Most conifers are best grown in deep, moist, well-drained, acidic loamy soils and in full sun. In the deep South evergreen conifers are challenged by warm soils, poor soil drainage, and humidity. Humidity increases their susceptibility to diseases. Once established they are drought tolerant, but most fail in poorly drained wet soils. Many pine species […]
Archive for the ‘Pests’ Category
Some Conifers Don’t Like Summer Heat And Clay Soils
Posted by Hugh on February 16th, 2020
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Bagworms, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Borers, Caterpillars, Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus), Cercopora leaf spot, Christmas tree, Container garden, Deer resistant, Deodara cedars (Cedrus), Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Firs (Abies), Heat Tolerance, Hemlock (Tsuga), Hemlock adelgid, Insect (Pest) Problems, Juniper, Korean fir (Abies koreana), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Norway spruce (Picea), Oriental spruce (Picea), Pine (Pinus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys), watering evergreens, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Some Conifers Don’t Like Summer Heat And Clay SoilsZone 6 Hardy Camellias
Posted by Hugh on February 11th, 2020
Once upon a time, across the Southern U.S., camellias were highly prized for their showy flowers in the fall-winter landscape. What has changed is that gardeners in the Middle Atlantic and mid-Southern states can now grow them equally well. Camellias are evergreen woody shrubs native to Asia. Currently, after decades of inter-breeding with species from […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Camellia, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Zone 6 Hardy CamelliasCare 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 RhododendronsFebruary Blooming Hybrid Witchhazels
Posted by Hugh on January 26th, 2020
Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.) are somewhat coarse, loosely-branched, medium to large, deciduous shrubs that typically grow 12-20 feet tall. (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). They are particularly noted for their strapped shape, often fragrant, mid- to late winter flowers which appear before the spring leaves emerge. Five cultivars were selected by Mr. Tim Brotzman, an Ohio nurseryman […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Caterpillars, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowers, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Pollination needs, Privacy Screen, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on February Blooming Hybrid Witchhazels12 Woody Trees And Shrubs Perfect For Containers
Posted by Hugh on January 6th, 2020
Japanese maples, hydrangeas, hollies, boxwoods, camellias, and dwarf conifers are popular favorites to grow in pots. Often, they’re part of mixed plantings coordinated with colorful annual and perennial flowers. If and when these outdoor trees and shrubs outgrow their pots, you have one of three options available: 1.) move plants into a bigger pot, 2.) […]
Posted in acidic soil, Boxwood (Buxus), Cephalotaxus (Plumleaf yew), Chamaecyparis, Cold tolerance, compact shrub, compact tree, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), Deciduous conifer, Deodara cedars (Cedrus), Dioecious, Disease resistant, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreen, Evergreens, Heat Tolerance, Hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens, Inkberry Holly (Ilex), Invasive plant, Invasive species, Japanese maple, Japanese yew, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, Nandina, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on 12 Woody Trees And Shrubs Perfect For ContainersArizona Cypress Standouts
Posted by Hugh on December 26th, 2019
Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica var. glabra) is a needle evergreen conifer native to the Southeast U.S. and is noted for its rapid growth rate. It is also grown as a Christmas tree and is rarely troubled by disease and insect problems. Depending on what part of the U.S. that you garden in, damage from bark […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Container garden, Cupressus (cypress), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Arizona Cypress StandoutsLipstick Plant (Vine) – Lovely Flowering House Plant
Posted by Hugh on December 11th, 2019
Nothing brightens up a room more than a flowering plant. One of my favorites is lipstick plant or lipstick vine (Aeschynanthus spp.), a close relative of the African violet. The green leaf form A. radicans is very popular with shiny dark green leaves and orange, pink, purple flowering varieties. Lipstick plant is a free bloomer, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Lipstick vine (Aeschynanthus), Mealy bugs, Mites, Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Thrips, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Vine, watering tips Comments Off on Lipstick Plant (Vine) – Lovely Flowering House PlantSpace-Saving Vertical Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2019
Try these slim and sleek varieties in a small space such as on patios or the front porch, in courtyards, or as a single specimens in narrow gardens or containers. Set them at the back of beds for space-saving walls and backdrops. Pot them up for container magic on the porch. All six plants grow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Autumn flowering, Balled and Burlapped (b&b), Barberry (Berberis), Bees and other pollinators, Boxwood (Buxus), Camellia, compact shrub, Container garden, container shrub, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering, Ilex (hollies), Juniper, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Podocarous, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Space-Saving Vertical ShrubsïğżUniquely Different Red Dragon⢠Contorted Filbert
Posted by Hugh on November 26th, 2019
Uniquely Different âRed Dragonâ Contorted Filbert European filbert or hazelnut (Corylus avellana) is native to Europe, western Asia and northern Africa where it is often found growing in thickets and hedgerows. Red Dragon⢠filbert is an outstanding red leaf selection of contorted filbert (C. avellana Red Dragonâ˘). This unique landscape shrub grows 6 – 8 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, Container garden, Container growing, container shrub, Contorted filbert (Corylus), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Japanese beetle, Japanese beetles, Landscape ideas, Monoecious, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root suckering, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on ïğżUniquely Different Red Dragon⢠Contorted FilbertNew ‘Chastity’ Ornamental Pear
Posted by Hugh on November 11th, 2019
Before you totally give up on ornamental pear trees (Pyrus calleryana) as invasive, a decision that I would never argue against, take a look at the new Chastity pear. NEW! NEW! NEW! on the market is Chastity pear, a triploid hybrid that is both very ornamental and highly infertile (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Chastity⢠Pear was specifically […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Environmental Conservation, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Pear (Ornamental), Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on New ‘Chastity’ Ornamental Pear
