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 […]
Archive for the ‘Pests’ Category
Facts About Garden Watering – How Much And When
Posted by Hugh on November 13th, 2016
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 MantisSeven Ideas for Managing Mosses in Lawn Areas
Posted by Hugh on September 30th, 2016
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 […]
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 List
