The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) has named its 2022 Perennial of the Year — Little Bluestem (Schizachrium scoparum) (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). This ornamental grass was chosen because it is suitable for a wide range of growing climates, is low maintenance, and offers multiple-season interest. This North American prairie native grass is adaptable to many […]
Archive for the ‘Pests’ Category
2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little Bluestem
Posted by Hugh on January 6th, 2022
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Butterflies, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Little bluestem (Schizachrium), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium), Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Thrips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on 2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little Bluestem2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little Bluestem
Posted by Hugh on January 3rd, 2022
2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little Bluestem The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) has named its 2022 Perennial of the Year — Little Bluestem (Schizachrium scoparum) (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). This ornamental grass was chosen because it is suitable for a wide range of growing climates, is low maintenance, and offers multiple-season interest. This North […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Little bluestem (Schizachrium), Little bluestem (Schizachrium), Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium), Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on 2022 Perennial Plant Of the Year – Little BluestemAfter The Holidays Poinsettia Care
Posted by Hugh on December 26th, 2021
The gift of a poinsettia means you should enjoy the beauty over the next three months or more. Your poinsettia should be warmly wrapped to protect from chilling outdoor temperatures from the garden shop to your home or apartment. If applicable, carefully unwrap the protective sleeve around your poinsettia to prevent injury to leaves and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Photoperiod (Daylength), Phytophthora ramorum, Planting tips, Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Powdery Mildew, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on After The Holidays Poinsettia CareEmpress Tree (Paulownia)
Posted by Hugh on November 26th, 2021
Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa) is a fast-growing shade tree, in some years adding 4-5 feet of new growth, eventually to reach heights of 40-50 feet and width of 20-30 feet in less than 20 years. In the first 3-4 years, juvenile trees develop enormous size leaves. Once trees start producing flowers (adult stage), leaves are […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Canker disease, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Invasive species, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, Non-native, Paulownia (Empress tree), Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Weak branching, Weak wooded, winter hardiness Comments Off on Empress Tree (Paulownia)Prepare For Storm Damage
Posted by Hugh on November 22nd, 2021
A snow/ ice storm is both a beautiful and horrific scene in a landscape. Costly tree/shrub breakage, downed power lines, and subsequent utility shutoffs may be staggering results. Don’t feel powerless! Prepare and take action. During the storm, do nothing / “hands off”. Working near an active electrical line is deadly. After the storm you should immediately […]
Posted in Borers, Bradford Pear, Certified Arborist, Cold tolerance, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Firewood, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Leyland cypress, Magnolia grandiflora, Pine (Pinus spp.), Poplar (Populus spp.), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade tree, Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Southern Appalachian Region, Sycamore (Platanus), Termites, Tree topping, Trees & Shrubs, Willows (Salix), Wind protection, Winter Protection Comments Off on Prepare For Storm DamageHawthorn Trees In The Landscape
Posted by Hugh on November 1st, 2021
The world of hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) includes several outstanding landscape trees that exhibit four-season ornamental interest: 1. spring flowering, 2. disease-free summer foliage, 3. variable fall leaf color, and 4. colorful fruits for wildlife in the fall and winter months. World-wide, hawthorns are native to temperate regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Anthracnose, Borers, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Hawthorn (Crataegus), Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Rust diseases, Scale, Small landscape tree, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Hawthorn Trees In The LandscapeForms of Western Arborvitae
Posted by Hugh on October 16th, 2021
Here is a partial listing of cultivars of Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata), as found in the U.S. nursery industry. Several are good choices for dwarf conifer collectors, in rock gardens, and in large containers. Winter hardiness of some cultivars is variable. Note: some are dwarf forms of ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae (Thuja standishii x plicata) which […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, compact shrub, compost, Container garden, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Evergreens, Fragrant, Hedges, Landscape ideas, Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Western arborvitae (Thuja plicata), Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Forms of Western ArborvitaeCoral honeysuckle
Posted by Hugh on October 6th, 2021
Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens), aka trumpet honeysuckle, is a vigorous twining flowering vine that is primarily native to the southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 4 -8). Cultivars are available in shades of red, orange. and yellow. The colorful flowers appear in spring and summer, and colorful berries decorate in late summer and autumn. Invite hummingbirds […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Ground cover, Honeysuckle (Lonicera), Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Vine, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Coral honeysuckleBald Cypress For A Small Landscape
Posted by Hugh on October 1st, 2021
Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) is well-known as a deciduous conifer native to the southeastern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 5-9). Pyramidal in form, bald cypress towers over 70 feet tall with a spread up to 50 feet. Bald cypress is naturally found in southeast U.S. swamps, marshlands, lakes, ponds, and other wetlands. On marshy ground, you […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bald cypress (Taxodium), Chlorosis (yellowing), compact tree, compost, Container growing, Deciduous conifer, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Large Shade trees, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Seed), Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Weeping habit, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bald Cypress For A Small LandscapeFuzzy Bolivian Sage
Posted by Hugh on September 27th, 2021
The large and bright fuzzy blossoms of Bolivian Spearhead Sage (Salvia oxyphora), aka Fuzzy Bolivian Sage, should catch your eye in late summer and early autumn. Equally attractive is the plant’s lush tropical-like glossy green foliage. This sage inhabits the edges of moist forests in the foothills of the Andes. It is grown as an annual in full sun in Northern […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Downy mildew, Fall Garden Interest, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Salvia, Salvia oxyphora, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Fuzzy Bolivian Sage
