These six native wildflowers emerge in early spring in rich woodland soils. In gardens grow them in moist, organically rich soils in partial to full shade. Adding compost substitutes for fertilizing. All grow in moderately acidic to slightly alkaline soils (pH 6.0-7.5). Plants go dormant by early to mid-summer, earlier if soils dry out. Under ideal […]
Archive for the ‘Perennials’ Category
Six Easy To Grow Spring Wildflowers
Posted by Hugh on March 21st, 2020
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, bloodroot (Sanguinaria), Celandine poppy (Stylophorum), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, organic gardening, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Shooting star (Dodecatheon), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trout lily (Erythronium), Twinleaf (Jeffersonia), Virginia bluebells (Mertensia), watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Six Easy To Grow Spring WildflowersSix Perennials For Dry Shade
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2020
Many of the following perennials tolerate dry shade but flourish in moist, well-drained soil. Each typically displays the richest foliage colors with a couple of hours of direct sunlight a day. All hold up well to dry conditions and are deer and rabbit resistant. Barrenworts (aka Bishop’s cap, Fairy Wings) (Epimedium spp.) represent over 70 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bugleweed (Ajuga), Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Geranium, Ground cover, Hellebores, Landscape ideas, Lenten rose (Hellebore), Liriope, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Sacred Lily (Rohdea), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Perennials For Dry ShadeChanging 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 pHCare Of Rhododendrons
Posted by Hugh on January 31st, 2020
In the U.S., two species of rhododendrons, Catawa (Rhododendron catawbiensis) and Rosebay (R. maximum), are plentiful in the Appalachian Mountain region. Their roots feed in part on the rich humus material in the rocky mountain soils. Over time fallen leaves, twigs, and flower parts decay into additional humus. Humus improves soil aeration and drainage, yet […]
Posted in acidic soil, Azalea (deciduous), Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Cold tolerance, compost, Container garden, container shrub, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter injury Comments Off on Care Of RhododendronsTen Stars Of The Winter Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 21st, 2020
Here are 10 reliable plants that shine in my Tennessee garden (Zone 6-b) during the winter season: Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.) –two species bloom in winter: (a). Vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis) blooms in mid- to late- January (zones 4-8). (b). Chinese witchhazel hybrids (H. x intermedia) dominate the month of February into March. – deciduous, large […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), Cornus officinalis, Daphne odora, Disease resistant, Edgeworthia, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Fragrant, Hellebores, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Jessamine (Gelsemium), mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum x bodnantense, Viburnums, Winter blooming, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Wintersweet (Chimonanthus), Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Ten Stars Of The Winter Landscape‘Sun King’ Aralia Named 2020 Perennial Plant Of The Year
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2020
Plants with golden foliage can brighten up almost any drab garden patch. Sun King golden aralia (Aralia cordata ‘Sun King’) is no exception, hardy in USDA hardiness zones 3-9. It is also known as Japanese spikenard and mountain asparagus. Under ideal conditions this thornless, rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial grows rapidly to 3-5 feet tall and as […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aralia 'Sun King', Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sun scald, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness 1 Comment »There Is Nothing “Minor” About These Bulbs
Posted by Hugh on November 1st, 2019
Companion bulbs, often called “minor bulbs”, are early signs that spring is coming. Three of the most reliable are snowdrops, winter aconites and Glory of the snow. They bloom before crocus in winter. Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) returns with floral beauty less than three months after planting. Plants poke through the ground, grow and flower 3 to 6 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Bulb Crops, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Flowering Bulb, Garden ecology, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Winter aconite (Eranthis), Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on There Is Nothing “Minor” About These Bulbs‘Early Bird’ Blooming Bulbs
Posted by Hugh on September 26th, 2019
These tiny flowering bulbs are truly early birds. Fall planted bulbs often emerge in late January and February here in the Southern Appalachian region. Once they are up and blooming, frigid temps don’t damage the flowers or plants. Instead, the winter weather causes the hardy blooms to last and last in February and March. They often […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), compost, Container garden, Crocus, Daffodil (Narcissus), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Snowdrops (Galanthus), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Winter aconite (Eranthis), Winter flowering Comments Off on ‘Early Bird’ Blooming BulbsFall Garden Chores
Posted by Hugh on September 21st, 2019
Fall is the perfect time to take on a few of the many spring garden chores. Here is a list of ten of the most important tasks: Weeding– get rid of newly emerging winter annual weeds now before they flower and set seeds. Perennial weeds such as dandelions, plantains, and thistles can be sprayed and eliminated in the […]
Posted in acidify soil, Attracting birds, Azaleas (evergreen), Bees and other pollinators, Bulb Crops, Camellia, Common witchhazel (H. virginiana), compost, deadheading, Deer resistant, Edgeworthia, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering Bulb, Green Recycling, Hellebores, Hyacinth, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, lenten rose, Lenten rose (Hellebore), mulching, Ornamental Grasses, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Tulips, Violas, watering tips, Winter Protection, Winterhazels (Corylopsis), Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Fall Garden ChoresTypes OF Tulips
Posted by Hugh on September 16th, 2019
Over the centuries Dutch tulip breeders have brought to market 15 groups of the spring blooming goodies (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). The properties determining the group to which each tulip belongs are the shape of its flower, its parentage and its flowering period. Let’s take a peak at “the world of tulips”. Here is a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bacterial diseases, Bees and other pollinators, Botrytis disease, Bulb Crops, Container garden, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Root rotting, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Tulips, Voles, winter hardiness Comments Off on Types OF Tulips
