The bark of young peach (Prunus persica) or nectarine (P. persica nucipersica) trees are sensitive to winter injury caused by rapid drops in daily temperatures. On a winter’s day, the sun may heat up the sapwood under the thin skinned peach bark. Research in Georgia shows that temperatures on the south side of a peach tree may […]
Archive for the ‘Pests’ Category
Paint and Wrap Newly Set Peach Tree Trunks
Posted by Hugh on October 4th, 2015
Posted in Fruits & Vegetables, Peach, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Voles, Winter bark, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection 
Comments Off on Paint and Wrap Newly Set Peach Tree TrunksFoxtail Lilies Are Uniquely Different
Posted by Hugh on October 2nd, 2015
Foxtail lilies or desert candles (Eremurus spp.) are beginning to find an audience with U.S. gardeners. Foxtail lilies are indigenous to the grasslands and semi-arid parts of Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan (USDA hardiness zones 5–8). Tall spires of brightly colored flowers emerge in late spring; small individual flowers are densely packed together. Each showy […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, compost, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Eremurus (desert candles), Flowers, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Spring flowering, Voles, watering tips, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Foxtail Lilies Are Uniquely DifferentCritter-Resistant Flower Bulbs
Posted by Hugh on September 24th, 2015
Who doesn’t love colorful flowering bulbs in the early spring garden? Unfortunately, many gardens are terrorized by flower-devouring deer or bulb-chomping squirrels, voles and other critters. When utilizing smelly sprays, expensive fencing, or firearms are not options, plant a wide choice of flower bulbs that critters don’t like. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alliums (onion), Camassia, Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow), Colchicum, Crocus, Daffodil (Narcissus), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spanish bluebells, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Summer snowflake (Leucojum), Tulips, Voles, Winter aconite (Eranthis), winter hardiness Comments Off on Critter-Resistant Flower BulbsFall Lawn And Landscape Planting Tips
Posted by Hugh on September 21st, 2015
The combination of warm soil and cool air makes autumn an ideal time to plant new trees, shrubs, perennials, and cool season annuals. You may want to divide certain perennials such as iris, hostas, daylilies, and lots more. Fall weather favors root growth which aids transplants to recover quickly before winter’s chill arrives. Autumn planting […]
Posted in Broadleaf weeds, Fertilizing, Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, Irrigation, Kentucky bluegrass, Lawn Care, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Rabbit/deer Protection, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, Tall Fescue, watering tips, Weeds, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fall Lawn And Landscape Planting TipsDwarf Ginkgoes For Small Spaces
Posted by Hugh on September 10th, 2015
Prehistoric Ginkgo trees (Ginkgo biloba) are easily identified by their triangular shaped leaves (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Trees mature to huge sizes, up to 80 – 90 feet high. Their growth rates are initially slow during the early establishment years. Ginkgo tree are “dioecious”, either male and female. Most (not all) ginkgoes develop into tall pyramidal […]
Posted in acidic soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Container growing, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ginkgo biloba, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Dwarf Ginkgoes For Small SpacesItalian Arum Returns Every Autumn
Posted by Hugh on September 7th, 2015
Italian arum (Arum italicum) is a long-lived woodland perennial native to Italy and much of the Mediterranean region. Several members of the arum family (Araceae), including this species, are also known as “Lords and Ladies”. It typically grows 9-18 inches tall (depending on location) and slowly spreads over many years. Shoots first emerge from beneath the woodland leaf […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Fruits poisonous, Italian arum, Landscape ideas, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Poisonous plant, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Voles, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Italian Arum Returns Every AutumnCalamint: Tough Reliable Perennial Ground Cover
Posted by Hugh on August 18th, 2015
Calamint (Calamintha nepeta subsp. nepeta) is low mounding subshrub or perennial native to southern Europe; its primary use is as a low growing ground cover (USDA hardiness zones 4 to 8). It is a member of the Lamiaceae family. Foliage grows only 15-18 inches tall. The subspecies, var. nepeta, is the preferred choice because it produces more flowers per inflorescence. Calamint tolerates most soil […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Calamint, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fragrant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Perennials, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Calamint: Tough Reliable Perennial Ground CoverPurple Heart Tradescantia
Posted by Hugh on August 15th, 2015
Purple Heart tradescantia (Setcreasea pallida ‘Purple Heart’), formerly Tradescantia purpurea), is an annual trailing groundcover with purple stems and violet-purple foliage. This flowering vine is primarily grown for its vibrant foliage. Purple Heart is utilized in garden beds, large containers or hanging baskets. By summer’s end individual plants may grow 8-12 […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Container garden, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, Ground cover, Interior (house) Plants, Mites, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Setcreasea 'Purple Heart', Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Virus diseases, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Purple Heart TradescantiaBeware! Yellow Jackets
Posted by Hugh on August 6th, 2015
Most humans fear and hate yellow jackets. They are actually wasps and important predators of several harmful insects. They’re easily identified by their distinctive markings along their abdomen. They tend to dart about rapidly, in a side-to-side flight pattern. Female yellow jackets are the ones capable of stinging. Wasps (Vespula spp.) are not bees; they’re brightly colored […]
Posted in Beneficial Insects, Garden Problems, Insect (Pest) Problems, Pesticide recommendations, Pests, Pollination needs, Southern Appalachian Region, Wasps, Yellow jackets Comments Off on Beware! Yellow JacketsAll About Thistles
Posted by Hugh on July 30th, 2015
Some weeds are very nasty and on top of my list are the dreadful thistles. Learn the lifecycles of those in your region and the proper method to eliminate them. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) is a perennial species found in many areas of the eastern U.S. Other thistles in my region are bull and […]
Posted in Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Garden Problems, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Mowing, Pesticide recommendations, Southern Appalachian Region, Weed control, Weeds, Wildflower Comments Off on All About Thistles
