Camel crickets, also known as cave crickets or spider crickets live in dark damp places of the home or garage. They are related to grasshoppers, locusts, and other crickets (insect order Orthoptera) and are six legged as opposed to spiders that have eight legs. Fully grown adults range in size from 1-2 inches long, while […]
Archive for the ‘Pests’ Category
Ridding Homes Of Camel Crickets
Posted by Hugh on February 26th, 2022
Posted in Camel crickets, Household pest, Pests, Southern Appalachian Region 
Comments Off on Ridding Homes Of Camel CricketsJapanese Cornel – Notable Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on February 11th, 2022
Starting in late February, Japanese cornel (C. officinalis) burst into bloom with clusters of yellow flowers (zones 5–8). Native to Japan, China, and Korea, this lovely small tree (or large shrub) is one of a few plants that is an early harbinger of spring. Here are notable cultivars: ‘Sunsphere’ grows 20-25 feet high and is an exceptional heavy bloomer with […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact tree, Cornus officinalis, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Japanese Cornel – Notable CultivarsLacebark Pine
Posted by Hugh on January 28th, 2022
Lacebark pine (Pinus bungeana) (USDA hardiness zones 4-8) is arboreal mid-sized gem is a lovely 3-needle pine. It is a slow-growing pine with an absolutely exquisite exfoliating patchwork bark which becomes more attractive as the tree ages. Some of the best specimens that I have witnessed are planted on the New York Botanical Gardens in […]
Posted in Attracting birds, compact tree, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Lacebark pine (P. bungeana), Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Lacebark PineFour Tree Conifers Which Should Be Planted More
Posted by Hugh on January 16th, 2022
Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana), aka Caucasian fir, is native to the Caucasus Mountains (USDA hardiness zones 4-6). This dense pyramidal conifer grows to 50 feet tall and 20 feet wide and are typically branched to the ground. Their flat dark green shiny needles (up to 1 ¼ inches long) feature two white bands on the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bagworms, compact tree, Deciduous, Deciduous conifer, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fall Garden Interest, Fir (Abies), Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pseudolarix amabilis, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Thujopsis, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Four Tree Conifers Which Should Be Planted More2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little Bluestem
Posted by Hugh on January 6th, 2022
The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) has named its 2022 Perennial of the Year — Little Bluestem (Schizachrium scoparum) (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). This ornamental grass was chosen because it is suitable for a wide range of growing climates, is low maintenance, and offers multiple-season interest. This North American prairie native grass is adaptable to many […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Little bluestem (Schizachrium), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium), Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Thrips, winter hardiness Comments Off on 2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little Bluestem2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little Bluestem
Posted by Hugh on January 3rd, 2022
2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little Bluestem The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) has named its 2022 Perennial of the Year — Little Bluestem (Schizachrium scoparum) (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). This ornamental grass was chosen because it is suitable for a wide range of growing climates, is low maintenance, and offers multiple-season interest. This North […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Little bluestem (Schizachrium), Little bluestem (Schizachrium), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium), Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on 2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little BluestemAfter The Holidays Poinsettia Care
Posted by Hugh on December 26th, 2021
The gift of a poinsettia means you should enjoy the beauty over the next three months or more. Your poinsettia should be warmly wrapped to protect from chilling outdoor temperatures from the garden shop to your home or apartment. If applicable, carefully unwrap the protective sleeve around your poinsettia to prevent injury to leaves and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Photoperiod (Daylength), Phytophthora ramorum, Planting tips, Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Powdery Mildew, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on After The Holidays Poinsettia CareEmpress Tree (Paulownia)
Posted by Hugh on November 26th, 2021
Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa) is a fast-growing shade tree, in some years adding 4-5 feet of new growth, eventually to reach heights of 40-50 feet and width of 20-30 feet in less than 20 years. In the first 3-4 years, juvenile trees develop enormous size leaves. Once trees start producing flowers (adult stage), leaves are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Canker disease, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, Non-native, Paulownia (Empress tree), Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Weak branching, Weak wooded, winter hardiness Comments Off on Empress Tree (Paulownia)Prepare For Storm Damage
Posted by Hugh on November 22nd, 2021
A snow/ ice storm is both a beautiful and horrific scene in a landscape. Costly tree/shrub breakage, downed power lines, and subsequent utility shutoffs may be staggering results. Don’t feel powerless! Prepare and take action. During the storm, do nothing / “hands off”. Working near an active electrical line is deadly. After the storm you should immediately […]
Posted in Borers, Bradford Pear, Certified Arborist, Cold tolerance, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Firewood, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Leyland cypress, Magnolia grandiflora, Pine (Pinus spp.), Poplar (Populus spp.), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Southern Appalachian Region, Sycamore (Platanus), Termites, Tree topping, Trees & Shrubs, Willows (Salix), Wind protection, Winter Protection Comments Off on Prepare For Storm DamageHawthorn Trees In The Landscape
Posted by Hugh on November 1st, 2021
The world of hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) includes several outstanding landscape trees that exhibit four-season ornamental interest: 1. spring flowering, 2. disease-free summer foliage, 3. variable fall leaf color, and 4. colorful fruits for wildlife in the fall and winter months. World-wide, hawthorns are native to temperate regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Anthracnose, Borers, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Hawthorn (Crataegus), Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Rust diseases, Scale, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Hawthorn Trees In The Landscape
