Hybrid crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia fauriei x indica) have undergone significant makeovers over the past quarter century. Several new cultivar series continue to arrive garden centers, including: Black Diamond™ series, Enduring Summer™, Delta™ series, and Magic™ series. In landscape terms size is very important and gardeners often make a serious error when not calculating the size of […]
Archive for the ‘Soil drainage’ Category
Sizing Up Crape Myrtles (Including Most Recent Introductions)
Posted by Hugh on September 24th, 2017
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Flowering, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Sizing Up Crape Myrtles (Including Most Recent Introductions)Robb’s Spurge (Euphorbia)
Posted by Hugh on September 15th, 2017
I always been a fan of spurges, but some have not perform well in my garden. One that does not disappoint is Robb’s spurge (Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae), aka “Mrs. Robb’s Bonnet”. This evergreen spurge grows equally well in either sun or shade, including dry shade (USDA hardiness zones 6-8). This carefree slowly spreading groundcover displays shiny, dark green, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Garden paths, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Poisonous plant, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spurge (Euphorbia), Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Robb’s Spurge (Euphorbia)Multi-Purpose Lavender Spur Flowers Sparkle In The Cool Fall Air
Posted by Hugh on September 6th, 2017
Lavender Spur Flower (Plectranthus Mona Lavender™) is a fast growing flowering annuial that is full of lavender blue flowers from late summer to autumn frost (USDA hardiness zones 9-11). Flowers can usually cope with light frosts of 25 – 30° F in early autumn. Plants grow 2 to 2.5 feet tall and wide forming […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spur Flower (Plectranthus), Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Multi-Purpose Lavender Spur Flowers Sparkle In The Cool Fall AirPlant Late For Fall Pollinators
Posted by Hugh on September 3rd, 2017
Don’t give up gardening in the fall. Many beneficial insects depend on the terrific job that you are doing. The following is a sample listing of annuals and perennials that can employ to support pollinators in the fall. Included are many fall-blooming annuals and perennials. When designing a pollinator-friendly landscapes, include an adequate number of these fall-blooming plants […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anemone, Angelonias, Aster, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Blanket flower (Gaillardia), Butterflies, Calibrachoa (Million bells), Canna lily, Canna lily, Chrysanthemum, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container garden, Coreopsis, Coreopsis 'Flower Tower', Coreopsis 'Gold Standard, Coreopsis 'Last Dance', Cosmos, Dahlia, Diascias, Fall Garden Interest, Fall sunflower (Helianthus spp.), Flowers, Globe amaranth (Gomphrena), Ironweed (Vernonia), Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Petunias, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Salvia, Sedum, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sunflower (Helianthus), Sunflowers, Texas Sage (Salvia), Toadlily (Tricyrtis), Turtlehead (Chelone), watering tips Comments Off on Plant Late For Fall PollinatorsCrown Of Thorns Is A Versatile Plant
Posted by Hugh on August 30th, 2017
Crown of Thorns plant (Euphorbia milii) is a thorny slow growing succulent native to Madagascar (USDA hardiness zones 9-11). In colder regions of the U.S., it is an easy- care flowering houseplant that seems to thrive on neglect. It blooms almost year-round. Outside, in a garden setting, it blooms nonstop from spring thru mid-fall here in the Mid-South […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Crown of Thorns (Euphorbia), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Heat Tolerance, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Crown Of Thorns Is A Versatile PlantMussaenda: A Stunning Tropical For Summer Gardens
Posted by Hugh on August 27th, 2017
Mussaenda (Mussaenda spp.) is a small tropical tree or large shrub. It’s a spectacular bloomer that grows to 10-15 feet tall in tropical zones (USDA zones 10-12). It is sometimes called “tropical dogwood” or “Buddah’s lamp”. In large containers it will reach 1-3 feet tall. Mussaenda blooms from late spring to mid-fall in mild-winter areas. Bloom […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Mites, mulching, Mussaenda, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Mussaenda: A Stunning Tropical For Summer GardensPrairie Dropseed (Sporobolus) – A Durable Ornamental Grass
Posted by Hugh on August 20th, 2017
Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepsis) is one of the finest warm season grasses native to the Western U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9). Initially, this clump-forming perennial grass grows at a slow to medium rate. By early summer its fine textured deep green leaves form an arching fountain habit. Prairie dropseed inhabits prairies, meadows, open […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Mowing, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Prairie Dropseed (Sporobolus) – A Durable Ornamental GrassSun Or Shade –These Six Shrubs Don’t Care
Posted by Hugh on August 10th, 2017
A surprising number of flowering shrubs perform beautifully in either sun or shade, making them quite versatile where planning a landscape. All can be utilize around outdoor living areas such as decks and patios. Several good candidates are these six: Japanese pieris, aka lily of the valley shrub (Pieris japonica) is a versatile shrub for […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, Container garden, container shrub, Daphne odora, Deer resistant, Evergreen, Flower Arranging, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Hydrangeas, Kerria, Landscape ideas, Mahonia, mulching, Native Plant, Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), Pieris japonica, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering evergreens, Winter flowering, winter hardiness 1 Comment »Comparing Encore™ and Bloom-A-Thon™ Azaleas
Posted by Hugh on August 4th, 2017
Hey gardeners, how about azaleas that bloom nearly 5 months a year. Flowering lasts for 4-6 weeks in spring and another 12-16 weeks in summer and fall. Check out Encore™ and Bloom-A-Thon™ series of azaleas (USDA hardiness zones 6-10). The main differences between these two azaleas is the Bloom-A-Thon series tend to bloom more abundantly in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Azaleas (evergreen), Bees and other pollinators, Cold tolerance, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Encore azaleas, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Comparing Encore™ and Bloom-A-Thon™ AzaleasHard Working Perennials For Your Late Summer Garden
Posted by Hugh on August 1st, 2017
Add several fall-flowering perennials to your garden that will add late season color and pizzazz . These are reliable tough perennials, and beneficial pollinators love them. Visit garden centers in August to make your purchases. However, for these great plants to return next year and subsequent years, plants need to get their root systems established. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anemone, Aster, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial Insects, Butterflies, Chrysanthemum, Container garden, Drought tolerant, Fall sunflower (Helianthus spp.), Landscape ideas, Little Bluestem, Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium), Miscanthus grass, Muhly grass, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Russian sage (Perovskia), Sage (Salvia), Salvia leucantha, Sedum (Groundcover types), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sunflower (Helianthus), Switchgrass (Panicum), Toadlily (Tricyrtis), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Hard Working Perennials For Your Late Summer Garden
