Blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ) hails from the Atlas Mountains in northern Morocco and Algeria (USDA hardiness zone 6). The cultivar ‘Glauca’ has been the popular choice because of its blue green foliage. Blue Atlas grows to 40-60 feet in height, but individuals over 70 feet are hard to find. Mature forms, those 50 […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Problems’ Category
Blue Atlas Cedar Becoming Very Popular In Urban Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 10th, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, Atlas cedar (Cedrus), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Blue Atlas Cedar Becoming Very Popular In Urban LandscapeBeware Of Short-Lived And Overly Aggressive Plants
Posted by Hugh on December 27th, 2014
Gardening does involve some work, sometimes a lot more if you select the wrong plants. A good purchase may even reduce annual maintenance. Some of them are beautifully tempting at the garden center. Non-hardy woody trees and shrubs often sold by box store garden centers. For example, it […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Disease prone, Environmental issues, Garden Problems, Insect (Pest) Problems, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Pests, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Beware Of Short-Lived And Overly Aggressive PlantsDetermining A Plant’s Cold Hardiness
Posted by Hugh on December 21st, 2014
On-line nursery catalogs and plant labels at garden centers list the hardiness of the trees, shrubs, vines, and perennials that they sell. Many years ago the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed the hardiness rating scale based on geographic location from northern Canada to southern Mexico. Most U.S. gardeners live within Zones 3 to 11. Don’t know […]
Posted in Environmental issues, Landscape ideas, Perennials, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Determining A Plant’s Cold HardinessNew Christmas Roses (Hellebores) Greatly Improved
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2014
Christmas roses (Helleborus niger) is a winter flowering perennial. It is native to central and southern Europe (USDA hardiness zones 4-8) and is not as winter hardy as lenten rose (Helleborus x orientalis). Christmas rose tends to flower 1 to 4 weeks earlier, around the Christmas holidays in southern climes (zones 7-8). New selections of H. niger are better […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Hellebores, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on New Christmas Roses (Hellebores) Greatly ImprovedNellie R. Stevens Holly
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2014
Hollies and the winter season work well together. Female hollies with bright red fruits (yellow-fruited forms also) contrast with their glossy evergreen foliage. ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ holly (NRS), a female form, is a cross between English (Ilex aquifolium) and Chinese (I. cornuta) hollies. NRS is the popular holly choice in Southern landscapes (USDA hardiness zones 6 to 9). Hollies are dioecious, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Green Privacy Screen, Ilex (hollies), Landscape ideas, mulching, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Nellie R. Stevens HollyAll About Mulches
Posted by Hugh on December 10th, 2014
Mulches aid in retaining soil moisture and reducing weeding chores. Over the years organically-based mulches gradually improve garden soils. Organic mulches are basically recycled bark, branches, twigs and leaves (including needles). Frequently they are organic by-products from the logging industry. Grass clippings and straw are also mulch sources. Hay is usually full […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, alkaline soil, compost, Garden Maintenance, Green Recycling, Mulch Quality, mulching, organic gardening, Planting tips, poor quality mulch, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Voles, watering tips, Weeds, winter hardiness Comments Off on All About MulchesConifers For Poorly Drained Soils
Posted by Hugh on December 7th, 2014
Before planting conifers in your landscape, it’s absolutely important to know the drainage (percolation rate) of the soil, particularly if it is clay-based. Most conifers prefer well-drained sandy and clay loam soils. To determine your soil type and rate of drainage, try the “hole test” recommended by Virginia Tech University horticulturists. Dig a hole approximately one foot deep […]
Posted in Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Bald cypress (Taxodium), Chamaecyparis, Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Evergreen, Firs (Abies), Larix kaempferi, Microbiota, Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Trees & Shrubs, Yews (Taxus spp.) Comments Off on Conifers For Poorly Drained SoilsLacebark Pine Is An Arboreal Gem
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2014
Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) is an arboreal gem which few gardeners are privileged to own (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Hopefully, this will change. Lacebark is a lovely 3-needle pine with exquisite exfoliating bark which becomes more attractive as it ages. Bark mottling begins after 8-10 years, that’s worth the wait if you’re a young patient […]
Posted in acidic soil, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Lacebark pine (P. bungeana), mulching trees, Pine (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lacebark Pine Is An Arboreal GemSpecies Tulips Thrive in Tough Spots
Posted by Hugh on November 27th, 2014
Species tulips (mini-tulips) are tough! In the wild they grow in the winter environs and dry soils of Central Asia, the Middle East, and China (USDA hardiness zones 3-7). In gardens they prosper for many years in full to partial sun and in average soil with good drainage. Over the centuries mini-tulips have been improved. […]
Posted in acidic soil, compost, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Tulips, Voles, Voles, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Species Tulips Thrive in Tough SpotsTips On Crape Myrtles In Fall And Winter
Posted by Hugh on November 24th, 2014
Hardy cultivars of crape myrtles are best left alone in the fall. Light pruning to remove a broken branch or the seed capsules is ok, but major pruning should wait until early spring. “Crape murder” is a common practice in the Southeast U.S. and is not recommended any time or place. It involves lopping […]
Posted in Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Failure to Bloom, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Tips On Crape Myrtles In Fall And Winter
