For most of the season Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) grows pretty much unnoticed. Muhly exhibits a semi- erect growth habit, 3-4 feet in height and 3-4 feet in spread. Walking past a pink billowy inflorescences of Muhly on a brisk sunny October morning is nothing short of “wow”. For 10- 12 weeks, from early September thru late November, a pink haze arises […]
Archive for the ‘Regional’ Category
Muhly Grass Pink Color Emblazens The Autumn Season
Posted by Hugh on September 12th, 2012
Posted in Autumn flowering, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Muhly grass, Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Muhly Grass Pink Color Emblazens The Autumn SeasonLeyland Cypress For Fast Growing Evergreen Privacy
Posted by Hugh on September 9th, 2012
Leyland Cypress Leyland cypress (xCupressocyparis x leylandii) is winter hardy in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). It is frequently regarded as “the” conifer for Southern states. Its growth rate, compared to other evergreen conifers, is horrendously fast, with young established plants growing 3 feet or more annually. A young 2-3 foot specimen may reach […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Disease prone, Evergreen, Evergreens, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Leyland cypress, Planting tips, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Leyland Cypress For Fast Growing Evergreen PrivacyThis Korean Maple Deserves To Be Planted More
Posted by Hugh on September 4th, 2012
Ullung-do Island Korean maple (Acer pseudosieboldianum ‘Takeshimense’) is a small deciduous tree which will grow to be 20 -25 feet tall tree, with a spread of 15-18 feet. It tends to branch low to the ground. It originates from the Ullung-do Island in the sea of China. Korean maple is one of the best maples […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn foliage color, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Korean maple, Maples (Acer), Ornamental fruit, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on This Korean Maple Deserves To Be Planted MoreGrowing Full Moon Maple in the Southeast U.S.
Posted by Hugh on September 1st, 2012
Simply put, golden full moon maple (Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’) is a stunner (USDA hardiness zones 5-7). It is a slow growing maple, eventually reaching 18-20 feet in height and spread at maturity. It tends to be a long-lived tree if properly cared for. Leaves are circular with 9-13 short pointed lobes. Each lobe does not […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Fullmoon maple, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, Winter Protection Comments Off on Growing Full Moon Maple in the Southeast U.S.‘Northwind’ Switchgrass Is Environmentally Tough and Beautiful
Posted by Hugh on August 28th, 2012
Young Clump of ‘Northwind’ Switchgrass Northwind switchgrass (Panicum virgatum ‘Northwind’) is a medium sized 5 to 6 feet tall ornamental grass. This tall native prairie grass grows best in full sunlight for most of the day. Its tight narrow posture seems to fall apart in shade. There are many good switchgrass varieties. Northwind makes […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting birds, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Green Privacy Screen, Heat Tolerance, Native Plant, Ornamental Grasses, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Switchgrass (Panicum), winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Northwind’ Switchgrass Is Environmentally Tough and BeautifulApples Ready To Pick?
Posted by Hugh on August 27th, 2012
This unusually hot summer has sped up the harvest time of your backyard apple crop. Here are five good indicators that the apples are ready to harvest. Change in skin color is one of the easiest for gardeners to spot. The green skin pigment gradually matures to red, yellow or oft green, depending on variety. […]
Posted in Apple tree, Fruits & Vegetables, Harvest Time, Southern Appalachian Region Comments Off on Apples Ready To Pick?Winter Hardiness of Crape Myrtles
Posted by Hugh on August 25th, 2012
If you garden in USDA zone 6, certain crape myrtle cultivars are rated as reliably winter hardy perennials. Most dependable are the U.S. National Arboretum cultivars released starting in the 1980’s to date. Each one is named for an Indian tribe. Most of the National Arboretum cultivars are selected for cold hardiness as well as for disease and insect resistance. Among the […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, compact shrub, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Winter Hardiness of Crape Myrtles‘Senorita Rosalita’ – A Welcome Spider Flower Addition
Posted by Hugh on August 23rd, 2012
Cleome or spider flower (Cleome hassleriana) is the 5-6 foot flowering annual that your grandmother grew in her garden. Long stamens extending from the flowers look like spider legs, hence the common name. The old fashioned varieties produced lots of seed pods which meant lots of weed seed in next year’s garden. As summer temperatures […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Butterflies, Container growing, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Southern Appalachian Region, Spider flower (Cleome), Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Senorita Rosalita’ – A Welcome Spider Flower AdditionHow To Re-Bloom a Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
Posted by Hugh on August 22nd, 2012
Perhaps this past year a friend gifted you a lovely moth orchid (Phalaenopsis spp.). Late summer and early fall is an excellent time to re-bloom it, if you live in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 8. The overall health of the plant should be good. Moth orchids require a fluctuation of between 15 – 20°F […]
Posted in deadheading, Fertilizing plants, Interior (house) Plants, Orchids, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Staking, watering tips Comments Off on How To Re-Bloom a Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)Star Zinnias Handle Heat and Dry Weather
Posted by Hugh on August 21st, 2012
Wanting two seasons of spring-summer color, heat and drought tolerant, and no disease or pest problems? You should be planting Profusion and Zahara zinnias, also called “star zinnias”. They are very resistant to powdery mildew, a disease which plagues many kinds of zinnias. Profusion and Zahara zinnias bloom non-stop for almost 6 months (mid-May thru October) in the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flowers, mulching, plant nutrition, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Star zinnia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Star Zinnias Handle Heat and Dry Weather
