Who doesn’t love colorful flowering bulbs in the early spring garden? Unfortunately, many gardens are terrorized by flower-devouring deer or bulb-chomping squirrels, voles and other critters. When utilizing smelly sprays, expensive fencing, or firearms are not options, plant a wide choice of flower bulbs that critters don’t like. […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Problems’ Category
Critter-Resistant Flower Bulbs
Posted by Hugh on September 24th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Alliums (onion), Camassia, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), Colchicum, Crocus, Daffodil (Narcissus), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spanish bluebells, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer snowflake (Leucojum), Tulips, Voles, Winter aconite (Eranthis), winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Critter-Resistant Flower BulbsSix Notoriously Weak Wooded Trees
Posted by Hugh on September 18th, 2015
Almost any time is a good time to plant trees – weather permitting. Sort through many great choices and avoid planting weak wooded species. These six tree species are generally short-lived, messy, and insect and/or disease susceptible. A few may also be designated invasive in your state. […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Bradford Pear, Disease prone, Elms (Ulmus), Garden Problems, Insect (Pest) Problems, Mimosa tree (Albizia), Native Plant, Poplar (Populus spp.), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Root suckering, Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Weak wooded, Willows (Salix) 1 Comment »‘Victory’ Chosen Hosta Plant Of The Year For 2015
Posted by Hugh on September 15th, 2015
The Hosta Growers Association has selected ‘Victory’ the Hosta of the Year for 2015 (USDA Zones 3–9). ‘Victory’ is a large hosta cultivar with gold edged variegated leaves and an upright vase-shaped plant habit. Victory hosta is a sport of H. nigrescens ‘Elatior’, distinctive also for its beautiful, upright form. Plant develops into a broad 3 – […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, compost, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Hosta, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Victory’ Chosen Hosta Plant Of The Year For 2015Fall Landscaping Tips
Posted by Hugh on September 12th, 2015
Cool autumn temperatures and increased rainfall make Autumn an ideal time to plant. Attractive landscaping adds value to your home and property. Selecting select deciduous trees and shrubs may reduce home winter heating bills and provide cooling shade in summer. Gardeners living in condos or townhouses should also consider a winter hardy […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Drought tolerant, DWARF CONIFERS, Fertilizing plants, Garden paths, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, mulching, Ornamental fruit, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall Landscaping TipsItalian Arum Returns Every Autumn
Posted by Hugh on September 7th, 2015
Italian arum (Arum italicum) is a long-lived woodland perennial native to Italy and much of the Mediterranean region. Several members of the arum family (Araceae), including this species, are also known as “Lords and Ladies”. It typically grows 9-18 inches tall (depending on location) and slowly spreads over many years. Shoots first emerge from beneath the woodland leaf […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fruits poisonous, Italian arum, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous plant, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Voles, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Italian Arum Returns Every AutumnPurple Heart Tradescantia
Posted by Hugh on August 15th, 2015
Purple Heart tradescantia (Setcreasea pallida ‘Purple Heart’), formerly Tradescantia purpurea), is an annual trailing groundcover with purple stems and violet-purple foliage. This flowering vine is primarily grown for its vibrant foliage. Purple Heart is utilized in garden beds, large containers or hanging baskets. By summer’s end individual plants may grow 8-12 […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Container garden, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Ground cover, Interior (house) Plants, Mites, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Setcreasea 'Purple Heart', Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Virus diseases, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Purple Heart TradescantiaBeware! Yellow Jackets
Posted by Hugh on August 6th, 2015
Most humans fear and hate yellow jackets. They are actually wasps and important predators of several harmful insects. They’re easily identified by their distinctive markings along their abdomen. They tend to dart about rapidly, in a side-to-side flight pattern. Female yellow jackets are the ones capable of stinging. Wasps (Vespula spp.) are not bees; they’re brightly colored […]
Posted in Beneficial Insects, Garden Problems, Insect (Pest) Problems, Pesticide recommendations, Pests, Pollination needs, Southern Appalachian Region, Wasps, Yellow jackets Comments Off on Beware! Yellow JacketsAll About Thistles
Posted by Hugh on July 30th, 2015
Some weeds are very nasty and on top of my list are the dreadful thistles. Learn the lifecycles of those in your region and the proper method to eliminate them. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a perennial species found in many areas of the eastern U.S. Other thistles in my region are bull and […]
Posted in Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Garden Problems, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Mowing, Pesticide recommendations, Southern Appalachian Region, Weed control, Weeds, Wildflower Comments Off on All About ThistlesLong Blooming Tennessee Coneflower
Posted by Hugh on July 27th, 2015
Dependable Tennessee coneflowers (Echinacea tennesseensis) bloom almost all summer (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). That’s three months long. Plants are covered with pale pink, flat ray flowers; blooms measure 2 to 3 inch across with greenish-brown centers or cones. It is a great addition to hot dry sites, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container growing, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tennessee Coneflower, watering tips, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Long Blooming Tennessee ConeflowerGetting Rid Of Poison Ivy
Posted by Hugh on July 15th, 2015
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a woody perennial vine or small shrub that is grows wild in fields, woodlands, and home landscapes. As a vine, poison ivy has 3-leaf (trifoliate) compound leaves; leaf margins may be entire or tri-lobed. It is frequently misidentified as Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), which has compound […]
Posted in Broadleaf weeds, Garden Problems, Ground cover, Invasive species, Lawn Care, Pesticide recommendations, Poison ivy, Poisonous or toxic, Southern Appalachian Region, Weed control, Weeds, Weeds Comments Off on Getting Rid Of Poison Ivy
