Exclamation! London Plane Tree (Platanus x acerifolia Exclamation!™) is probably one the most improved cultivars to date (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Exclamation! was introduced by Dr. George Ware at the Morton Arboretum and released through the Chicagoland Grows® program. Exclamation! develops a strong central leader, a uniform upright pyramidal shape (when young), a vigorous growth […]
Archive for the ‘Soil drainage’ Category
Exclamation™ London Plane Tree Is A Game-Changer
Posted by Hugh on August 13th, 2014
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Large Shade trees, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Exclamation™ London Plane Tree Is A Game-ChangerFour Old Fashioned Hostas Continue To Delight
Posted by Hugh on August 4th, 2014
During my annual summer travel to public gardens around the U.S., several clumps of old-timey hostas that were popular in the 1960’s and ’70’s caught my eye. These hosta beauties still own their garden place. Here are listed only four, but there are so many more. ‘Gold Standard’is an old-time favorite. In August multiple pink-lavender […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Hosta, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Four Old Fashioned Hostas Continue To DelightPlumleaf Azalea – Late July Flowering Shrub
Posted by Hugh on July 30th, 2014
Plumleaf azalea (Rhododendron prunifolium) is a native deciduous azaleas that indigenous to the Chattahoochee River Valley on the Georgia-Alabama line (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). The bright orange-red blooms surprise in late July to early August. Compared to many of the spring blooming species, flowers are not fragrant. Fall leaf color is uneventful. This 5-8 feet […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), compact shrub, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Hummingbird, mulching, Planting tips, Plumleaf azalea, Pruning, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Plumleaf Azalea – Late July Flowering ShrubDesigning With Crape Myrtle
Posted by Hugh on July 14th, 2014
Undeniably, crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica x L. faurei ) thrive in the southern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). You see them planted on practically every street. Their showy summer flowers are spectacular. Many cultivars exhibit colorful autumn foliage, and their smooth patterned trunks and architecture grace the winter landscape. “The right crape myrtle for the […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compact tree, container shrub, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Failure to Bloom, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Winter bark, winter hardiness, winter injury Comments Off on Designing With Crape MyrtleBecome Immersed In Swamp Hibiscus
Posted by Hugh on July 11th, 2014
Swamp mallow, aka swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) is native to marshes and swamps in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida (USDA hardiness Zones 6 to 9). Vibrant red flowers cover the tall 4–8-foot plant(s) from June through September. Space plants 3 feet wide apart. Deeply cut maple-like foliage presents a lush tropical look and the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Hardy hibiscus, Hibiscus coccineus, Hummingbird, Insect (Pest) Problems, Japanese beetles, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Root suckering, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Become Immersed In Swamp HibiscusBlazing Star– Electric Summer Flowering Perennial
Posted by Hugh on June 27th, 2014
Blazing star (Liatris spp.) is a popular summer flowering perennial. Also called gayfeather, it belongs in the aster family. This tall, upright, clump-forming perennial is found in moist meadows and at the edge of a marsh. (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Liatris makes an excellent addition to a rain garden. Its distinctively reddish-purple flower spikes win […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Blazing star (Liatris), Butterflies, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Blazing Star– Electric Summer Flowering PerennialLovely Tall Stewartia Deserves Your Attention
Posted by Hugh on June 24th, 2014
Not enough gardeners know about stewartias (Stewartia spp.). Six species are found under cultivation, 2 native to the U.S. and 4 of Asian origin. One of the rarest seen in U.S. gardens is tall stewartia (S. monadelpha) (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Tall stewartia is a more site forgiving than Japanese stewartia (S. pseudocamellia), the most […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Disease resistant, Japanese beetles, mulching, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tall stewartia, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lovely Tall Stewartia Deserves Your Attention‘Stella D’Oro’- First And Last Daylily To Bloom
Posted by Hugh on June 13th, 2014
For over a quarter of a century, wherever daylilies (Hemerocallus spp.) grow, you will find the very popular gold-flowered ‘Stella d’Oro’ daylily (USDA hardiness zones 2-9). It’s one of a few daylilies that blooms 3 out of 4 seasons. Its small size makes it an ideal choice as a ground cover. This short clump growing […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Daylilies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, mulching, Perennials, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Stella D’Oro’- First And Last Daylily To BloomHow To Grow Milkweeds
Posted by Hugh on June 2nd, 2014
Milkweeds, aka butterfly weed (Asclepias spp.), are the favorite food of the Monarch butterfly. Farmers and most gardeners rate them as a noxious weeds. They’re commonly spotted growing along roadsides or in unplowed ground (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Milkweeds average 3 feet in height, but may vary from 2-6 feet depending on species. Most species […]
Posted in acidic soil, Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Hummingbird, Native Plant, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Wildflowers Comments Off on How To Grow MilkweedsSweetbay Magnolia
Posted by Hugh on May 15th, 2014
Sweetbay, aka laurel magnolia, (Magnolia virginiana) is a U.S. native tree. This small to medium-sized native species often 20-30 feet tall and 15-20 feet wide as a large shrub or multi-stemmed small tree. Finding a 50-60 feet sweetbay near by a lake or pond near where you live is not unusual (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Magnolia virginiana, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Sweetbay Magnolia
