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 […]
Archive for the ‘Pests’ Category
Getting Rid Of Difficult Weeds
Posted by Hugh on March 26th, 2021
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 WeedsSteps In Planting A Hedge
Posted by Hugh on March 21st, 2021
Why Plant A Hedge: Living privacy fence offers privacy from street traffic and neighbors Serves as a sound barrier to reduce noise A windbreak to reduce harsh winds Snow fence to reduce snow accumulation Wildlife protection and food for birds from berries and seed. Planning: Select vigorous disease and pest free trees and shrubs that suit […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Althea (Hibiscus), Boxwood (Buxus), Deer resistant, Firethorn (Pyracantha), Flowering shrub, Forsythia, Hedges, Hemlock (Tsuga), Hophornbeam (Ostrya), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Ilex (hollies), Inkberry Holly (Ilex), Japanese yew, Juniper, Large shrub, Lilac (Syringa), Linden (Tilia), mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Pyracantha (firethorn), Southern Appalachian Region, Spirea (Spiraea), Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, watering tips, Wind protection, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection, Yews (Taxus spp.) Comments Off on Steps In Planting A HedgeThree Really Cool Shade Plants
Posted by Hugh on March 16th, 2021
What three wildflowers can handle intense woodland shade. To most gardeners, hostas, Solomon seal, coral bells (Heuchera spp.), brunneras, and ferns are popular favorites. Expand your plant choices with these three shady favorites which are long-lived, low-care gems – Fairy wings (Epimedium spp), bellworts (Uvularia spp.), and shredded umbrella plant (Syneilesis). Fairy wings (Epimedium spp.), aka barrenworts, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bees and other pollinators, compost, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Heuchera (coralbells), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Syneilesis aconitifolia, Uvularia (bellwort), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Three Really Cool Shade PlantsCalamint – 2021 Perennial Plant of The Year (PPOY)
Posted by Hugh on January 1st, 2021
Too begin a new gardening year, the Perennial Plant Association has named calamint (Calamintha nepeta ssp. nepeta) as the 2021 Perennial Plant of the Year. One landscaper designer describes calamint as “a cloud of confetti, tiny white flowers”. Plants are dotted with masses of tiny white (or pale blue) flowers from early summer to fall. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Calamint, Container garden, deadheading, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Calamint – 2021 Perennial Plant of The Year (PPOY)Caring For Thanksgiving/Christmas Cacti
Posted by Hugh on December 26th, 2020
Holiday cacti are not true cactus plants. They are native to tropical rainforests of South America and their care is much different than desert cacti. Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti refers to the time that they bloom in Fall. Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and Christmas cactus (S. bridgesii are available in several flower colors: red, salmon, pink, purple, orange and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Photoperiod (Daylength), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Thanksgiving cactus, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Caring For Thanksgiving/Christmas CactiAnthuriums Thrive in Low Light
Posted by Hugh on December 16th, 2020
Anthuriums are easy to grow houseplants. They have become wonderful plant gifts around the holidays and birthdays. First and foremost, anthuriums are low light tropical plants. They grow best in bright, indirect light, but produce fewer flowers in low light. Anthuriums sport long-lasting glossy, deep-green leaves and sturdy flowering bract-like blooms. The flowers of an […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anthurium, Aphids, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Mealy bugs, Mites, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (dividing), Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Sun scald, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips Comments Off on Anthuriums Thrive in Low LightRepel Deer And Rabbits
Posted by Hugh on December 11th, 2020
We live at a time that deer population numbers have grown out of control in many areas of the U.S. The internet lists plants that “DEER DON’T EAT”. However, deer have not read these lists, and secondly, a starving deer will eat just about anything. An adult deer may eat 5-6 pounds of plant material […]
Posted in Annuals, apple orchard, Apple tree, Artemisia, Begonia, Container garden, Corn (Sweet or Field), Dahlia, Deer resistant, Edible fruits, Environmental Conservation, Fencing, Fragrant, Geranium, Hosta, Landscape ideas, Lobelia (cardnial flower), Native Plant, Peach, Pear (Pyrus spp.), Poisonous or toxic, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Raised bed Gardening, Raspberries, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Uncategorized, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on Repel Deer And RabbitsThree Common Witchhazel Varieties
Posted by Hugh on December 6th, 2020
Common witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is likely the last native woody shrub or tree to bloom in the northern areas of the U.S. and Canada (USDA hardiness zone 3-8). This autumn blooming deciduous shrub or tree grows in open woodlands, often near a lake or a stream bank. Common witchhazels grow 15-20 feet tall as a large […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Common witchhazel (H. virginiana), compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Environmental Conservation, Fertilizing plants, Japanese beetles, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Three Common Witchhazel VarietiesCoast Leucothoe a Better Choice
Posted by Hugh on November 16th, 2020
Compared to other doghobble species, coast leucothoe or doghobble (Leucothoe axillaris) is a best choice for Southern U.S. landscapes (USDA zones 6 -9). This species is native to open woodland areas of the Southeastern U.S. The species grows along woodland slopes usually nearby a water source. However, its roots do not tolerate perennially damp ground. Doghobbles are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anthracnose, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Deer resistant, Doghobble (Leucothoe), Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Leaf retention, Leaf/needle spots, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Coast Leucothoe a Better ChoicePersimmon – Native Fruit Tree
Posted by Hugh on November 11th, 2020
Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a deciduous U.S. native that grows 35 to 60 feet tall and 25-35 feet wide (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 9). Mature trees have a rounded oval crown. Ovate to elliptic, 2-6 inch long leaves, alternative along the stem, are glossy dark green above. Autumn leaves turn yellowish-green, infrequently reddish purple. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Dioecious, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Edible fruits, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Persimmon (Diospyros), Planting tips, Pollination needs, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark Comments Off on Persimmon – Native Fruit Tree
