Most gardeners plant tall bearded iris from late August through October to insure good root development before winter sets in. Spring planting is another option as iris may be purchased in containers. Bare root rhizomes need to soak overnight in water before planting. Bearded irises prefer a sunny location and a slightly acidic well-drained soil. […]
Archive for the ‘Transplant problem’ Category
Natural Evergreen Needle Drop in Autumn
Some needle loss on evergreens in the fall is natural. As night time temperatures cool, needles in the interior of many evergreen trees or shrubs regularly turn brown (or golden yellow) and drop off. Needle loss is most obvious on pines (Pinus spp.) and arborvitae (Thuja spp.) in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). The […]
Franklinia Will Survive If…
Franklinia (Franklinia altamaha) is admittedly a very finicky large shrub or small tree. Pure white, five-petal, 2 ½ – 3 inch camellia-like flowers bloom sporadically from August thru mid-October. Flowers are slightly fragrant. In the fall glossy green leaves gradually transition to blends of red, orange and burgundy hues. Franklinia grows best on an eastern exposure […]
Explode Your Plant Roots
One of my gardening frustrations is watching a new plant linger and not grow. I dig a proper hole, deep and wide enough. I pour gallons of water on the plant to keep it alive during a dry hot summer. Four months later, the plant is the same size as last spring or it […]