Sedums (Sedum spp.) are tough, easy to grow perennials (zones 3-9). Plants prefer average dry to moist well-drained soils and full to partial sun. Most sedums do not tolerate wet soils. Their thick succulent glossy leaves lead to the plants’ exceptional drought resistance. Sedums are exceptionally easy to root from leaf and stem cuttings. Low groundcover types […]
Archive for the ‘Regional’ Category
Hardy Sedum Groundcovers
Posted by Hugh on November 25th, 2018
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Purchasing Plants, Sedum, Sedum (Groundcover types), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, watering tips, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Hardy Sedum GroundcoversTips for Growing Abutilon (Flowering Maple)
Posted by Hugh on November 20th, 2018
Abutilon (Abutilon x hybridum) is a group of tender evergreen perennials (USDA hardiness zones 9-11). In USDA hardiness zones 6 thru 8, abutilon is grown outdoors from mid-spring to mid- autumn, when it is moved indoors and grown as a tropical houseplant. When moved indoors, partially cut back to fit its indoor space. In early spring prune the plant […]
Posted in Abutilon (Flowering Maple), acidic soil, Annuals, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Foliage plant, Heat Tolerance, Hummingbird, Insect suseptible, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Mite susceptible, Mites, Pesticide recommendations, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Staking, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, White flies, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Tips for Growing Abutilon (Flowering Maple)Fertilizing Trees And Shrubs
Posted by Hugh on November 15th, 2018
Maintaining good plant nutrition is of key importance. A tree and shrub which is growing vigorously can resist infestation from most diseases and insects. Symptoms of poor nutrition: pale green or chlorotic leaves; undersized plants; slower annual growth rate; many dead or dying branch tips; increased insect/disease problems. Trees under 10 years of age should be fertilized annually. There is little need to […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Fertilizing plants, Garden Maintenance, Insect suseptible, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Large shrub, Maples (Acer), Medium sized Tree, mulching, Native Plant, plant nutrition, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Small landscape tree, Soil Conservation, Soil pH, Soil Testing, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Fertilizing Trees And ShrubsBeware Of Fast Growing Trees
Posted by Hugh on November 10th, 2018
Many property owners choose fast growing landscape trees. These large shade trees increase the value of your property. Their summer shade and wintry wind protection may reduce utility bills by 20 – 25% . Trees attract wild birds for nesting, protection, and as a food source. Some brighten up your landscape with dazzling fall color. However, we may pay a […]
Posted in Anthracnose, Attracting birds, Bacterial diseases, Borers, Box elder (Acer), Boxelder tree (Acer), Disease prone, Environmental issues, Garden ecology, Insect (Pest) Problems, Landscape ideas, Large Shade trees, Native Plant, Paulownia (Empress tree), Poplar (Populus spp.), Purchasing Plants, Root suckering, Scale, Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Sycamore (Platanus), Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus), Trees & Shrubs, Tulip tree (Liriodendron), Uncategorized, Weak branching, Weak wooded, Willows (Salix) Comments Off on Beware Of Fast Growing TreesStoloniferous Dogwoods Jazz Up The Winter Landscape
Posted by Hugh on October 25th, 2018
Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub native to much of the Northern and Western United States (USDA hardiness zones 2-7). Without question these shrubs standout in winter by their colorful stems (see pruning recommendations below). Cut branches are an added plus for indoor arrangements. The yellow-twig form (C. sericea ‘Flaviramea’) is also available. Leaves are oblong-lanceolate […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, container shrub, Cornus sericea, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Dogwood (Cornus), Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter bark, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stoloniferous Dogwoods Jazz Up The Winter Landscape“No Dig” Planting Of Tulips
Posted by Hugh on October 20th, 2018
Digging lots of holes to plant 25 0r 50 tulip bulbs is a backbreaking chore. It doesn’t have to be that way. More than a decade ago, plant researchers at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., developed a planting method called “top-planting”. It eliminates all the digging and the tulips come back and bloom well for […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Daffodil (Narcissus), Flower arrangments, Flowering Bulb, Landscape ideas, Mulch Quality, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tulips, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on “No Dig” Planting Of TulipsOverwintering Caladium Tubers
Posted by Hugh on October 15th, 2018
Dr. Mary Lewnes Albrecht, retired dean of the Herbert College of Agriculture at the University of Tennessee, offers her recipe for overwintering caladiums. For many years Dr. Albrecht has been saving several heirloom varieties by this procedure: #1. Plants start to go dormant in late September through October (zone 7a Tennessee) and earlier if summer […]
Posted in acidic soil, Annuals, Bulb Crops, Caladium, compost, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fall Garden Interest, Flowers, Foliage plant, Harvest Time, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, mulching, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Storage Overwinter, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Winter Protection Comments Off on Overwintering Caladium TubersUmbrella Pine—A Conifer Collector’s Dream Plant
Posted by Hugh on October 10th, 2018
Japanese Umbrella Pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) is an evergreen (USDA hardiness zones 5b -9). It is not actually a pine. Historically, umbrella pines date back to the dinosaur age. This mid-sized landscape tree displays several fine attributes: shiny leaves are arranged in whorls like the spokes of an umbrella; peeling, reddish brown bark and a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, compact shrub, Container growing, container shrub, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Landscape ideas, mulching, mulching trees, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Umbrella pine (Sciadopitys), watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Umbrella Pine—A Conifer Collector’s Dream PlantFall/Winter Water Garden Maintenance
Posted by Hugh on October 6th, 2018
In the spring and summer seasons, a water garden is a tranquil and refreshing respite in the home landscape. However, in the fall, lots of leaves and debris fall into the pond. Here are a few tips to prepare your water garden for the winter season. Some water gardens are designed so that the waterfalls and streams run continuously through the fall-winter […]
Posted in Alocasia, Canna lily, Canna lily, Cold tolerance, Colocasia, Disease resistant, Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Papyrus, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rain barrel, Repotting plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Tropical Waterlilies (Nymphaea), Water Gardens, Winter Protection Comments Off on Fall/Winter Water Garden MaintenanceTen Native Shrubs Possessing Great Fall Leaf Color
Posted by Hugh on October 1st, 2018
Some native U.S. landscape shrubs are not only great spring/summer flowering shrubs, but their fall foliage color(s) are an added attraction. Here are ten of my favorites listed alphabetically by genus: Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parvifolia) – foliage of this summer flowering shrub turns bright yellow in fall. (zones 4-8) Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) – under-planted native shrub that […]
Posted in acidic soil, Arrowwood (V. dentatum), Attracting birds, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn foliage color, Autumn Fruiting, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Blackhaw viburnum (V. prunifolium), Blueberry (Vaccinium), Bottlebrush buckeye, Chokeberry (Aronia), compost, Cranberry bush (V. trilobum), Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowering, Fothergilla, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), Purchasing Plants, Soil Conservation, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum beetles, Viburnums, Virginia sweetspire, winter hardiness, Witherod (Viburnum nudum Comments Off on Ten Native Shrubs Possessing Great Fall Leaf Color
