Mosses, over 14,000 species of them worldwide, are major competitors with lawn grasses in certain landscape situations. They belong to their own plant family. They photosynthesize and draw moisture from tiny rhizoids (primitive root systems). They do not compete for soil nutrients with lawn grasses. Some can live in full sun, other kinds in shade […]
Archive for the ‘Pests’ Category
Seven Ideas for Managing Mosses in Lawn Areas
Posted by Hugh on September 30th, 2016
Posted in acidic soil, Fertilizing, Fertilizing plants, Garden Problems, Irrigation, Moss (in lawn), Moss (unwanter), Mowing, Pesticide Recommendations, Pests, Red fescue, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Tall Fescue, watering tips 
Comments Off on Seven Ideas for Managing Mosses in Lawn AreasMapleleaf Viburnum For Woodland Areas
Posted by Hugh on September 27th, 2016
The genus Viburnum is a rich source of over 150 species of great flowering shrubs worldwide. Many viburnums are native to North America including mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium). This totally underutilized deciduous viburnum is a great choice to plant in shrub borders, foundation, or hedging, as well as to naturalize in an open woodland area (zone 3-8). Shrub grows 4 – […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compact tree, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Mapleleaf viburnum, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Viburnums, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mapleleaf Viburnum For Woodland AreasFive Landscape Plants On The Gardeners’ Taboo List
Posted by Hugh on September 24th, 2016
To many people, maintaining a garden or landscape means a lot of hard work. Sometimes the weeds outgrow what you have planted. Some landscape plants promise a lot of beauty but deliver nothing but problems. Some trees are weak wooded, prone to pests or diseases, and outgrow their space. Some produce smelly odorous flowers. I urge […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Bees and other pollinators, Bradford Pear, container shrub, Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Fragrant, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Invasive plant, Leyland cypress, Messy Fruits, Photinia, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Russian olive (Eleaegnus), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Five Landscape Plants On The Gardeners’ Taboo ListUniquely Different Chinese Flame Tree
Posted by Hugh on September 18th, 2016
Chinese flame tree, aka bougainvillea goldenrain tree (K. bipinnata), is another tree option in U.S. southern landscapes (USDA hardiness zones 7-10). It is closely related to the more widely planted goldenrain tree (Koelruteria paniculata). This fast growing tree develops into a nice 20-40 feet tall medium-size tree with an irregular canopy. Chinese flame tree is highly drought tolerant (after one year established). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Flame tree (Koelreuteria), Flower Arranging, Fragrant, Golden Raintree, Invasive species, Medium sized Tree, Messy Fruits, Ornamental fruit, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Uniquely Different Chinese Flame TreeHouse Plant Basic Care Tips
Posted by Hugh on September 12th, 2016
Tropical house plants decorate homes, restaurants, shopping malls, and work environments (USDA hardiness zones 8 through 11). Many will grow in medium to low light areas of your home, work, and where flowering plants do not perform. Here are some basic house plant tips: They languish in areas where temperatures are below 55 °F. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Arrowwood (Syngonium), Bromeliads, Calthea, Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), Container garden, Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia), Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Foliage plant, Interior (house) Plants, Mealy bugs, Mite susceptible, Mites, Philodendron, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Potting Mix, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Rubber Plant (Ficus), Sanitation, Scale, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on House Plant Basic Care TipsAvoiding Slug Problems On Hostas
Posted by Hugh on September 6th, 2016
Finding slug resistance among hosta varieties is relative. By late summer, you will find some holes in leaves in almost every variety, some a lot worst than others. There are ways to reduce slug injury in your host plantings. Weather is a key factor. Wet summers means higher slug and snail populations. Dry summers is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Foliage plant, Fragrant, Hosta, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sanitation, Shade Gardening, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips, Weeds Comments Off on Avoiding Slug Problems On HostasLeaf Retention In Landscape Trees
Posted by Hugh on September 2nd, 2016
Most deciduous landscape trees drop their leaves sometime in autumn. The physiology of autumn leaf drop is primarily stimulated by changes in photoperiod or shorter daylength. Autumn colors develop and the leaf petioles form an abscission layer. Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), for example, start to color up in early September. Winter leaf retention by […]
Posted in American Beech (F. grandifolia), American hornbeam, Autumn foliage color, Beech (Fagus spp.), Bur oak (Q. macrocarpa), Deer resistant, European beech (F. sylvatica), Hophornbeam (Ostrya), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Leaf retention, Marcescence, Oaks (Quercus spp.), pin oak, plant nutrition, Soil pH, Trees & Shrubs, Willow oak (Quercus), Wind protection, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on Leaf Retention In Landscape TreesPest Alert: Viburnum Leaf Beetle May Be Invading
Posted by Hugh on August 30th, 2016
Viburnum Leaf Beetle is gradually coming to the Southeastern U.S. It was first found in upstate New York in 1996. This pest has been on the move, eating its way through native viburnums from upstate New York to northern Pennsylvania to western Maryland. It feeds only on viburnum species. Preferred species include native arrowwood viburnum (V. dentatum), […]
Posted in Bee Favorite, Garden ecology, Native Plant, Pesticide recommendations, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnums Comments Off on Pest Alert: Viburnum Leaf Beetle May Be Invading‘Furman’s Red’ Sage For Long Blooming Period
Posted by Hugh on August 28th, 2016
Texas sage (Salvia greggii) is a low bushy native perennial or woody shrub. It is native to Texas south to Mexico and varieties come in white, red and purple. It has proven to be exceptionally cold hardy (USDA hardiness zones 5b-9). Furman’s Red sage is a superior cultivar here in the Southern Appalachian region.Flowering is best in spring, less […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Texas Sage (Salvia), watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Furman’s Red’ Sage For Long Blooming PeriodLate Summer Bulbous Beauties – Spider Lily and Fall Crocus
Posted by Hugh on August 26th, 2016
Spider lilies (Lycoris radiata) go by a number of colloquial names including resurrection flower, surprise lily, and naked ladies. Naked 1-2 foot tall flower scapes bear 4-6 bright coral-red flowers. Each 2- inch long flower exhibit reflexed tepals and long protruding stamens resembling spider legs (common name “spider lilies”). Almost overnight, the leafless flower spikes […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Lycoris (Spider lily), Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Late Summer Bulbous Beauties – Spider Lily and Fall Crocus
