Sycamore maple, aka planetree maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) is indigenous to northern and central Europe where it is a popular landscape tree. Very commonly planted in the northeastern U.S. in the early 20th century, this large 50-60 foot tree is rarely found today (USDA zones 4 and 7). A mature specimen in Jonesborough, Tennessee (zone 6) is over […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Problems’ Category
Sycamore Maple Performs In Cooler Regions
Posted by Hugh on January 21st, 2015
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Invasive species, Large Shade trees, Maples (Acer), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Sycamore Maple Performs In Cooler RegionsTake A Second Look At Canadian Hemlock
Posted by Hugh on January 18th, 2015
Canadian hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is a native evergreen species which is available in many forms: prostrate, globose, weeping, fastigiate and variegated (USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7). Its tremendous versatility as a hedging tree or shrub in planting sites is also a great reason to continue to include hemlock in the landscape. Hemlock may […]
Posted in Attracting birds, compact shrub, container shrub, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Hemlock (Tsuga), Insect (Pest) Problems, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Take A Second Look At Canadian HemlockWhat Roses Need
Posted by Hugh on January 13th, 2015
A goal of most rose gardeners (rosarians) is to grow them almost maintenance free. The improved shrub roses introduced almost two decades ago have brought this too reality. Rose series such as Knockout®, Home Run®, Drift®, OSO Easy®, Carefree® and Meidiland™ are among the best. No matter the pedigree of the rose, selecting a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Insect (Pest) Problems, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, rose rosette disease, Roses, shrub roses, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Weeds, Winter Protection Comments Off on What Roses NeedBlue Atlas Cedar Becoming Very Popular In Urban Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 10th, 2015
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 […]
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 Soils
