For over 400 years hyacinths have been popular spring-flowering bulbs, beloved for their colorful blooms and delightful floral fragrance. Modern day varieties are hybrids of a single species (Hyacinthus orientalis) that grows wild in Turkey, Syria, and other regions in the eastern Mediterranean. Over 50 cultivars are listed by Dutch growers. Centuries of breeding have […]
Archive for the ‘Soil drainage’ Category
Fall Planting – Hyacinths
Posted by Hugh on September 11th, 2021
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, Container garden, Flower Arranging, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Fragrant, Hyacinth, Hyacinth, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Phytophthora ramorum, Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Fall Planting – HyacinthsGoldenrods
Posted by Hugh on September 6th, 2021
Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) represent about 100 species of perennials that grow ubiquitously alongside U.S. roadsides, prairies, open woods, and riverbanks. (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). A few species are also native in South America and Eurasia. Goldenrods are grown for their bright yellow or golden flowers that form late in the summer. They are easy to grow, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Container garden, deadheading, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Fragrant, Goldenrod (Solidago), Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Native wildflowers, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on GoldenrodsFall Anemones
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2021
Japanese anemones (Anemone x hybrida) are popularly called “fall anemones”. These late summer-fall blooming perennials are long-lived and make fine additions to flower borders and open woodland areas (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 7). Many colorful varieties are available and their flowers are great additions to cut floral arrangements. Showy 2-4 inch wide flowers stand […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anemone, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Fall AnemonesLots of Choice With European Hornbeams
Posted by Hugh on August 26th, 2021
European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), aka ironwood and musclewood, is an underused tree that is an excellent urban street and park tree. (USDA hardiness zones 4-7). The tree develops a full, dense canopy and little maintenance requirements. The species typically grows 40-60 feet (less frequently to 80 feet) tall with a pyramidal to oval-rounded crown. Its dense […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Autumn foliage color, Bees and other pollinators, Chlorosis (yellowing), compact tree, Container growing, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Hornbeam (Carpinus), Japanese beetle, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Nut Producer, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lots of Choice With European HornbeamsKalimeris – Late Summer Flowering Perennial
Posted by Hugh on August 21st, 2021
Japanese asters (Kalimeris spp.) are synonymous with boltonias (Boltonia). It is native of China, Japan and Siberia. It superficially resembles Boltonia, but differs enough to be assigned to the genus Kalimeris in the 1990s. Kalimeris incisa ‘Blue Star’ is a superior form. This clump-forming species is noted for its long summer bloom period featuring 1 ½ inch wide, […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, deadheading, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Kalimeris (Japanese aster), mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Kalimeris – Late Summer Flowering PerennialSmart Water Use In The Summer Garden
Posted by Hugh on August 17th, 2021
When the heat of the summer settles in, water is in high demand. Here is some practices to implement when planting a water-wise garden, irrigating lawngrass, and better mulching practices to improve soil moisture levels: Lawn grass species vary in their water needs. Cool season grasses like fescues and bluegrasses are moderately drought tolerant, turn […]
Posted in Agastache (Hyssop), Alliums (onion), Annuals, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container garden, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Euphorbias, Heat Tolerance, Ice Plant (Delosperma), Irrigation, Lamb's ears (Stachys), Landscape ideas, Lantana, Lavender (Lavandula), Lawn Care, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Prickly cactus, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rain barrel, Red hot Poker (Kniphofia), Sage (Salvia), Salvia, Sedum (Groundcover types), Sedum (Shrub type), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, watering tips Comments Off on Smart Water Use In The Summer GardenMexican Bush Sage
Posted by Hugh on August 6th, 2021
Mexican bush sage (Salvia leucantha), aka velvet sage, is a perennial that lights up the late summer / fall garden (USDA hardiness zone 7b-10). Indigenous to Central America and Mexico, it can be grown as an annual that grows to about 3-4 feet tall. In the U.S., bush sage is only hardy from the lower […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Annuals, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Salvia, Salvia leucantha, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Mexican Bush Sage12 Plants With Silver Foliage
Posted by Hugh on August 1st, 2021
Silver King Artemisia (Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Silver King’) is an aggressive form with bushy, upright patch of fragrant silvery foliage and loose sprays of grey flowers in midsummer. Prune back hard after flowering to rejuvenate foliage. Deer and drought resistant. (z 3-7). Silver Mound Artemisia (Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’) – soft feathery leaves grow into compact, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Artemisia, Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Cheddar pinks (Dianthus), Container garden, Dead nettle (Lamium), Deciduous, Dichondra, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Dusty Miller (Senecio), Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Ferns, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Helichrysum (Licorice plant), Heuchera (coralbells), Lamb's ears (Stachys), Landscape ideas, Lavender (Lavandula), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on 12 Plants With Silver FoliageElephant Ears In Motion
Posted by Hugh on July 21st, 2021
Elephant ears (Colocasia esculenta) and their aroid cousins have become commonplace in not only hot, humid southern gardens, as well in temperate landscapes. Gardeners grow them in large containers and overwinter them indoors in a non-freezing environ. Also, my neighbors in zone 6 blanket in-ground plantings with several inches of loosely packed leaves overwinter. Colocasia […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alocasia, Attracting birds, Colocasia, Container garden, Disease resistant, Elephant ears (Colocasia), Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flowering Bulb, Foliage plant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Elephant Ears In MotionGrowing Shasta Daisies
Posted by Hugh on July 11th, 2021
Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum x superbum) is a European native that has naturalized in most areas of North America (zones 5-9). Truly low care perennials, Shasta daisies come back every spring and bloom reliably from early summer into early fall (if deadheaded). Some varieties, ‘Becky’ for example, are multi-year top performers. Shasta daisies tend to form clumps, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Botrytis disease, Container garden, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Heat Tolerance, Japanese beetles, mulching, Overcrowding, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), Soil drainage, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Growing Shasta Daisies
