It depends what region you live in, what month in fall, and what species you’re planting. If you live in the mid-Atlantic, coastal New England, or Southeastern U.S., fall is an excellent time to set most hardy plants. Most (not all) trees, shrubs, perennials, […]
Posted in apple varieties, Azaleas (evergreen), Birch (Betula spp.), Cherry Laurel (Prunus), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Cranesbill (Geranium), Dogwood (Cornus), Fertilizing plants, Hawthorn (Crataegus), Hickory (Carya spp.), Hydrangeas, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, Magnolia grandiflora, Magnolia stellata, Magnolia virginiana, Mahonia, Maples (Acer), Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, mulching trees, Native Plant, Oaks (Quercus spp.), Ornamental cherry (Prunus), Osmanthus 'Goshiki', Perennials, Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra), Purchasing Plants, root injury, Roses, Sage (Salvia), Salvia, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer flowering, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, Tulip tree (Liriodendron), Walnut, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Should You Plant In Fall?Thunderhead 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
