Insect hotels are intended for most (not all) sorts of pollinators. They’re easy to construct from new or recycled materials. These structures should be weatherproof as they serve as year-round shelters for bees, wasps, ladybugs, and others that may hibernate over winter. Insect hotels are essentially the same as “wildlife walls” as they invite multiple […]
Archive for the ‘Southern Appalachian Region’ Category
Build A Hotel To Invite Beneficial Insects
Posted by Hugh on May 29th, 2018
Posted in Aphids, Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial Insects, Beneficial insects, Bumble bees, Caterpillars, Container garden, Environmental issues, Fruits & Vegetables, Ground nesting bees, Insect (Pest) Problems, Lacebugs, Ladybugs, Landscape ideas, Millipedes & centipedes, Slugs, Snails, Southern Appalachian Region, Wildflowers 
Comments Off on Build A Hotel To Invite Beneficial InsectsTwo Native Cardinal Flowers Add Up To A Stunning Combination
Posted by Hugh on May 21st, 2018
Great lobelia or blue cardinal flower (Lobelia siphilitica) is a native perennial USDA hardiness zones 4-8). They bloom about a month later than cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis). They’re part of the late summer perennial bloom season that includes turtlehead (Chelone obliqua), asters (Symphtrictum), ‘Henry Eilers’ black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia subtomentosa). and dahlias (Dahlia spp.). Add […]
Posted in Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Butterflies, Container garden, Disease resistant, Flowers, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, Lobelia (cardnial flower), Native Plant, Perennials, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Water Gardens Comments Off on Two Native Cardinal Flowers Add Up To A Stunning CombinationAlexandrian Laurel For Deep Shade
Posted by Hugh on May 17th, 2018
Alexandrian Laurel or Poet’s Laurel (Danae racemosa) is a wonderful evergreen shrub that is rarely planted in U.S. gardens. Danae is indigenous to Iran and Syria. This evergreen shrub needs partial to full shade and the warm climes of southeast or Pacific northwest states (USDA hardiness zones 6 – 9). If winters are exceptionally cold […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alexandrian Laurel, compost, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Environmental Conservation, Evergreen, Fall Garden Interest, Foliage plant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Alexandrian Laurel For Deep ShadeBerggarten Salvia Favors Both Gardeners And Culinary Afficiendos
Posted by Hugh on May 13th, 2018
Common sage (Salvia officinalis), a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), is the culinary sage familiar to most cooks (USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8). The species grow 1.5 – 3 feet high and wide. Multitudes of showy two-lipped, 1-inch long, violet-blue flowers arise on short, upright spikes in late spring. Flowers attracts numerous bees […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Container garden, Culinary, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Foliage plant, Fragrant, Heat Tolerance, Herb, Honey bees, Mealy bugs, Mites, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sage (Salvia), Salvia, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, White flies, winter hardiness Comments Off on Berggarten Salvia Favors Both Gardeners And Culinary AfficiendosThe Next Generation of Weigelas
Posted by Hugh on May 5th, 2018
Weigela (Weigela florida) is old-fashioned shrub with rose colored blooms and arching branching habit in mid-spring. This shrub is native from Japan, Korea, and China (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). New hybrids of weigelas are arriving at garden centers this spring. Compared to previous cultivars that were 6-9 feet tall, new introductions grow only 2-5 feet […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Hummingbird, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Weigela, winter hardiness Comments Off on The Next Generation of WeigelasPrincess Flower Excels Where Summers Are Hot
Posted by Hugh on May 1st, 2018
Princess Flower or Glory Bush (Tibouchina spp.) is a tropical shrub (from Brazil) that produces beautiful showy purple flowers. It blooms over a long time span (USDA hardiness zones 9-12). The most popular species in cultivation is T. urvilleana. A well-tended plant can be trained into a miniature tree in a large container for patios and decks. This […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Invasive plant, Landscape ideas, Nematodes, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Princess Flower (Tibouchina), Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Staking, Summer heat tolerant, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Princess Flower Excels Where Summers Are HotErosion Control – Try Weeping Lovegrass
Posted by Hugh on April 28th, 2018
Weeping Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) is a warm season, perennial bunchgrass. It grows to a height of 2-4 feet and the long narrow 1/4 inch wide leaves (10 to 20 inches in length) suggest the grass is “weeping”. Seed heads may be erect or drooping and produce small very numerous seeds (1.5 million per lb.). Weeping […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, alkaline soil, Bees and other pollinators, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental Conservation, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Irrigation, Landscape ideas, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Weeping Lovegrass (Eragrostis), Wildlife attractant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Erosion Control – Try Weeping Lovegrass‘Alleghany’ Viburnum Is A Four Season Gem
Posted by Hugh on April 25th, 2018
Alleghany viburnum (Viburnum x rhytidophylloides ‘Alleghany’) aka lantanaphyllum viburnum, is a large easy to grow semi-evergreen (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). It will grow to about 10-12 feet tall and a spread of 12 feet at maturity. This low maintenance shrub is a hybrid cross between V. rhytidophyllum and V. lantana ‘Mohican’. The cross was made in […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Green Privacy Screen, Landscape ideas, Large shrub, mulching, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Viburnum 'Alleghany', Viburnums, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on ‘Alleghany’ Viburnum Is A Four Season GemBenefits Of Mulching
Posted by Hugh on April 22nd, 2018
Mulching benefits garden soil and enhances the landscape appearance. Here is how: Prevents weed seeds from germinating, thereby reducing hand weeding. Mulching keeps plant roots moist and cool in summer. Fall mulching acts like a thermal blanket and aids newly set plants to establish their roots quickly. Reduces the need to water the garden as often. […]
Posted in acidic soil, acidify soil, alkaline soil, Azalea (deciduous), Azaleas (evergreen), Camellia, Garden Maintenance, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Mulch Quality, mulching, mulching trees, Native Plant, organic gardening, plant nutrition, Rhododendrons, Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Stewartia pseudocamellia, Trees & Shrubs, winter hardiness Comments Off on Benefits Of MulchingUniquely Different Spider Azalea
Posted by Hugh on April 19th, 2018
Although rarely seen, spider azalea (Rhododendron stenopetalum ‘Linearfolium’) will be a pleasing addition to your woodland garden (USDA hardiness zones 6-8). Few people would ever guess that it is an azalea. This airy shrub grows 3-4 feet tall and a whole lot wider. It is slow growing, but is worth the wait. This unique semi- evergreen azalea hails from Japan. The very narrow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compost, container shrub, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Landscape ideas, mulching, Planting tips, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spider aalea (R. stenopetalum), Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, winter injury, Winter Protection Comments Off on Uniquely Different Spider Azalea
