American hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), aka ironwood or muscle wood, grows primarily in moist, slightly acidic soils along woodland rivers and streams (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). This native hornbeam adapts to either wet or dry ground as long as soil moisture drains adequately. It copes with tough urban conditions including on non-irrigated parking lots and on […]
Archive for the ‘Regional’ Category
Better Red Fall Leaf Color On American Hornbeam
Posted by Hugh on October 21st, 2013
Posted in acidic soil, American hornbeam, Attracting birds, compact tree, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Native Plant, Privacy Screen, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter bark, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Better Red Fall Leaf Color On American HornbeamFall Is Spring Bulb Planting Time
Posted by Hugh on October 18th, 2013
If you love spring flowering tulips, daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs, some planning and planting chores should be set into motion this fall. Spring flower bulbs should be planted when cool soil temperatures (below 55 °F) return. For gardeners living in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7), bulb planting begins in […]
Posted in Camassia, Container growing, Crocus, Daffodil (Narcissus), Flowers, Lily (Lilium spp.), Pansies, Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Spring flowering bulbs, Tulips, Violas, Winter flowering, Winter Protection Comments Off on Fall Is Spring Bulb Planting TimePopular Landscape Trees Deer Don’t Like
Posted by Hugh on October 15th, 2013
This title is somewhat misleading. Deer will eat or sample (nibble) on any landscape plant, particularly if they are hungry enough. Deer also do not read lists of plants they’re suppose to leave alone. The following list of deer resistant plants is a sampling from reports across the U.S. It does not include every tree […]
Posted in Bald cypress (Taxodium), Boxwood (Buxus), Chamaecyparis, Chinese (kousa) dogwood, Contorted filbert (Corylus), Cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), Dawn redwood (Metasequoia), European beech (F. sylvatica), Fringetree (Chionanthus), Golden Raintree, Green ash (Fraxinus), Hawthorn (Crataegus), Hophornbeam (Ostrya), Hornbeam (Carpinus), Ilex (hollies), Juniper, Katsura tree (Cercidophyllum), Magnolia grandiflora, Maples (Acer), Native Plant, Pine (Pinus spp.), Serbian spruce, Silverbell (Halesia), Southern Appalachian Region, Spruces (Picea spp.), Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Popular Landscape Trees Deer Don’t LikeShiShi Gashira Camellia So Far Holding Up to Zone 6-b Winters
Posted by Hugh on October 11th, 2013
Camellias bloom at a time when most trees and shrubs are not flowering. Growing them is no longer a dream for gardeners who do not live in the deep South. A number of “designated zone 6 hardy” cultivars prosper in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). ‘ShiShi Gashira’ camellia (Camellia hiemalis) […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Camellia, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on ShiShi Gashira Camellia So Far Holding Up to Zone 6-b WintersThree New Hardy Fall Blooming Camellias
Posted by Hugh on October 10th, 2013
Three Zone 6 winter hardy camellias are becoming more available. A recent visit to a local camellia grower found these three fall bloomers: ‘Long Island Pink’, ‘Londontowne Blush’, and ‘Sweet October’ in full floral regalia. The first two are reliably hardy in USDA zone 6 and a third nearly so. ‘Long Island Pink’ was found […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Camellia, compact shrub, Container growing, Disease resistant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Three New Hardy Fall Blooming CamelliasTiming Fall Leaf Color Of Red Maple Cultivars
Posted by Hugh on October 7th, 2013
Red maple (Acer rubrum) is one of the most popular large street and shade tree in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7). Most cultivars average 40-60 feet tall in height. Tiny red flowers burst open early, often before the official first day of spring. Flowers give way to reddish double winged […]
Posted in acidic soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Insect (Pest) Problems, Large Shade trees, Maples (Acer), Native Plant, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Winter flowering Comments Off on Timing Fall Leaf Color Of Red Maple CultivarsToo Early Fall Color A Telltale Signal Of Tree In Trouble
Posted by Hugh on October 6th, 2013
Early leaf color or premature leaf drop often tells a property owner that their tree(s) may not be healthy. Photo above, taken in front of a new subdivision, says alot. Large red maples show leaf color weeks ahead of their natural timeline. Notice the narrow median where the trees are planted. The cause of early […]
Posted in American hornbeam, Autumn foliage color, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Elms (Ulmus), Garden Problems, Hornbeam (Carpinus), Maples (Acer), Pear (Ornamental), Planting tips, Regional, Soil drainage, Sweetgum (Liquidambar), Trees & Shrubs, Yellowwood Comments Off on Too Early Fall Color A Telltale Signal Of Tree In TroublePaperbark Maple Offers 4- Seasons Landscape Interest
Posted by Hugh on October 4th, 2013
In the winter some gardeners get excited about tree bark, particularly if you own a paperbark maple (Acer griseum). This small 25-30 foot tall tree has an upright spreading branching habit. The cinnamon-colored bark flakes off naturally in thin strips or chips. Horticulturists call this “exfoliating”. The sturdy branches are not prone to breakage […]
Posted in Acer griseum, acidic soil, compact tree, Disease resistant, Maples (Acer), mulching, Paperbark maple, Planting tips, Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness Comments Off on Paperbark Maple Offers 4- Seasons Landscape Interest‘Halloween Hocus Pocus’ Daylily For Garden Goblins
Posted by Hugh on October 1st, 2013
On a pleasant July morning I saw my first ‘Halloween Hocus Pocus’ daylily (Hemerocallus x ‘Hocus Pocus’) in a friend’s garden. The 5 ½ inch flowers stand on 26 inch tall stems (scapes) and the foliage is semi-evergreen. The cultivar name describes it best. Its creamy orange color with a triangular black throat and wide […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Daylilies, Hummingbird, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on ‘Halloween Hocus Pocus’ Daylily For Garden GoblinsDOs and DON’Ts Checklist Before Purchasing Plants
Posted by Hugh on September 29th, 2013
When shopping at the garden center don’t bring home problem plants. “Plants On Sale” should raise a caution flag. Thoroughly inspect all sale plants. They may have been sitting many months with the pots now full of weeds, diseases, or pest problems. They become tightly potbound and roots will need to be teased apart prior […]
Posted in Azaleas (evergreen), Disease resistant, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Ilex (hollies), Juniper, Perennials, Purchasing Plants, Rhododendrons, root injury, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Weed control, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on DOs and DON’Ts Checklist Before Purchasing Plants
