The native plant research team at Mt Cuba Center in Hockessin, DE has recently published the results of a 3-year Carex (sedge) study in which they evaluated 70 species and cultivars. The study included a number of under-planted Carex species and varieties. One grouping was grown in full sun and a second planting was tested […]
Archive for the ‘Lawn Care’ Category
2023 Carex Evaluation From Mt Cuba
Posted by Hugh on July 18th, 2023
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Lawn Care, Native Plant, Native Plant, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Sedge (Carex), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on 2023 Carex Evaluation From Mt CubaPoison Ivy
Posted by Hugh on November 4th, 2022
“Leaves of three, let it be”. Parents teach their young children about this green plant menace — Eastern poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). The plant is familiar to hikers and gardeners alike. Poison ivy is native throughout the United States and much of southern Canada and can be found in a wide variety of places from […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Fall Garden Interest, Fruits poisonous, Garden Problems, Native Plant, Native Plant, Poison ivy, Poison ivy, Poisonous or toxic, Poisonous plant, Southern Appalachian Region, Weeds, winter hardiness Comments Off on Poison IvyWorst Weed Ever Is Here?
Posted by Hugh on September 2nd, 2022
Mulberryweed (Fatoua villosa) is not related to mulberry trees but its leaves look a little like mulberry foliage. A native of eastern Asia, it was introduced into North America in the latter half of the 20th century. Currently, it is seen in the Southeastern United States from Maryland to Florida, west to Texas and Oklahoma, north […]
Posted in Annuals, Broadleaf weeds, Container garden, Deciduous, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Garden Problems, Mulberryweed (Fatoua villosa), mulching, Non-native, Pests, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Weeds, Weeds Comments Off on Worst Weed Ever Is Here?Smart 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 GardenGetting Rid Of Difficult Weeds
Posted by Hugh on March 26th, 2021
Some aggressive perennials like Chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata), variegated Bishop’s weed (Aegopodium podagraria), along with many woody briars can be extremely difficult to eliminate from a landscape area or garden bed. If a weedy garden bed contains no desirable plants, you can over spray weeds with glyphosate, a nonselective herbicide.(Roundup™ is common trade name). This […]
Posted in Aggressive grower, Bishop's weed (Aegopodium), Broadleaf weeds, Chameleon plant (Houttuynia), Container garden, Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Euonymus (Ground Cover), Garden ecology, Ground cover, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Invasive plant, Invasive species, Ivy (Hedera), Landscape ideas, mulching, multi-flora rose, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, root injury, Sanitation, Soil Conservation, Southern Appalachian Region, Weed control, Weeds Comments Off on Getting Rid Of Difficult WeedsProtect Your Home Against Artillery Fungus
Posted by Hugh on September 6th, 2020
If you notice tiny black specks covering your home or garage siding or coating your auto parked nearby. The problem may be artillery fungus, also called shotgun or cannonball fungus (Sphaerobolus). Tiny fungal spores, barely 2 millimeters wide, propel themselves up to 20 feet away from the ground onto vertical surfaces. The fungus generally targets […]
Posted in Artillery fungus, compost, Environmental issues, Garden Problems, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Mulch Quality, mulching, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, Weed management Comments Off on Protect Your Home Against Artillery FungusChanging Garden Soil pH
Posted by Hugh on February 6th, 2020
In general, the garden soil pH fluctuates only slightly unless you accidentally spilled fertilizer or limestone. Soil pH is also affected by rainfall patterns, decomposing organic matter, and bacterial activity in the ground. In the eastern U.S. rain water is slightly acidic. Acid rain is the result of these pollutants (mostly sulfate and nitrate) from […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, alkaline soil, applying sulfur, Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Birch (Betula spp.), Chlorosis (yellowing), Container garden, Ferns, Fertilizing, Hellebores, Hydrangeas, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, Perennials, pin oak, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, river birch, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized Comments Off on Changing Garden Soil pHKnow About Liriopes
Posted by Hugh on February 10th, 2019
Monkeygrass (Liriope muscari) and creeping lilyturf (L. spicata) are native to Asia. They are known by several names including lilyturf, monkeygrass, spider grass and liriope (USDA hardiness zones 6-10). Some varieties are hardier than others. In general, L. muscari have more narrow leaves. Depending on variety, spikes of lavender, purple, or white flowers arise in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Liriope, Mowing, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Know About LiriopesFall Lawn Care Tips
Posted by Hugh on September 15th, 2018
The fall season is “spring-time” for home lawn care. This is a great opportunity to apply grass seed, fertilize, and eliminate weeds in cool season lawns. In Tennessee (USDA hardiness zones 6-7), cool season grasses (fescue, bluegrass and perennial rye) are fertilized in mid-September with a high nitrogen-based fertilizer, available at most garden centers. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bermuda, Broadleaf weeds, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing, Fertilizing plants, Garden ecology, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Herbicide management, Irrigation, Kentucky bluegrass, Landscape ideas, Lawn Care, Mowing, Pesticide Recommendations, Pesticide recommendations, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Red fescue, Ryegrass, seeding lawn, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tall Fescue, watering tips, Weed control, Weed management, Weeds, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall Lawn Care TipsPest Alert – Giant Hogweed
Posted by Hugh on June 29th, 2018
Giant hogweed plant (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a large, invasive plant that can cause severe burns, blisters and rashes and vision loss in humans. As its name suggests, giant hogweed plant is enormous growing invasive species that originated from the Caucasus region of Eurasia. It produces large, towering purple stalks of white flower clusters. Don’t pick these […]
Posted in Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Giant hogweed, Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Mowing, Pests, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Sanitation, Summer flowering, Weed management, Weeds Comments Off on Pest Alert – Giant Hogweed
