Hopefully, summer’s extreme heat, drought, and in some areas flooding, are about over. Late summer and fall are opportune times to start a new or renovate your home lawn. Rainfall is usually plentiful and cooler day-night temperatures should spur a rapid grass recovery. Your current lawn may be mostly bare ground with lots of weeds. […]
Archive for the ‘Garden Problems’ Category
Labor Day Holiday Begins Home Lawn Recovery
Posted by Hugh on August 26th, 2013
Posted in Broadleaf weeds, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing, Irrigation, Landscape ideas, Lawn Care, Southern Appalachian Region, Tall Fescue, Weeds 
Comments Off on Labor Day Holiday Begins Home Lawn RecoveryArrowwood Viburnum Very Tough U.S. Native Shrub
Posted by Hugh on August 22nd, 2013
Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is an easy to grow deciduous shrub that handles most landscape conditions, including soil types (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). It grows best in full sun and in a well-drained soil. Clusters of tiny, creamy-white flat-topped flowers appear from late spring into summer. A bountiful crop of dark blue berries […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, compact shrub, container shrub, Disease resistant, Insect (Pest) Problems, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnums, winter hardiness Comments Off on Arrowwood Viburnum Very Tough U.S. Native ShrubDivide Irises In Late Summer
Posted by Hugh on August 17th, 2013
Irises (Iris spp.) are beloved spring flowering perennials. Perhaps some fans and clumps flowered poorly this spring. There are several reasons for this, including: old clumps in need of dividing, weather issues, poorly drained soil, inadequate nutrition, too much nitrogen fertilizer, heavy shade, and pest and disease problems. Irises do not compete well for space […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Iris, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Uncategorized, watering iris, Weed control, Winter Protection Comments Off on Divide Irises In Late SummerFungus In A Lawn A Natural Phenomena
Posted by Hugh on August 11th, 2013
White or brown colored mushrooms are the visible reproductive (fruiting) structures of some types of fungi. An umbrella-shaped fruiting body is the most common form, but mushrooms come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. Most people call them mushrooms, toadstools, or puffballs. Mushrooms are the reproductive stage of fungi and their spores are “seed”, the […]
Posted in Disease prone, Fertilizing, Lawn Care, Mulch Quality, mulching, Mushrooms, plant nutrition, Soil drainage, Thatch management Comments Off on Fungus In A Lawn A Natural PhenomenaPest Alert: Inspect All Garden Roses For Rose Rosette
Posted by Hugh on August 9th, 2013
Rose rosette is a serious virus disease of roses (Rosa spp.). Over the past 3 years ago gardeners have experienced losses of popular shrub roses. The disease continues to gain ground across the U.S. Rose nurseries are working feverishly to find a solution. Landscapers and gardeners should inspect all garden roses, including hybrid tea, grandiflora, […]
Posted in Disease prone, Planting tips, Pruning, rose rosette disease, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Virus diseases Comments Off on Pest Alert: Inspect All Garden Roses For Rose RosetteNew ‘Big’ Begonias Showier Alternative To Wax Begonias
Posted by Hugh on August 6th, 2013
Wax begonias (Begonia x semperflorens) continue to be dependable a summer flowering annual for gardens and container use. They also hold up to summer’s heat, humidity, and dry spells and foliage remains mostly pest and disease free. Begonia benariensis are a relatively new introduction by the Benary Seed Co. and are trademarked as Big™ begonias […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Begonia, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on New ‘Big’ Begonias Showier Alternative To Wax BegoniasMany Cool Choices of Japanese Forest Grass
Posted by Hugh on July 24th, 2013
Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra) is the shade-loving grass utilized for accent – to brighten a dark patch in the garden (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Forest grass grows best in a moist, compost-rich, well-drained soil. Soil moisture and light exposure a key factors to prevent foliage from scorching or discoloring. Too much or too little […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Hakone grass, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Many Cool Choices of Japanese Forest GrassRussian Sage More Shrub-like Than Perennial
Posted by Hugh on July 21st, 2013
Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is low maintenance woody-based perennial. It grows in a dry to medium moist average soil and, first and foremost, in full sun. It’s a long-lived perennial which stands up to summer’s heat and humidity (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Branches tend to flop or take on a droopy appearance in late summer. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Perennials, Pruning, Russian sage (Perovskia), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Russian Sage More Shrub-like Than PerennialTroubled Pines… And Some Good Ones To Grow
Posted by Hugh on July 12th, 2013
Mugho, aka mugo pine (Pinus mugo), and Scots pine (P. sylvestris) are two troubled pines which gardeners in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA Hardiness zones 6 and 7) have shied away from planting. Both have become problem growers over the past quarter century. Scots pine suffers from several devastating foliar diseases. Once a popular Christmas […]
Posted in Christmas tree, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Evergreens, Firs (Abies), Fraser fir (Abies), Garden Problems, Mugo pine (Pinus mugo), Pine (Pinus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Troubled Pines… And Some Good Ones To GrowPest Alert: Spotted Wing Drosophila Attack Blueberry and Cane Fruits
Posted by Hugh on July 5th, 2013
Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Drosophila suzukii, is an invasive and destructive pest originating from eastern Asia. It is a pest that can not be managed with pesticides alone. Caneberries such as raspberry and blackberry appear to be most affected followed by strawberries and blueberries. Among the tree fruits, cherries seem to suffer heavy damage. If […]
Posted in Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Fruits & Vegetables, Garden Maintenance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Pesticide recommendations, Pests, Regional, Sanitation, Southern Appalachian Region, Spotted wing drosophila (SWD), Strawberries Comments Off on Pest Alert: Spotted Wing Drosophila Attack Blueberry and Cane Fruits
