Snake plant (Sansevieria spp.), aka Mother-In-Law’s Tongue, is an easy to grow succulent. It is one of the hardest house plants to kill, grows in almost any room of your home, and demands little attention except an occasional watering. Its leathery sword-shape leaves are usually marked in gray green marbling. Some varieties may be edged in yellow […]
Archive for the ‘Pests’ Category
Old-Fashioned Snake Plants
Posted by Hugh on November 29th, 2016
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Interior (house) Plants, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Snake plant (Sanservieria), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Old-Fashioned Snake PlantsChristmas Vs Thanksgiving Cacti
Posted by Hugh on November 26th, 2016
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) or Thanksgiving cacti (Schlumbergera truncata) are called holiday cacti. They are actually succulents and not true cacti. Both originate from tropical regions and make dependable, long-lived house plants. Christmas cactus are frequently mislabeled as such and are really Thanksgiving cactus. Christmas cacti have flattened leaves with rounded leaf edges compared to Thanksgiving […]
Posted in acidic soil, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Interior (house) Plants, Mealy bugs, Photoperiod (Daylength), Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Root rotting, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Thanksgiving cactus, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter Protection Comments Off on Christmas Vs Thanksgiving CactiFine Tuning Growing Calamondin Orange In The Home
Posted by Hugh on November 16th, 2016
Calamondin orange (Citris mitis) is challenging to grow in a home environment. It is hardy to 20°F., more than most other true citrus (USDA hardiness zone 8). It does not grow well in temperatures below 45ºF. In temperate regions calamondin spends the active growing months (May – October) outdoors either in direct sunlight (in northern areas) and in half day shade (in […]
Posted in Aphids, Bee Favorite, Calamondin Orange, Container growing, container shrub, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Mealy bugs, Mites, Ornamental fruit, Pesticide recommendations, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy) Comments Off on Fine Tuning Growing Calamondin Orange In The HomeFacts About Garden Watering – How Much And When
Posted by Hugh on November 13th, 2016
Modern gardeners are using more efficient drip irrigation or soaker hoses. Water bills are less than overhead or oscillating systems. You may opt to attach the hose to an automatic timer so you can irrigate in absentia. Water goes on and off anytime you select. In garden beds water plants deeply once weekly rather than a […]
Posted in Azaleas (evergreen), Blackberries, Blueberries, Container garden, Daphne odora, Disease prone, Environmental issues, Flowers, Fruits & Vegetables, Garden Maintenance, Hosta, Ligularias, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Perennials, Planting tips, Rhododendrons, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, Weed control, Winter Protection Comments Off on Facts About Garden Watering – How Much And WhenJapanese Larch Is Preferred In Northern U.S.
Posted by Hugh on November 10th, 2016
Larches (Larix spp.) are majestic deciduous conifers in their northern ranges of their habitat (USDA hardiness zone 4 to 7). However, trees do not prosper in hot and humid summers south of USDA Zone 7. One of the best is Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi), but unfortunately, it is not commonly planted in U.S. landscapes. The tree averages 50-60 feet in height and 25-35 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bagworms, Cercopora leaf spot, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, Deciduous conifer, Disease prone, DWARF CONIFERS, Evergreens, Insect (Pest) Problems, Large Shade trees, Larix kaempferi, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rust diseases, salt injury, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Japanese Larch Is Preferred In Northern U.S.American Witchhazel Blooms in Autumn
Posted by Hugh on November 7th, 2016
American witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is the last native flowering plants to bloom in the calendar year. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree, native to woodlands, forest margins and stream banks in eastern North America (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). It typically grows 15-20 feet tall as a multi-stemmed shrub and 30 feet tall in tree form. Beginning in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Japanese beetles, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on American Witchhazel Blooms in AutumnDeerproofing
Posted by Hugh on November 4th, 2016
Deer love to eat most of the flowers, plants and trees in your garden. To discourage deer from eating your garden, you basically have three (3) options. Construct a Barrier or Fence. Make your garden unpleasant for deer. Choose plants that deer don’t like. Deer Barriers and Fences Deer can jump an […]
Posted in Blueberries, Container garden, Deer resistant, Environmental issues, Flowering Bulb, Fragrant, Fruits & Vegetables, Hydrangea, Ornamental Pepper, Perennials, Rabbit/deer Protection, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on DeerproofingEastern White Pine Losses Continue
Posted by Hugh on October 24th, 2016
Environmental and pathogenic problems continue to take their toll on Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus). This valued landscape and lumber tree is native in the Eastern U.S. and Canada (USDA zones 3-8). Climate change is likely contributing to recent losses of white pines due a number of serious disease and pest problems that are reducing tree numbers. Pests: A […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bagworms, Disease prone, Disease resistant, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Insect (Pest) Problems, mulching, Native Plant, Pesticide recommendations, Pests, Pine (Pinus spp.), Pines (Pinus spp.), Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Sapsucker, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering evergreens, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury Comments Off on Eastern White Pine Losses Continue‘Midwinter Fire’ Dogwood Brightens Up The Winter Landscape
Posted by Hugh on October 21st, 2016
Bloodtwig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea), indigenous to Europe and Asia, is an upright branched, round-topped, spreading deciduous shrub (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 7). In the wild the species matures to 8-15 feet in height and spread. Its common name “bloodtwig” is misleading. Winter wood on 1-2 year old branches is not red. Instead, winter stems turn […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, compact shrub, Cornus sanguinea, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Midwinter Fire’ Dogwood Brightens Up The Winter LandscapeFascinated By Praying Mantis
Posted by Hugh on October 15th, 2016
Carolina Praying Mantis (often written “mantid”, referring to family Mantidae) (Stagmomantis carolina) is the only species of praying mantis native to the U.S. However, about 20 species are found in the U.S. Most ubiquitous here is the European mantis (M. religiosa). Chinese Praying Mantid (Tenodera aridifolia) is the largest species by size in the U.S., measuring […]
Posted in Beneficial insects, Container garden, Hybrid teas, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, multi-flora rose, Native Plant, Perennials, Pests, Praying mantid, Praying Mantis (Mantid), Rose insects, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized Comments Off on Fascinated By Praying Mantis
