This past weekend Northeast Tennessee as well as most of the coastal eastern U.S. was hit by heavy snow, 7 inches and more of heavy, wet clinging snow. Many of my neighbors lost electric power, telephone and cable. A driveby survey of tree damage around the neighborhood found that the following tree species suffered the […]
Archive for the ‘Southern Appalachian Region’ Category
Beware of Storm Damaged Trees
Posted by Hugh on December 20th, 2009
Posted in Elms (Ulmus), Maples (Acer), Pear (Ornamental), Pines (Pinus spp.), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, winter injury 
Comments Off on Beware of Storm Damaged TreesKeep Your Pansy Faces Smiling
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2009
Success in blooming pansies and violas in the winter season depends on two key factors: date of fall planting and soil nutrition. If you live in USDA plant zone 6, pansies must be planted on or before October 15th, two weeks earlier in northerly zone 5, or two weeks later in zone 7. Early fall planting […]
Posted in Autumn flowering, Container garden, Flowering, Flowers, Landscape ideas, Pansies, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Violas, Winter flowering Comments Off on Keep Your Pansy Faces SmilingBaptisia – 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2009
Blue false indigo(Baptisia australis) is a beautiful, long-lived, drought tolerant perennial with a robust growth habit and attractive steel blue foliage. In late May, the violet-blue flower spikes rise tall above sturdy 3-4 feet tall plants with steel bluish-green foliage. Baptisias grow best in full sun and in moist, well-drained soils. Feed or fertilize baptisias sparingly to prevent plants from flopping […]
Posted in Baptisia (wild indigo), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering Comments Off on Baptisia – 2010 Perennial Plant of the YearDogwoods for Spring
Posted by Hugh on December 18th, 2009
Five disease resistant varieties of flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), released by the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, are available at local garden centers this spring. Supply should be better than in past years. Powdery mildew resistant varieties: ‘Appalachian Snow’ (pictured), ‘Appalachian Blush’ and ‘Appalachian Mist’. In addition, ‘Cherokee Brave’, with dark pink flowers, exhibits good mildew resistance. […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Dogwood (Cornus), Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs Comments Off on Dogwoods for SpringHardy Forms of Deodara Cedar
Posted by Hugh on October 3rd, 2009
I am surprised by the increasing numbers of deodara cedars (Cedrus deodara) that are prospering in Zones 6-b and 7 gardens. Apparently, deodara cedars are much hardier than once thought. The buzz at a recent American Conifer Regional meeting is these varieties list here are worthy of planting: Tree forms: ‘Karl Fuchs’ ‘Shalimar’ ‘Eisregen’ ‘Eiswinter’ ‘Polar […]
Posted in acidic soil, Deodara cedars (Cedrus), Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreens, Landscape ideas, mulching, Propagation(grafting), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Hardy Forms of Deodara CedarGrowing Hardy Camellias
Posted by Hugh on September 22nd, 2009
Growing camellias in Tennessee is no longer a dream. Through the efforts of several plant breeders, particularly Dr. William L. Ackerman of the U.S. National Arboretum (retired) and Dr. Clifford Parks of Camellia Forest Nursery, as many as 40 cultivars of winter hardy camellias to -15 °F are now available in nursery commerce. Flower colors […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Camellia, compost, Fertilizing plants, Flowering, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Growing Hardy CamelliasReawaken Your Garden In The Fall
Posted by Hugh on September 16th, 2009
Traditionally Labor Day signals the return to school, football season. Here are ten plants that have or will start blooming shortly: >Sedum “Autumn Joy’, ‘Matrona’, ‘Autumn Fire’ >Goldenrod (Solidago) >Toadlily (Tricyrtis) >Fall anemone >Fall mums, especially old fashioned types like ‘Ryan’s Pink’ and ‘Sheffield Pink’ >Fall Sunflower (Helianthus spp.) >Asters ‘October Skies’, ‘Raydon’s Favorite’, ‘Purple […]
Posted in Aster, Autumn flowering, Colchicum, Goldenrod (Solidago), Native Plant, Pansies, Southern Appalachian Region, Stonecrop sedums, Summer heat tolerant, Toadlily (Tricyrtis) Comments Off on Reawaken Your Garden In The Fall
