Swamp mallow, aka swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus) is native to marshes and swamps in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida (USDA hardiness Zones 6 to 9). Vibrant red flowers cover the tall 4–8-foot plant(s) from June through September. Space plants 3 feet wide apart. Deeply cut maple-like foliage presents a lush tropical look and the […]
Archive for the ‘Pests’ Category
Become Immersed In Swamp Hibiscus
Posted by Hugh on July 11th, 2014
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Hardy hibiscus, Hibiscus coccineus, Hummingbird, Insect (Pest) Problems, Japanese beetles, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Root suckering, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Become Immersed In Swamp HibiscusMimosa Tree- Love It or Weed It
Posted by Hugh on July 8th, 2014
Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) is essentially a 4-5 month ornamental tree indigenous from Iran to China (USDA hardiness zones 6-9). From late spring through summer, mimosa struts an attractive fine textured foliage and beautiful flowering. This small tree rarely leafs out until mid-May (in zone 6) and offers little in autumnal leaf color. Two seedling forms, […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Butterflies, compact tree, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Hummingbird, Invasive plant, Mimosa tree (Albizia), Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Mimosa Tree- Love It or Weed ItCaveats Before Planting Planetrees (Sycamores)
Posted by Hugh on July 4th, 2014
American sycamore, aka planetree, (Platanus occidentalis) is a native tree planted over a large area of the United States (USDA hardiness zones 4-9). Its enormous size, often 70-90 feet in height, limits it to planting mostly on large landscapes such as parks, golf courses, and industrial parks. Northern U.S. cities have planted it extensively along […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Aphids, Disease prone, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Pests, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Sycamore (Platanus), Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Caveats Before Planting Planetrees (Sycamores)Gladiolas Are Wonderful Cutflowers
Posted by Hugh on June 21st, 2014
Across most regions of the U.S., planting gladiola corms (they’re not really “bulbs”) begins a week before the probable frost-free date has passed in the spring. Stagger individual plantings every 2-3 weeks through mid- July. Many people opt to grow them as cutflowers for their homes. Purchase large or premium sized corms that measure 1 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, compost, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Gladiolus, Insect (Pest) Problems, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Thrips, watering tips, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Gladiolas Are Wonderful CutflowersJapanese Tree Lilac Is Excellent Late Flowering Form
Posted by Hugh on May 21st, 2014
Japanese tree lilac (Syringa reticulata) is a late flowering lilac, often 2-3 weeks later than the popular common and hybrid shrub lilacs (USDA hardiness zone 3-7). Tree lilac is tall growing, often 20-25 feet tall with a 15-25 foot spread. It forms a nice small multi-trunked street tree. Tree lilac is the last of the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Lilac (Syringa), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Street tree, Summer flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Japanese Tree Lilac Is Excellent Late Flowering Form‘Summer Gold’ Kousa Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on April 27th, 2014
Get ready to alter your mindset with ‘Summer Gold’ Chinese (kousa) dogwood (Cornus kousa) (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Its diminutive size, 8 to 10 feet high and 4 to 5 feet wide, makes it a great fit for a small city garden. Branching is distinctly upright, which partially accounts for its narrow space needs. ‘Summer […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, compact tree, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, watering tips, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Summer Gold’ Kousa DogwoodPest Alert: Kudzu Bug- Plant Pest And Home Invader
Posted by Hugh on April 7th, 2014
Kudzu bug was first seen in Atlanta, Georgia in 2009. Currently, this plant pest and home invader has spread rapidly through the southern U.S. (to Texas) and as far north as eastern Maryland and southern Delaware. Kudzu bug belongs to the shield bug family (Plataspidae), but does emit a strong odor. It secretes a noxious […]
Posted in Garden Problems, Insect (Pest) Problems, Pesticide recommendations, Pests, Redbud, Southern Appalachian Region, Wisteria, Yellowwood Comments Off on Pest Alert: Kudzu Bug- Plant Pest And Home InvaderBeautiful Giant Dogwood Has Some Limitations
Posted by Hugh on March 28th, 2014
Giant dogwood (Cornus controversa) is a medium-sized deciduous tree that grows to 35 to 40 feet high (in the wild to 60 feet) in USDA hardiness zones 5 to 7. This Asian native (China and Japan) is cherished for its distinctive horizontal (tiered) branching habit. Giant dogwood prefers an acidic, organically rich, moisture, well-drained soil. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease prone, Dogwood (Cornus), Flowering, Insect (Pest) Problems, Medium sized Tree, Planting tips, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Beautiful Giant Dogwood Has Some LimitationsPlant Native Allegheny Spurge More
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2014
Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) is a popular ground cover for partly shaded landscape areas. Our native pachsandra, called Allegheny spurge (P. procumbens), is less known and utilized. The glossy dark evergreen leaves are wider than Japanese pachysandra. Clusters of white bottlebrush flowers emerge 2-4 inches high in early spring; flowers mature pale pink as […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Pachysandra, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Plant Native Allegheny Spurge MoreSweetbox – Excellent Evergreen Shrub For Shady Areas
Posted by Hugh on February 28th, 2014
Few evergreen shrubs grow in the shade. Sweetbox (Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis) is a compact dwarf evergreen shrub or ground cover which is easy to grow (USDA hardiness zone 5-b to 8). Foliage remains lustrous dark green year-round. Sweetbox grows in partial to full shade, 1 to 2 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Ground cover, seeding lawn, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Sweetbox (Sarcococca), Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering Comments Off on Sweetbox – Excellent Evergreen Shrub For Shady Areas
