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, […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Problems’ Category
Nellie R. Stevens Holly
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2014
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 WinterDragon Eye – Actually Four Different Pines
Posted by Hugh on November 19th, 2014
In U.S. nursery catalogs, at least four gold striped needle pines are designated “Dragon’s Eye Pine”. They are Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora ‘Oculus Draconis’), Japanese black pine (P. thunbergi ‘Oculus Draconis’), Variegated Korean pine (P. koraiensis ‘Oculus Draconis’) and Variegated Himalayan pine (P. wallichiana ‘Zebrina’) (USDA hardiness […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, Deer resistant, Evergreens, Pine (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Dragon Eye – Actually Four Different PinesTrees And Shrubs That Grow In Poorly Drained Soils
Posted by Hugh on November 17th, 2014
If a section of your landscape is poorly drained, there are a number of trees and shrubs that will adapt over time to short periods of wet or soggy soils. Plant roots must survive in low oxygen soils. Your choices of plants are not lengthy; few landscape plants will not tolerate root suffocation for even […]
Posted in Arborvitae (Thuja spp.), Bald cypress (Taxodium), Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.), Black gum (Nyssa), Dogwood shrubs (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Elms (Ulmus), Green ash (Fraxinus), Hackberry (Celtis), Hemlock (Tsuga), Large Shade trees, Magnolia virginiana, Native Plant, Ninebark, Pawpaw (Asimina), Planting tips, river birch, root injury, Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summersweet (Clethra), Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Transplant problem, Trees & Shrubs, Willow oak (Quercus), Willows (Salix), Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Trees And Shrubs That Grow In Poorly Drained SoilsBetter Choices Than Leyland Cypress For Privacy Screen
Posted by Hugh on November 12th, 2014
For homeowners in a rush to establish a tall green privacy screen from the neighbor(s), perhaps a 12-foot tall green fence may be your better option. Among the choices of evergreens to plant, Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyperus leylandii) is fastest growing, but is plagued by any of three serious disease problems. An established leyland cypress planted 12 feet apart completely […]
Posted in Bagworms, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Disease prone, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Leyland cypress, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering iris, winter hardiness Comments Off on Better Choices Than Leyland Cypress For Privacy Screen‘Gyokuryu’ Japanese Cedar -Privacy Screen For Small Gardens
Posted by Hugh on November 9th, 2014
Gyokuryu Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Gyokuryu’) is a dense, broadly pyramidal evergreen shrub (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). It has short stiff needles that tend to be a slightly darker green than other cryptomeria cultivars. Gyokuryu holds its dark green color through most winters in zone 7 and further south. Expect winter bronzing when Gyokuryu is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Privacy Screen, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Gyokuryu’ Japanese Cedar -Privacy Screen For Small Gardens
